30 WCF Sizing

[KevH]

I just bought my first 30-30 a couple months ago. It is a pre-64 Winchester 1894 (1941 according to the serial number) carbine. I'm probably going to get a Lyman 311041 mold or something very similar from one of the vendors here.

My question is what should I size the bullet to and what do yo use to size it? I have a Lyman 45, but I see some posts on here that talk about it deforming 30-30 bullets.

[runfiverun]

i use .310 in my 30 cal's.
the rcbs 150 or 180 are very good in these rifles.
i have the 150 fn,and a 311041.
the rcbs 150 does so well in the leverguns i haven't even tried the 041 in them yet.

[stubshaft]

First slug the barrel!

[Larry Gibson]

I've been using .311 sized cast bullets (if they cast that large) in many 30-30s, mostly M94s but I have to admit to having and using a few Marlins over the years. Don't tell'em over on the Lever Action forum as it will ruin my anti-Marlin reputation there[smilie=l: I use .311 with both 311041 moulds and it works perfectly. I also use a Lyman .31 M-die with such sized cast bullets.

If you've not got dies yet I suggest the RCBS X Die for FL sizing as you won't have to trim and case life will be very, very good. I suggest a NS die for most cast bullet loads though, it will work fine if your cases are fired in just the one M94.

Larry Gibson

[geargnasher]

I personally wouldn't waste money on a Lyman mould, get one of KNOWN good quality from Accurate, RCBS, or one of the other fine custom mould makers that are mentioned often on this forum.

What I would do is invest in a Lee Collet neck sizing die, you can adjust it infinitely to give you the right tension for your sized boolit diameter, case neck thickness, and chamber neck dimensions. Also get the Lee FCD, it's the bee's knees for leverguns and you won't have to trim cases too often. Basically get the three die set plus the collet die, you'll be set and can FL size first-time brass or collet size brass that's been fired in your gun. You'll also need a separate expander die, I'd certainly get a Lyman M die in 31 caliber (NOT 30!!).

Gear

[troy_mclure]

i use the noe 311466 in both my win 94 .30wcf and savage 111 in .30-06.

its very accurate in both.

[prs]

Clean the barrel of copper and lead. As you do, get a feel for roughness. Once clean slug it. The slug will tell you how small NOT to go and will also give you an impression (pun intended) of the quality/quantity of rifling. The right answer to sizing may be no sizing at all. Tumble lube keeps you out of the 45 Lyman alltogether, but if you want traditional lube the 45 will serve well so long as you don't try to size too much and have a proper fitting tip punch. A rough barrel can be a problem and a fatter boolit with gas check might help tighten the groups a tad.

prs

[462]

Not that it necessarily matters for other guns, but for my pre-64 Model 94 I size the 308291 (311291) to .310". Yesterday, I got a larger sizing die and will be experimenting with them as cast.

Troy, isn't the 31166 a bit too pointy, for a tube magazine, or do you load only one round? I have a Lyman 311466, but never thought of using it.

[Bret4207]

.310-.311. Depends on the gun, load, design, alloy, etc. I'd look for .311 to start with. It's always easier to size down than up!

[KevH]

How do you slug a levergun?

[beagle]

I've always had best results with a .310" bullet. I have shot .311s but sometimes, they expand the case neck a little too much and cause hard chambering.

All of the old Lyman manuals use to specify .311" for all .30s, including the .30 Carbine, but they've about quit that business. No doubt it makes for an accurate load but it also causes other problems as I have mentioned./beagle

[Bret4207]

How do you slug a levergun?

One way is to get 2-3 sections of brass type rod a few inches long. Close the bolt, drop the rods into the barrel, follow with an undersized slug. Then use another brass or sleeved steel rod to upset the slug in the barrel. Open the action, let the rods come out, drive slug out. Of course you have to ensure beforehand that the rods are short enough to exit the action.

[XWrench3]

My marlin microgroove likes a .311" diameter projectile. The bore measures .308". I figured it was the microgroove needing a larger bullet to make it bite hard enough to take the rifling so it would not lead. Maybe i am mistaken. But it is what the rifle wants, and i have no problem feeding it what it likes.

[troy_mclure]

Not that it necessarily matters for other guns, but for my pre-64 Model 94 I size the 308291 (311291) to .310". Yesterday, I got a larger sizing die and will be experimenting with them as cast.

Troy, isn't the 31166 a bit too pointy, for a tube magazine, or do you load only one round? I have a Lyman 311466, but never thought of using it.

i dont think it is. its a fairly round point, besides the cartridge does not sit completely horizontal in the tube, the bullet and rim rest on tube.

[Wayne Smith]

And to answer your question about lubesizing, I've never had a boolit bend in the sizer. I've had more than a few bend when dropping into a bucket of water, but never in my sizer. I cast and size boolits for the 30-30, 7.65x55 Swiss, and the 8x56 Steyr and not had a problem.

[Centaur 1]

Nobody's mentioned Ranch Dog yet. Take a look at his C311-170-RF mold, it's a 6 cavity mold for only $60. He even has a .310" Lee sizing die for $15.35.

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5_16&products_id=129

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_33&products_id=58