Reloading bottlenecks, what's a good beginner's cartridge?

[TTv2]

I've never had much interest in reloading for bottleneck rifles because I've always bought the most common calibers and 50 rnds of .223 is easy to afford for a range trip. With things going on in the world, IDK how long .223/556 is going to stay cheap or available.

Where I begin to consider reloading for bottlenecks is when factory ammo is pricey enough I can save a decent amount by doing myself. One reason I bought the die set for 7.62x25 Tok, but I've not gotten around to loading any yet.

My thinking is I would like to start with a caliber that's not one I currently have, brass is fairly easy to acquire, is a strong case that's easy to load (sorry, no .22 Hornet) and what I'm thinking would be a good starting point is something that has a rim to headspace off of, so immediately .30-30 comes to mind.

So, is .30-30 a good candidate for beginners reloading bottlenecks? Should I consider trying 7.62x25 out first? Are pistol bottleneck cartridges a better place to start or are rifles?

 

[JEBruns]

I don't think it matters much. I'd start with your favorite bottleneck to shoot. The only added problem with small necks like a .223 is powder flow. If you pick a stick powder, like Varget or N140 for example, they will often bridge at the powder drop, and then release the powder once you raise the handle, making quite a mess on your loader. So be careful picking powder for those. CFE223 and other do not have that issue. If you are not loading on a progressive, it's not as much of an issue.

Otherwise, the steps are pretty much the same for rifle bottleneck. I load pistol and rifle, but have never loaded pistol bottleneck, so can't say what is involved there.

 

[Starter52]

.30/30 definitely.
Thinner brass rimmed cartridge.
A good place to start.

 

[Anchorite]

Do you have a case guage? They are inexpensive and every reloader should have on on his bench.

To your question, yes, 30-30 is very easy, and so is a 223. But just because you get your dies set up and the powder down inside the brass botttle does not always mean it will chamber. The case guage is your quality control piece.

 

[Lafitte]

Think past the reloading bench! What do you want to do AFTER you reload it?
Lafitte

 

[Howa 9700]

My first thought was to reload for a caliber you have. Why anything else? Then read again, and it appears you want to be able to be able to reload some caliber for a SHTF scenario? If that is the case (no pun intended), then 308 Win. Guns, ammo and all components widely available and for good reason. One of the most versatile and effective rifle cartridges ever made.

 

[Telum Pisces]

30-06 is nice and easy to reload. You can't double charge most of the powders for it because a single charge typically fills the case with the slower burning powders etc...

Brass is plentiful and can be reloaded numerous times.

 

[jmorris]

Where I begin to consider reloading for bottlenecks is when factory ammo is pricey enough I can save a decent amount by doing myself.

Buy something chambered in a Weatherby chambering. That should help, monetary motivation, as well as, issues caused by mixed brass. There are still a number of sources but nothing like of the more popular rounds. Go .30 cal or larger and you probably won’t get into many powder bridging issues even with longer extruded powders.

 

[Walkalong]

I don't think it matters much

Probably the right answer, but some are a hair more forgiving.

You mentioned .223, and that's a good one to start with, cheap cases and so much info and data for it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I started the rifle journey with .303Brit not realizing how difficult it is to work with for a variety of reasons - most of which have been solved since I started reloading .303. It’s a rimmed case, the .303 starts life at a moderate pressure for a long range battle rifle. That said, If I were to start all over with rifles I would go with a bolt action in 7.62x39m/m. It’s an easy cartridge to load and in a bolt action it is super flexible. JMTC’s.

 

[N555]

Bottle necked pistol cartridges are not very forgiving. Stick with 30-30. Last ammo panic I was selling old $8.99 a box Remington green box from the 1990s for $4 a shot, boxes of Hornady lever evolution 30-30 were going for $70.
Most 30-30 powders are also good 5.56 powders.
But finding large rifle primers might no be fun. But a brick of large rifle primers will love you long time if you only load 30-30.
Use loading 30-30 to learn how to set your dies for head space. 30-30 chamber suggestions tell us factory ammo head spaces off the rim, when you reload set the dies to find the shoulder and bump it back a few thousands.

 

[rsrocket1]

.308 is an inherently accurate cartridge, rifles are very plentiful from ultra budget to the sky’s the limit. You can also get semi auto guns and free brass is very plentiful at most ranges.

I tend to enjoy loading .308 rounds at 30-30 velocities of 2000-2400 fps because it’s easier on the brass and several dozen shots a day are easier on the shoulder compared to full house .308 loads. I also cast and have molds of 113, 170 and 200g bullets for cheap low recoil plinking and varmint control, regular rounds and heavy subsonic rounds. They also work in my 300 AAC Blackout bolt and AR patterned guns.

