Reforming 375 brass from 30-30 (not fireforming)?
- Thread starter andym79
- Start date
- Status
Catshooter
Member
I've only done it by fire forming so I can't help with that aspect.
You do know that the brass will be shorter than 375, correct? It's probably no big deal, but you should know.
Cat
You do know that the brass will be shorter than 375, correct? It's probably no big deal, but you should know.
Cat
ArchAngelCD
Member.
The 38-55 is a better case to form but probably just as hard to find. The 30-30 case was not made to withstand the pressures associated with the 375 Win.
Catshooter
Member
Andym,
Mine measure 2.010.
Cat
Mine measure 2.010.
Cat
Elkins45
Member
You either need a set of stepped expander plugs or a tapered one. You can't just shove a .375 plug into a .308 case mouth. So if you have access to a 32 and 35 caliber expander (either pistol or rifle) you can expand it in steps. I made a tapered expander die with my lathe, but a tapered punch would possibly work if you lubed it up and rammed it through the die hole so you can grip it with pliers to pull it out. You might also use something like the Lee universal expander die to put enough of a flare on the mouth to let the expander enter.
I also suggest you anneal the neck and shoulder before forming or you're going to lose quite a few to split necks.
This is all because 375 win brass is almost impossible to get here!
From what I have gathered do google searches; using a lee universal decapper die body, but using a 33 WCF, a 35 Whelan and a 375H&H expander in the die might be the way to gently open up a 30-30 case as they all have gentle shoulder and therefore I assume a more gradual taper on the expander. The second two would have to be trimmed shorter however!
The case should be annealed prior to forming.
After expanding the 30-30 case up to 338-358-375 tapered, the brass could then be full length sized using a 375 FL die.
Is this on the right track?
The reason I don't want to fire form is; if a vertical shot is required for even expansion. The range at which I shot will ban me if I start taking vertical shots, even if there is no bullet and its for fire forming!
From what I have gathered do google searches; using a lee universal decapper die body, but using a 33 WCF, a 35 Whelan and a 375H&H expander in the die might be the way to gently open up a 30-30 case as they all have gentle shoulder and therefore I assume a more gradual taper on the expander. The second two would have to be trimmed shorter however!
The case should be annealed prior to forming.
After expanding the 30-30 case up to 338-358-375 tapered, the brass could then be full length sized using a 375 FL die.
Is this on the right track?
The reason I don't want to fire form is; if a vertical shot is required for even expansion. The range at which I shot will ban me if I start taking vertical shots, even if there is no bullet and its for fire forming!
Elkins45
Member
I use a cheap cast lead bullet and shoot horizontally. Fire forming with a bullet.
If you drop 10 grains of Unique into the case, fill wil cream of wheat or corn meal and then plug the mouth with paraffin wax you should be able to shoot horizontally if you load the case gently. Plan on doing a lot of bore scrubbing--this is a slow and messy process.
If you drop 10 grains of Unique into the case, fill wil cream of wheat or corn meal and then plug the mouth with paraffin wax you should be able to shoot horizontally if you load the case gently. Plan on doing a lot of bore scrubbing--this is a slow and messy process.
Catshooter
Member
Fer crying out loud andym, why didn't you say so in the first place!
Fire forming them is easy. Here how I did about 300 30-30s into 38-55s
Annealed the necks.
Nine grains of HS-6. This was more than needed, but I'd never done it before, I got a lot of it and it worked fine.
Fill the rest of the case with Cream Of Wheat breakfast cereal, to within 1/8th to 1/4 inch of the case mouth.
With my thumb I then pushed in enough bullet lube to seal the case.
Load and shoot just like a real round. Necks and mouths all came out nice and round. They then loaded just fine.
Mine would even feed from the mag of my 94 so they formed pretty quickly.
Cat
Fire forming them is easy. Here how I did about 300 30-30s into 38-55s
Annealed the necks.
Nine grains of HS-6. This was more than needed, but I'd never done it before, I got a lot of it and it worked fine.
Fill the rest of the case with Cream Of Wheat breakfast cereal, to within 1/8th to 1/4 inch of the case mouth.
With my thumb I then pushed in enough bullet lube to seal the case.
Load and shoot just like a real round. Necks and mouths all came out nice and round. They then loaded just fine.
Mine would even feed from the mag of my 94 so they formed pretty quickly.
Cat
It seems I may have been misinformed about the necessity to fire-form with the barrel in a vertical position!
So after forming them you just chamfer the necks square using a lee cutter and case length gauge, as if you were just trimming to length!
So after forming them you just chamfer the necks square using a lee cutter and case length gauge, as if you were just trimming to length!
Catshooter
Member
Yep. The above is what I did when I bought my first 38-55 and couldn't afford or find brass. I shot over 1,000 rounds with the blown out 30-30 brass. Worked a treat.
My only problem was I over did the annealing and got some of the brass too soft. I would loose some during reloading.
My load with AA 2230 and Lyman's 375449 shot into about three inches at 150 yards, from the bench, with me shooting. Sized and checked the bullet went 285 grains and was doing over 1750 fps. Not a maximum load but no slouch either.
I like 'em.
Cat
My only problem was I over did the annealing and got some of the brass too soft. I would loose some during reloading.
My load with AA 2230 and Lyman's 375449 shot into about three inches at 150 yards, from the bench, with me shooting. Sized and checked the bullet went 285 grains and was doing over 1750 fps. Not a maximum load but no slouch either.
I like 'em.
Cat
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Who said not to use .38-55 brass and why???
Actually .38-55 should be a lot easier to find. Starline makes it in two different lengths, as well as Winchester. Only one maker of .375 cases.
Catshooter
Member
He's in Australia Craig.
Cat
Cat
Sport45
Member
I filled the 30-30 case with corn meal over about 5gr of pistol powder. Plugged the neck with bar soap.
Shot them with the barrel pointed down (maybe 10-15 feet in front of me) to keep any corn meal in the barrel from falling back into the action of the '94.
I remember it smelled something like cornbread cooking.
Shot them with the barrel pointed down (maybe 10-15 feet in front of me) to keep any corn meal in the barrel from falling back into the action of the '94.
I remember it smelled something like cornbread cooking.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I figured this out three or four threads ago.
Catshooter
Member
Oh, ok.
I don't know the availability of components down under and from your statement I thought you didn't realize his location.
No sweat.
Cat
I don't know the availability of components down under and from your statement I thought you didn't realize his location.
No sweat.
Cat
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I have no idea what he has available to him so I just try to provide every nugget of information possible.
Elkins45
Member
That's what I do. I assume your concern about not holding them vertically is that they might not form concentrically? I haven't found this to be an issue. Besides, are you really certain you can hold the rifle perfectly vertical? The case will likely tilt a bit anyway.
Have you ever held a rifle vertically and fireformed with corn meal or COW? If you ever do then let me give you some advice: wear old clothes and a big hat.
Sport45
Member
The rim will hold the case straight and centered in the chamber. At least "good enough" for me. We're not really talking about benchrest competition guns here.
- Status
