should I reload .30 carbine

[xxleafybugxx]

I thought I had another posts here, but couldn't find it.
anywayds, I'm leaning towards reloading 30 carbine. I'm a very inexperienced reloader and I have a lee turret press. The only thing I've reloaded is .45 acp. Ive had some crimping issues with that, as when I would reload cast lead bullets, it didn't seem to matter how tight the crimp, I could push the bullets down into the casing with little effort.
How do you ensure this isn't an issue with .30 carbine?

I just want to be able to have alot of ammo on moments notice. Any help and advice is appreciated. depending on feedback, I may be ordering some reloading supplies tonight.
Thanks again.

 

[Walkalong]

You have a neck tension problem in .45 ACP, not a "crimp" problem. Neck tension holds the bullet in cases that headspace off the case mouth. The taper "crimp" is just there to remove the belling or a hair more, not to hold the bullet in, and if over done can actually hurt neck tension.

Many here reload .30 Carbine, and if I had one, would reload it as well. I say go for it.

You do need to learn how to fix your neck tension problem in .45 ACP, but from what I have read here the .30 Carbine shouldn't pose more of a problem to reload than any other straight walled calibers.

 

[lightman]

I reload 30 Carbine and find it to be no more challenging than 45 auto. I once had a neck tension problem with 45 auto and ended up buying a different brand die set.

 

[Sunray]

Carbide sizer die only. IMR4227 and 110 grain HP's or SP's. Never bothered with cast bullets in .30 Carbine myself.
Cast in .45 ACP is not a big deal. Like Walkalong says, it's a taper crimp only and don't try to drive cast bullets too fast.

 

[xxleafybugxx]

So can someone here (that's reloads .30 carbine) give me some of their recipes and the prices for those components? I'm trying to shoot for as cheap as I can per round, otherwise, I'd just ditch reloading and buy ammo.

 

[Walkalong]

While I don't reload it, a simple search should come up with the cheapest bullet choices. Powder & primers should be easy to figure out, as well as brass. I have been saving the occasional .30 Carbine range pick ups for years, just in case I ever get one. Surely someplace has fired brass for sale reasonable.

Coated Bullets:

MBC

SNS

I am sure there are others.

Plated: (Not sure they are a good choice) I tumbled some at less than the normal .30 Carbine velocity trying them in the 300 BLK. YMMV

Jacketed:

Armscore

Various

Hi Tech Ammo

 

[joem1945]

I reload a a lot of .30 carbine. First it's a tapered case so lube is required. Next be sure to trim the case if it's over max spec or a out of battery discharge is possible. For accuracy vel needs to be around 1980 FPS so I don't load cast. I have been loading with AA # 9 and it seems to work well. Good Luck.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I reload .30Carbine w/o a problem. You can use cast bullets, half-cast, or jacketed bullets w/o concern.

The only question is whether you want to pay extra for a carbide sizing die or not. I use such a die, but still have to lube cases.

 

[dbmjr1]

I reload for .30 Carbine. I use H110, Bayou Bullet's 115 gr Coated LRN. I shoot these in both my Blackhawk Revolver, and my Universal Carbine.

One advantage to reloading for the carbine is that you can find a load that won't scatter your brass across three counties.

 

[Walkalong]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=775452

 

[Lost Sheep]

Thanks for asking our advice

Ive had some crimping issues with that, as when I would reload cast lead bullets, it didn't seem to matter how tight the crimp, I could push the bullets down into the casing with little effort.

Are you using Lee's 4-die set? Specifically, the 4th die, the so-called "Factory Crimp Die" (FCD"?

Sometimes, the greater the crimp, the worse the problem.

Lead bullets and the FCD are known to be challenging to adjust for proper neck tension as Walkalong suggested in post #2.

Read post #3 in this thread
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/65863-lee-fcd-pistol-not-rifle-virtue-vice.html#post814465


Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

A second thought

Put your calipers on your case-mouth belling mandrel and compare its diameter to your bullets' diameters. If the case mouth is expanded too much, it will not grip the bullet with enough tension (as Walkalong suggested in post #2).

Stand a loaded round on a bathroom scale and press on the bullet nose with a pressure of 35 to 50 lbs. If the bullet sets back, you can expect problems working the bullet through the action of a semi-auto (and in a revolver, you may expect bullet creep as well if the recoil is heavy).

The cure, adjust your belling die to provide less bell. (There should only be enough bell to prevent lead shaving when you seat the bullet - no more than that.) If that doesn't do the trick use emory cloth or fine sandpaper to reduce the diameter (or buy a smaller diameter mandrel). Take care to keep it round. Put the mandrel in the chuck of a power drill is one of the easiest ways.