 

[mdi]

My first rifle cartridge to reload was .223 Remington for a Handi-Rifle. Brass easy to find. Bullets of many weights and designs readily available. Many powder choices and every reloading manual had data for many component combinations (I wasn't concerned with $$$ but components were inexpensive). I used a plain old Lee .223 die set. I used mostly 55 gr bullets because of the 1-12" bbl., but also played a lot with 45-50 gr cast bullets over handgun/shotgun powders. The versatility is what kept me reloading .223 for a few years. Later got a 7.62x39, 303 British, 30-30, 30-06 and 308. Seemed like the ,223 was easiest (but not by much) and the versatility was good. One drawback was old fat fingers handling small slick bullets...

Most fun? Maybe the gun played a more important part than the caliber; I reloaded for my Garand, 30-60 substantially, with many combinations of components. (one factor. I hate cartridge gauges. I chased a .008"- .012" "stand off" of many of my 30-06 handloads for months. I complained on the CMP reloading forum and one member replied "do they chamber and shoot OK?". Yes they did, so I put the cartridge gauge in a drawer never to be used again. Turns out with certain loads the case was hitting the OP rod hump on ejection, making an .008"-.012: dent in the rim )

 

[Bcwitt]

Definitely do the 30-30 first. 762x25s are a PITA. short necks are kinda finicky.

 

[TTv2]

Think past the reloading bench! What do you want to do AFTER you reload it?
Lafitte

Shoot it.

One reason loading the .30-30 has me interested is I'm not considering a lever action, I've been thinking bolt action because my intent was to use spitzer bullets and see how the velocity and accuracy are. I know Hornady has their Leverevolution bullet, I'm not interested in relying solely on that bullet to use in a tube magazine, I'd rather have a platform that allows me to use whatever bullet I wish to.

 

[irishlad]

223 or 6.5 CM if ya have one.

 

[clutch]

Do the .30/30 first. I started loading on a Lee Loader because 7.7 Arisaka was very expensive 45 years ago.

 

[N555]

Shoot it.

One reason loading the .30-30 has me interested is I'm not considering a lever action, I've been thinking bolt action because my intent was to use spitzer bullets and see how the velocity and accuracy are. I know Hornady has their Leverevolution bullet, I'm not interested in relying solely on that bullet to use in a tube magazine, I'd rather have a platform that allows me to use whatever bullet I wish to.

Can still use long 30cal bullets in a lever action gun just have to single feed them.

 

[nettlle]

I like a cartridge that has the largest selection of different bullets and powder my the reloading manuals. Gives me more room to tune for accuracy. My 308 is good at that. I'm sure there are others as good or better.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Shoot it.

One reason loading the .30-30 has me interested is I'm not considering a lever action, I've been thinking bolt action because my intent was to use spitzer bullets and see how the velocity and accuracy are. I know Hornady has their Leverevolution bullet, I'm not interested in relying solely on that bullet to use in a tube magazine, I'd rather have a platform that allows me to use whatever bullet I wish to.

What bolt rifle are you looking at for 30-30?

 

[adcoch1]

I'd go with the 30-30, or any other mid pressure, 30 cal, bolt gun cartridge you presently have a rifle for. 30-06 is my favorite, but 308, 303 brit, 303 savage, 30-30, 7.62x39 etc. 30 cal rifle cartridges have components big enough to easily handle, powders and projectiles are readily available, and c.o.a.l. is forgiving for most of them. I reload for everything I shoot, but little tiny bullets like 223 are kinda annoying, and the super short neck of bottleneck pistol cartridges can create havoc with any neck tension issues you may run into. Between a bottleneck pistol cartridge and 30-30? Well, 30-30 is my pick 10 times outta 10 to start out with.

 

[TTv2]

Can still use long 30cal bullets in a lever action gun just have to single feed them.

I don't see the benefit and when the cost of a lever over a Savage bolt .30-30 is as much as it is, I can't say whatever the benefits others think are there are worth it.

 

[TTv2]

What bolt rifle are you looking at for 30-30?

Savage cuz I don't think the Winchester's or Remington's are worth the grand people are asking for them.

 

[Wildbillz]

I think the first rifle round I ever loaded was a 30-06. 06 or 308 Win both are easy to work with. 223Rem shouldn't be much of an issue.

WB

 

[TTv2]

I'd go with the 30-30, or any other mid pressure, 30 cal, bolt gun cartridge you presently have a rifle for. 30-06 is my favorite, but 308, 303 brit, 303 savage, 30-30, 7.62x39 etc. 30 cal rifle cartridges have components big enough to easily handle, powders and projectiles are readily available, and c.o.a.l. is forgiving for most of them. I reload for everything I shoot, but little tiny bullets like 223 are kinda annoying, and the super short neck of bottleneck pistol cartridges can create havoc with any neck tension issues you may run into. Between a bottleneck pistol cartridge and 30-30? Well, 30-30 is my pick 10 times outta 10 to start out with.

I don't currently have a bolt action and the only .30 caliber rifle I have that I'd be interested in reloading for is the H&R Handi in .308. I would reload 7.62x39 if I had a bolt rifle for it.

I guess it doesn't make much sense why I would want a rifle in a caliber I don't currently have another rifle in, while .223, .308, 7.62x39 I do.