reloading

[two bit okie]

As I am currently looking for a mod 94 in 30-30, which will be fed only cast bullets, I need some info on loading cast bullets in 30-30. When I prep the cases, will I need to bell the cases a little to start the bullets, or just stuff them the down the throat?????

[felix]

Bell them, until you get dies that perfectly match the gun from a custom die maker. ... felix

[Calamity Jake]

Lyman "M" die with custom expander(from Lyman) .002 under required boolit size.

After getting the rifle, slug the bore, size boolits .001-.002 over bore dia.
Order "M" die with expander .002 under boolit dia.

[acl864]

I use a Universal Expander Die from Lee. It bells out the case mouth slightly. Works on most calibers and costs less than $15. Works fine for a plinker like me.

[jh45gun]

I use a Universal Expander Die from Lee. It bells out the case mouth slightly. Works on most calibers and costs less than $15. Works fine for a plinker like me.

I too find the Lee tool to work well for belling the cases and use it for all my cast bullet calibers.

[excavman]

Ditto on the Lee expander, works great and cheap. too.

Larry

[Charlie Sometimes]

2nd the Lyman M Die- I find they expand the neck slightly so the boolit is not squeezed out of size. Flaring is not enough sometimes.

[GabbyM]

Lyman M die gets my vote. I have one for all my cast bullet loads.
For a mould. Lyman #311041 is the classic 30-30 bullet. I've a custom mould which is nothing but a Lyman with a fat nose and .100" front drive band. For big critters the RCBS 30-180-FN will weigh out at around 197 grains in 2% tin 4% antimony alloy. Since it's calibrated for Linotype 4/12 alloy. Its as big a bullet as you will want to shoot from a 30-30 and makes a big hunk of lead even for the 30-06. The lighter Lyman 311041 will give higher velocity from a 30-30 to give better expansion out to any hunting ranges. The RCBS 30-180-FN seams to kill deer out of proportion to ballistic numbers though. Acquaintance of mine used one of my boolits loaded sub sonic from a Mauser based 7,62 x 39mm for a two step kill on his deer last fall. Heart lung shot with big exit wound. Soft alloy but may have had some yaw also. Hard to say. Either one will get er done.

[mroliver77]

I third the M die. It expands the brass and bells mouth.If you go with a spud .002 under boolit size case will then spring back approx .002 and give you .004 difference than boolit size. I like .002 but do get tired of fitting EVERY gun boolit combination I have and punt on some of them.ome guns are very forgiving, others want evrything just right.
Jay

[Larry Gibson]

Lyman M die - the .31 one if you are going to use cast bullets sized .311 (seems to be the best sizing for most every M94 I used over the years). 311041 is the bullet of chice. A RCBS X-die will save a lot of case trimming if you are pushing factory duplication loads. It will also dramatically increase case life.

Larry Gibson

[FredT]

Gotta use the "M" die. Just flaring only for cast is not enough to do it right.

Read up on the "M" die. You will see why it is as good as it is.