Rifle dies for .30-30?

[Jtarm]

I’m gearing up to load .30-30 and cast rifle bullets for the first time (I’ve cast pistol for 30 years.)

Any preferred dies? I’ve always been an RCBS guy, but I’m open to something new if it’s better.

Do I need an M-die as well?

[Waleone]

I don't like working brass anymore than is necessary. Conventional neck or full length sizing dies size the necks too much, they are designed for jacketed bullets (smaller in diameter and more neck tension needed than with cast). With these dies you need the expander die to expand the neck more for cast bullets besides flaring the mouths. With that said I keep brass sorted specifically for cast bullets and specifically for each rifle and use bushing neck size dies with bushings chosen to give the neck tension I want with the larger diameter of cast bullets. I too am a RCBS guy, but my bushing neck size dies are either hand dies (L.E. Wilson or similar) used with an arbor press or Redding brand. I have case mouth expanders (Lyman 'M', RCBS and NOE) and use them when I need to. I have really gotten to like the NOE expanders and will be increasing my collection of them in the future.

Wayne

[BLAHUT]

I like and use LEE.

[imashooter2]

Lee dies are fine, but the Hornady seating dies are superior in every way. An M die helps quite a bit. If you currently have a Lee universal flaring die, NOE makes inserts that mimic the M die flare and you can choose between several diameters for the neck tension you want.

[slam45]

i have had very good results with the rcbs cowboy dies in 30-30 they use an M type expander... hornaday dies are an acquired taste, which come in the most awful box i have ever seen... a paper bag would be more useful...

[imashooter2]

LOL! The box isn’t great. The contents are terrific![smilie=l:

[PhilC]

i have had very good results with the rcbs cowboy dies in 30-30 they use an M type expander... hornaday dies are an acquired taste, which come in the most awful box i have ever seen... a paper bag would be more useful...
I agree on all counts.

[Harter66]

I'm an RCBS guy . I have CH , Redding , Forster , Hornady, Lee , Lachmiller, Pacific, Herters , and Lyman die sets too .

The difference between Lee and RCBS is worth every penny for the zero hassle warranty and being able to open the box , screw them in the press run a few over lubed cases and use them for 30 yr . Vs , Grit burrs , full disassembly, pre lubing, ........ I have Lee dies and after the first 2 sets gave me fits , kittens , and gouged shoulders I learned about the junk that ends up in the vent hole from new .

With that said I use a Lee 308 die with a .310 expander for a 30-30 neck die and FL RCBS .

I have 45-70 Redding dies and I do really like them especially at $25 on a gun show table . I have called on them for a different seating stem and in that instance they were as Jonny on the spot as RCBS .

I have a set of CH 32 Rem dies and they are the best set of dies I own . But there's no repair parts unless you buy them , there's at least 2 or 3 generations of dies and parts don't share . If you need a custom die for something out of print or just want a match grade minimum sizing die they're the go to and it's only about $15 more than the shelf dies .
I have a Forster Bench Rest FL , Neck , and competition in line micrometer seater for 264 WM absolutely great dies . They're $30-70 each . I didn't pay that much for them I think I gave $60 shipped and the guy threw in a set of RCBS 6.5×50 Japanese and a set of 6.5-257 AI dies too .

There's no way even as good as these are that I would pay 2-3 times more than RCBS for them new they aren't , at least to me , 150% the quality finish , and accuracy.

The Herters dies I think were made by the old CH vs CH4D and they are great dies also but obviously like Lachmiller and Pacific there's no support so if you have a problem your on your own .

Hornady should be better than it is my only complaint is at least with STP it's hard to keep them lubed and not over lubed ....... I use an 8×57 neck die for a really fat 7.7 that functionally may as well be a 8×57J .

[Mk42gunner]

Last time I loaded cast in the .30-30 Win, I used the normal RCBS two die set and neck expanded with the Lyman M-die from my .32 S&W/H&R die set. I do use 0.311" boolits in most of my .30 cal rifles so the .32 M-die works for me.

