handloading the .30-30

[milboltnut]

I need to know if less than .002 neck tension is ok to shoot in a lever gun. I want to try .001.

[Ray]

Deleted.

[Jay Bird]

.

[piller]

That is a lot of pressure rise for a .30-30.

[wvfarrier]

I shoot and reload A LOT of 30-30 and have for the past twenty years. Never once have I paid attention to neck tension. This isnt a high pressure or long range cartridge. Resize properly, anneal and focus more on working up a load that shoots the best in your rifle.

[Larkbill]

I rarely use the magazine on my lever .30-30s, but any time I do the bullets are crimped with the Lee FCD.

1/2 my guns are bolt guns, but even for cast bullets (.311) I use the FCD.

[JimT]

I shoot and reload A LOT of 30-30 and have for the past twenty years. Never once have I paid attention to neck tension. This isnt a high pressure or long range cartridge. Resize properly, anneal and focus more on working up a load that shoots the best in your rifle.

I beg to differ sir. I have used the 30-30 to shoot targets past 1120 yards!
It only took me 30 + shots to get a hit on the White Buffalo!

https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/3030longrange.htm

[Jay Bird]

Funny how some posts will sit for a week unanswered until one person jumps on it and then it's party time..

[wvfarrier]

I shoot and reload A LOT of 30-30 and have for the past twenty years. Never once have I paid attention to neck tension. This isnt a high pressure or long range cartridge. Resize properly, anneal and focus more on working up a load that shoots the best in your rifle.

I beg to differ sir. I have used the 30-30 to shoot targets past 1120 yards!
It only took me 30 + shots to get a hit on the White Buffalo!

https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/3030longrange.htm

Sounds like me shooting my 1911

[piller]

Having shot the Army 1100 meter target with the M60, I understand that it is not a sure thing to hit it with 7.62 NATO. The .30-30 does not have the same velocity, and it takes some skill to hit a target at that distance. Sure feels good when you do hit the 1100 meter target.

Now, has anyone else hit a 2.5 inch by 6 inch target from 3,000 meters with a T.O.W.? I did it 3 times for record, and there were a few who could do it better. Guided missiles are much easier to hit a target with than a .30-30 is. Holding the LASER designator on the 2.5 by 6 inch sensor on the 3 square meter target moving 15 kilometers per hour at 1,000 meters for 60 seconds was the minimum qualification score back in 1987-1991. This is just to use as a comparison. Different launching platforms can make longer distances easier to hit.

[stretch]

I need to know if less than .002 neck tension is ok to shoot in a lever gun. I want to try .001.

Why?

What's the problem you're trying to solve?

-Stretch

[Griff]

I need to know if less than .002 neck tension is ok to shoot in a lever gun. I want to try .001.

This is probably shameful of me... but... I'm going to assume you're referring to the difference between bullet diameter and the inside neck dimension? IMO, the critical difference for accuracy is between groove & bullet diameters! I only shoot .30-30s from leverguns w/tubular magazines... so, I really on proper crimp to keep from telescoping bullets in the mag under recoil.

Are you collapsing necks during the seating process with a difference of .002"? If so, chamfer the inside of your case mouths.

[OldWin]

I need to know if less than .002 neck tension is ok to shoot in a lever gun. I want to try .001.

This is probably shameful of me... but... I'm going to assume you're referring to the difference between bullet diameter and the inside neck dimension? IMO, the critical difference for accuracy is between groove & bullet diameters! I only shoot .30-30s from leverguns w/tubular magazines... so, I really on proper crimp to keep from telescoping bullets in the mag under recoil.

Are you collapsing necks during the seating process with a difference of .002"? If so, chamfer the inside of your case mouths.

This!