Graduating to rifle rounds

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TheotherMikeG

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I've been loading for handgun calibers for a couple three years now, and I've decided to branch out to 30 WCF. I've been loading with a Lee turret and Lee dies up to this point, and I like the powder-thru-expander die option. It appears that this is not how it works for rifle rounds. Could y'all point me in the right direction for powder management? Do I need to buy a new powder distribution device?

Also, all my brass is once fired from my own Marlin 336. Please advise on which dies i need and which dies I don't. Thanks!
 
For starters, you don't need a Small base sizing die!
A standard 30-30 FL die set will do just perfectly fine.

You do need some method to crimp for your lever-actions tubular magazine.

That can be crimping trimmed brass in the seating die.

Or using a third Lee FCD collet crimper that is not case length dependent.

As for a through-powder die?

I like to look at my powder charges before putting bullets on top of whatever finds it's way into the cases!

Assuming you have a powder measure you are using now?
So, I would come up with some sort of off-press stand for it.

Charge your cases in batches and set them in a loading block.
Then inspect them all for charge uniformity before putting the bullets in them.

rc
 
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rcmodel, is the small base sizing die the same as the collet neck sizing die?

I hadn't even thought about trimming cases. Guess I'll need to add that to the mix also.

Thanks for the advice and...


ROLL TIDE!


Hey, my hundredth post. Only took me 3 years, 11 months!
 
No Mike small base and collet neck size are not the same dies.Small base dies resize the web area of the casing you may need this if your 30-30 casing was first fired in a machine gun.
Collet neck dies resize only the case neck and imho are prone to case mouth tension issues,not good in a tube fed rifle that requires a good crimp and flat nosed bullets.
RC has it right again get a good full length resizer.
 
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