[pvdw]

Hi all.

I am starting to play with lead bullets in my 30-30.

I got the LEE 170gr FN mold and some 1000 LYMAN GS's. Bullets cast with pure lino at .311 and sized and GSed to .310 with RCBS LUBE O MATIC.

Now, what I want to know is what happen if I press the .310 GSed lead bullet into a brass case that has been sized and prepared for a .308 bullet?
Wouldn't the lead bullet be swaged down to say .309 or even .308 or is the brass soft enough to expand to acomodate the .310 lead bullet?
If the brass does expand/stretch to .310 doesn't that shorten the live of the brass?

I do open the case mouth a small bit like a bell just to give the GS a start and to make sure the brass doesn't shave the lead of the sides.

Last thing, would it be save to push those lead beans out the barrel at 2100ft/s or should I go slower. This would only be done for paper shooting and not hunting.

Thanks.

Peet in SA

 

[Chihuahua Floyd]

I would recommend a Hornady M die for loading cast bullets in any case. The brass will not swage the bullet down, but might shave off one side or the other. A correctly set expander die is almost a must for lead bullets, although with a GC it might not be needed as much. I shoot a lot of lead, but no GC bullets.
The 2100 fps shoud be obtainable without leading with the GC if you have everything sized right for that rifle and lubed well.
CF

 

[35remington]

A small flare may also be accomplished with a pair of needlenose pliers. A flare is needed to start the bullet and it doesn't matter how it is accomplished.....just that it is there.

The hard heel of a gaschecked bullet takes the force of expanding the case neck and no harm will come to the bullet if the case neck is flared.

There is no appreciable loss of brass life in loading a bullet of that diameter.

For target shooting you may want to save powder and cut down on the velocity some, or shoot a more economical lower cost powder to save some amount of money per shot.

 

[pvdw]

Thanks for the relpy's.

CF I had a look at the M dies you mentioned. The only info I could find was M dies from LYMAN but I am sure they work in the same way. I do have a lathe so I can make my own.

35remington I want a full load that will give me the same feel as my Sierra 170 FN hunting load. Reason for this is that I want to let my boys shoot with the lead in the off season to familiarize themselves with a load much the same as the hunting load ;D ;D

We do plink with the same bullets in the 30-30 and in my .303Brit. We use a local propellant called S221. It is a handgun proppellant much like BLUE DOT. 9-11gr behind the lead and there you go 8) 8) 8)

Thanks again.

Peet in SA