Lever action and seating depth

[bstomper]

I realize this is a long range forum but I thought I would ask the question anyway. I am reloading for my Winchester model 94 30-30. When i do load development do I do it the same as for a bolt action as far as looking for pressure signs. Load till I see pressure and back off. What about seating depth, do I stick with SAMMI listed lengths and just go with the most accurate load without pressure signs or can it be adjusted to close up groups.

 

[Left Hand Dave]

Lever actions are OAL sensitive when it comes to feeding. They also use tubular magazines so crimping is important to keep the rounds from pushing the bullets in the rounds behind them further into the case. You also want to keep in mind lever actions are not as strong as bolt actions. I don't load for any bottleneck cartridges in lever guns but with the straight wall cases I stick with the book maximums and OAL. I have never had a problem finding an accurate load by changing powders or bullets. I love lever guns but you have to remember they are not designed as long distance tack drivers. You are better off loading it for its intended purpose and being safe. Have fun with that lever gun.
Dave

 

[Greyfox]

Agree with Left Hand Dave. I generally use bullets designed for the 30-30 that have a cannelure, and crimp at the cannelure. Insurance that the bullets don't get set back in the case while stacked in the tubular magazine. Accuracy is un-affected with my open sighted Win 94 used in the woodlands.

 

[bigedp51]

I realize this is a long range forum but I thought I would ask the question anyway. I am reloading for my Winchester model 94 30-30. When i do load development do I do it the same as for a bolt action as far as looking for pressure signs. Load till I see pressure and back off. What about seating depth, do I stick with SAMMI listed lengths and just go with the most accurate load without pressure signs or can it be adjusted to close up groups.

The max pressure of the 30-30 Winchester is 38,000 cup or 42,000 psi so you going to have lack of pressure signs. Meaning soot on the case neck, backed out protruding primers, and cases that die of split necks from being loaded so many times. So pick bullets with a cannelure and crimp them to the reloading manual OAL

I load for my Winchester 94 and my sons Marlin 336 and keep it simple. Meaning they are lever action rifles and not bolt action bench rest rifles.

Below my 30-30 Winchester 94 Trapper model with a 16 inch barrel on the bottom. And on the top a mint 1950 Canadian Longbranch .303 British No.4 Enfield rifle with a 25 inch barrel. The reason I post this photo is because the .303 British is loaded to 45,000 cup or 49,000 psi. Meaning the higher .303 British chamber pressure will cause the cases to stretch to meet the bolt face. And the lower pressure 30-30 cases will have protruding primers because the pressure is not high enough to make the brass stretch to meet the bolt face.

Below something you will never see at 30-30 Winchester chamber pressures and cases stretching beyond their elastic limits. Meaning all you should ever see are slightly protruding primers on your 30-30.

 

[bstomper]

Good to know. Thanks guys. You answered my question. I will use the manual COAL and just shoot for groups.

 

[flashhole]

Some good info above. My experience with a 30-30 lever gun was bullet choice has a huge influence on accuracy. Im my case, my Marlin 336 with the micro groove barrel the 170 grain bullets were extremely accurate. Lower weight bullets looked more like a shotgun pattern than a rifle group.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Just to add, I found with both my 336 and model 92 that once max was passed, the lever would become slightly stiffer to open.
No other pressure signs would be visible.
In fact, on all loads with the 30-30 the primers were protruding past the surface of the case head, even though extraction was getting sticky.
The 92 was pointless trying to see pressure signs as the ejector on those allows the primer to flow into the recess deforming the primer for inspection anyway.

Cheers.

 

[jjmp]

Just wanted to add 30/30 brass can me annealed,if you need some done let's talk I've done more then a few .cheers