30-30 dies

[olywa]

I have done a little reloading for 357 and 44 Mag using a Lee Hand Press. I read as much as I can get my hands on and follow the follow the reloading threads on this as well as other forums. I just picked up a set of Lee 30-30 Collett dies to try my hand at working up some loads for a 14" Contender barrel that my buddy is letting me use. I went with the Collett dies because this is the only 30-30 I will be using and I will only be reloading factory original cases which were initialy fired from this barrel. Maybe I read too much but it seems like I can save my self the trouble of case lubing and make my brass last longer if I go this route.

Should I be concerned about the lack of a good crimp with these dies? I'm a little leery of the dead-seat die. Would the Lee Factory Crimp Die be beneficial to address this, or is it simply overkill on a Contender? It is my understanding that the Lee Factory Crimp die for bottleneck cartridges only applies pressure on the neck at the very end of the case. Would I gain much more than peace of mind by using these dies together?

Thanks in advance for any help on this. It's nice to have a resource like this to draw on when I start over-thinking things due to my inexperience.

 

[Chawbaccer]

I don't see any need to crimp for the contender. The crimp on the 30-30 is to keep the bullets from setting back under recoil in a tube magazine.

 

[GooseGestapo]

OLWYA;

You may regret not getting the regular .30/30 full length size die, because after 4-7 loadings with the Collet dies, you will start to experience stiff action closing due to the brass closely conforming to the diminsions of your chamber. The usual "FIX" for this is to partially resize in a regular sizing die to "re-comform" the brass. Just don't set the die too deep in the press such as to "set back" the neck from where it "fits" your chamber.

However, not all is LOST!!

Lee sells the regular die set in the "RGB" die set, and the set costs about $12.00. It comes in a different "flat" box, and dosen't have the data sheet or a shell holder, which you don't need as you already have one. It will also have the "regular seating die as well".

Regarding the crimp. If you only use full powdered loadings with jacketed bullets, you "DON'T" want to crimp your loads for your contender.

The contender will perform best with the bullets seated "just off" the lands, such that the action closes easily. You'll want to back off your charge weights slightly as this can raise pressures due to lack of bullet "jump" to the grooves.

I suggest you use the "pistol" bullets such as the Hornady and Speer 130gr bullets for best overall performance. However, performance with the regular "30/30" bullets will approach that of them shot through a full lenght rifle.

 

[olywa]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advise. If I like the way this barrel shoots I'll pick up a full sizing die as well. But it sounds like the collet dies will work to get me going.

 

[mleeber]

I use Lee collet dies for 30-30, 7mm Mag, and 222. the 30-30 and 222 are for my Thompson Conteder. I have loaded both calibers 6-7 times with the same brass, no problem. The TC chamber is very good about being all centered up. I could see in some of the cheaper mass produced rifles there may be an issue with only using Collet dies but not in your TC.

As for the crimp, the pressure from the case mouth should be plenty for what you are doing. In fact, that is one of the items that will get you sub MOA accuracy, consistent fit of the bullet in the case. With the collet dies and the same brand brass the fit should be highly repeatable maximizing accuracy.

And yes, the collet die only resizing the mouth of the case will allow the brass to last longer and "flow" a little less but you must still measure and trim the cases to be sure.