Lost Sheep

 

[xxleafybugxx]

Lost sheep,
I don't have dies yet. I'd like to order some tonight. I was looking at the lee 3 die set To be had for around $30.
No forgive me for my lack of knowledge. But since this 3 die set doesn't have a crimp, does the seating die act as the crimp? once the bullet has been seated, is there enough tension to keep bullet in place?

 

[Rule3]

Lost sheep,
I don't have dies yet. I'd like to order some tonight. I was looking at the lee 3 die set To be had for around $30.
No forgive me for my lack of knowledge. But since this 3 die set doesn't have a crimp, does the seating die act as the crimp? once the bullet has been seated, is there enough tension to keep bullet in place?

Buy the 4 dies set (with FCD) it's easier to crimp as a separate step. Despite what some folks say the FCD die works fine,

Also order a good manual like Hornady or Speer, Lyman.

What kind of scale do you have.?? Most important tool for reloading.

Look before you leap

 

[xxleafybugxx]

I have the Hornaday electronic scale 1500

 

[jcwit]

Despite what some folks say the FCD die works fine,

If using cast lead bullets forget the FCD.

For Jacketed it works just fine.

 

[Rule3]

If using cast lead bullets forget the FCD.

For Jacketed it works just fine.

Not even going there.

For the OP how about a trimmer, 30 carbine needs to be trimmed to correct length as it spaces off the case mouth, Some say they don't trim as they loose them to fast but I pick up 99.9% of mine,

 

[xxleafybugxx]

I can't even find 4 die sets

 

[Lost Sheep]

Lost sheep,
I don't have dies yet. I'd like to order some tonight. I was looking at the lee 3 die set To be had for around $30.
No forgive me for my lack of knowledge. But since this 3 die set doesn't have a crimp, does the seating die act as the crimp? once the bullet has been seated, is there enough tension to keep bullet in place?

I was asking what dies you are using for the 45s with which you are having bullet setback problems.

Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

"Not going there" re: Lee FCD and lead bullets

Rule3 and JCWit, I started 4 threads (on 4 different forums) particularly to illuminate the dark corners of the controversies over the Lee FCD (Factory Crimp Die).

Is it a crutch?
Does it "cover up" or "rescue" (and thus encourage) bad loading practices?
When is it good to use and when is it good to avoid?

Threads were titled "The Virtue and the Vice" or similar words.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509934
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=691050
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=168362
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/65863-lee-fcd-pistol-not-rifle-virtue-vice.html#post814465

and these threads are also illuminating

Lee Precision's thoughts on the matter can be found in these threads:

One thread contains a lively discussion of the FCD and the function of the post-sizing carbide ring in the FCD. The phrase "9mm" is in the thread title, but don't let that dissuade you. It contains responses direct from Lee Precision, too. Read the whole thing. It is worth it.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=465091

this thread contains a poll

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=465603

Lost Sheep

 

[maxxhavoc]

I vote yes, reload 30 Carbine.


The small box is around 600 rounds. I use a Wilson Case gauge to determine trim/no trim. About 1 in 3 ends up being trimmed after each loading.

IMR 4227 under Xtreme Bullets Plated bullets work well for me.

 

[xxleafybugxx]

Would the 3 die set be good? For the .30 carbine i don't plan on using cast. Fmj and plaTed. (BTW which is better? ) I know played can be had for less.
and lost sheep it was the lee 4 die set

 

[Walkalong]

Pony up the extra $7 and buy the RCBS three die set.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I use a 3-die set. I have never needed a FCD on straight-wall rounds.

 

[cfullgraf]

Berry plated 30 caliber carbine bullets are rated for carbine velocities, 1950 to 2000 fps or so. I have had good luck with them in my 30 cal M1 Carbines. A bit less expensive than jacketed.

The most common manufacturers that make 30 Carbine dies, even carbide 30 Carbine sizer dies, recommend using lubricant when sizing 30 Carbine. Some folks do not heed this advice and seem to be loading trouble free. My sizer is steel. Why pay extra if I have to lube anyway. Your choice.

Dies from any die manufacturer can be made a 4 die set by purchasing the separate crimp die.

I finally found a use for a Lee handgun factory crimp die. I loaded some 38 Special wad cutters for plinking. Appearently, some of the bullets were over sized, case moiths were too thick, or a combination of the two. The rounds would not chamber, a couple percent of the total mumber of rounds loaded. A Lee FCD made the rounds chamber-able so that I did not have to disassemble them.

It was fixing a problem that should not have been there, but sometimes when you get cheap, you get what you pay for.