Yes I am a wild man with zero impulse control.....

3 new rifles and need to buy dies for reloading for them.

.357, I will be using the XTP 125 bullets and ... 125 moly coated lead - if they will group for me.

30-30 will be using jacketed bullets

38-55 - will be using whatever will shoot through the Marlin 336 CB

Loaded a lot of pistol ammo but very limited in rifle reloading (only Highpower Silhouette) ....
Please help me get the right stuff the first time around...

Merlin,

You are going to get a lot of input on these questions, so here is my .02.

.357 - Any good die set that will give you a good crimp will do. My preference is the RCBS 3-die carbide roll crimp set.
30-30 - The Lee Pacesetter 3 die set with Factory Crimp Die has worked well for me.
38-55 - RCBS Cowboy dies are by far the best choice here. They are set up for loading the proper size bullet and will give a nice roll crimp.

For 38-55 projectiles, if you will be casting your own, I have had exceptional results with the Lee 379-250RF mold. I cast with a 20:1 alloy and pan lube them with SPG. My mold drops bullets right at .380, which I shoot as cast in my 336 CB. I have had excellent results with this combination.

Greg

For the 30-30, I found that RCBS, Lee, and Redding dies all undersize the neck resulting in 5-7/1000's inch neck tension. I could barely pull bullets!

I spent the money on bushing neck die where I controlled neck tension with .002" tension

I immediately got improved accuracy

I use Forster bench rest seating die for short 110gr bullets

Old Herters .30-30 Dies I picked up in a garage sale. Perfect match to the old 1948 336 A I bought for $199 (+25 for delivery) about a dozen years ago when starting to play this game.

Al Bean

Can't beat the Lee Factory Crimp die for a nice consistent crimp.

ppkny wrote:Can't beat the Lee Factory Crimp die for a nice consistent crimp.

General recommendation or one caliber in specific...?

Merlin
The Lee factory crimp die is caliber specific. You can put a crimp on any bullet with them if you like.

I quit crimping. Don't need it. Plus it creates a situation where you have inconsistent neck tension. I know others will disagree with this approach. But I'm loading for a shooting match not deer hunting. There's plenty of neck tension to hold the bullet

I got better accuracy seating the bullet to a depth that my chamber likes. i also anneal the necks once every 5 loads so they're all consistent

But what do I know??

Joe,
What size bushing do you use for 30-30 proper neck tension? I have a mix of Remington, Hornady and Winchester brass.
Thanks
Larry

Re: Proper/Best DIes for Lever Rifle reloading




Quote


Unread postby edgehit » Wed Apr 27, 2016 8:49 am

For the 30-30, I found that RCBS, Lee, and Redding dies all undersize the neck resulting in 5-7/1000's inch neck tension. I could barely pull bullets!

I spent the money on bushing neck die where I controlled neck tension with .002" tension

I immediately got improved accuracy

Renco, not Joe, but....
It's best to stick to one brand as neck thickness varies. So, get a ball micrometer and measure the neck wall thickness on your brass. Once you determine the average (say, .013) multiply it by two. Then add the bullet diameter you are using, (so .026 + .309) and subtract .002--- (.335 - .002 = .333 bushing diameter) and that diameter will give you on the average .002 neck tension. My numbers are for example only....Neck thickness can vary quite a bit between brands, so a bushing may work for only one brand of brass.

Bushing neck die is the way to go. CH4D.

Boats