Robert

[TNsailorman]

I have C&H 30-30 dies and am quite happy with the results. I have used C&H, RCBS, Redding, Lyman, Hollywood, Hornady, Lachmiller, Bair, Pacific, and Lee over the last 50 plus years. I have not had any bad results with any of them. The Lee's would rust if I didn't wipe them down with oil good after handling them. Not Lee's fault, I seem to have acid or something in my sweat that rusts some metals if not oiled after use. I do use a Lyman M die for cast boolits in the 30-30. my experience anyway, james

[nicholst55]

I used RCBS dies to load .30-30 whenever I had one. I have two expander/decapper assemblies for the FL die; one has an expander for .308" jacketed bullets, and the other has an expander from a .303 British die set for use with cast bullets. Not as elegant as having a Lyman M die, but it always did the job.

[gwpercle]

I use standard RCBS 30-30 dies along with a Lyman M-die for neck expanding .
These days I would get a NOE expander plug in place of the M-Die ...
NOE wasn't making them when I started reloading cast in 30-30 ... I think Jimmy Carter was president at the time ... Al "Swede" Nelson may not have even been born then !
Gary

[stubshaft]

When I started reloading cast in 30-30 ... I think Jimmy Carter was president at the time ... Al "Swede" Nelson may not have even been born then !
Gary

Hah, I started when Johnson was in office!

[Three44s]

Started here when Ford was President!

I think I run RCBS standard FL dies for 30-30 Win but especially for cast, I can see the advantage of running a bushing sizer die to minimize overworking case necks.

For a seater die I like the new dimension Hornady.

Three44s

[Texas by God]

RCBS standard FL die set for a long time, but for the last decade or so Lee standard FL die set.
I’ve loaded cast for a Winchester 94, a Marlin 336, and my 1916 Mauser(30-30) with great results.


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[M-Tecs]

Hah, I started when Johnson was in office!

same for me.

[Land Owner]

311-041 FV - 2 cavity, steel, Lyman mold (still available)
309-170 - 1 cavity, steel, Lyman mold (unobtainium)

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I think most ASSUME you are loading for a LEVER ACTION. Started with Pacific dies(1964), seating die has separate adjustment for crimping. Using Lee dies now, though Redding are really nice, Lyman M die, a 30 and 31, my 30 measures .3065 with a .309 step, my 31 measures .3095 with 313 step. I use the Lyman M 31 for most cast. I do like the Lee Factory Crimp, if loading for a tube feed lever gun, but you can do a good job with most seating dies with some careful adjustment. I have used a Redding 's' bushing die in .308 for neck sizing but did not find any advantages to it. I use the Redding Competition shell holders to set headspace so sizing die adjustment is set by the shell holder, but I have used a Lyman 310 'Tong' Tool with good results if loading empties from the rifle in which they were fired. Mostly I use .310 185 Flatnose Gascheck bullets from Matt's Bullets. The Lyman 311041 works if not undersized, many other good molds, Lee , NOE, RCBS all have 30cal flatnose that work well. If NOT a lever or Savage pump gun crimp is not necessary and pointed and roundnose can be considered.

[popper]

IIRC my expander spud is 30P, goes full length of the neck. RCBS dies for cast, hornady for jacketed. If you anneal the cases, they won't fail as often.

[W.R.Buchanan]

My .30-30 dies are Lachmiller and they cost me $10 at a Gun Show. They work fine but I haven't loaded any .30-30's in years. If I was to replace them it would be Lee. The Lee Collet Neck Sizer is the best out there, and the Collet Crimper is perfect for Jacketed bullets. Just like .303 cases these should be neck sized only until you need to set back the shoulder a few thou. Then you need that F/L die.

Randy

[scattershot]

Never had a problem with Lee. I would recommend that you get a Lyman two stp M die, though. You’ll need one sooner or later for cast bullets.

[steveu]

Lee with the neck sizer die. Proper expander from NOE.

[lightman]

If you are happy with RCBS theres no reason not to continue with them. I would buy a separate Lyman "M" die since you plan to load cast.

[AZ Pete]

I use RCBS or Lyman 30-30 dies with an "M" expander for cast boolet loads. The Lyman dies date from my first experience with hand loading....JFK had just been elected. The "M" die was a much later acquisition.

[35 Rem]

RCBS Cowboy die sets come with the expander die that you need for cast bullets so it just makes sense to me to start there.