30 Herret reloading questions

rrp · May 20, 2010, 09:26 PM

I've just started reloading for 30 Herret for the first time. The brass is coming along excellent. Formed and trimmed to 1.60. They fit nice in my contender and will fire the primer. I am still not able to find the correct overall length that I should use, for seating the bullets. I am going to use some rem 150 gr sp for fire forming the brass. I have read that I should fire form the brass with the same load that I will be using regularly. Is this right or wrong? I've also read that I should use a partial load of fast burning powder for the fire forming. I just want to be safe and do the right thing. Thanks

azklmsr · May 20, 2010, 09:40 PM

I've been shooting mine since about 1976. I think that means I'm old!

I ussually fire form with Hornady 100gr half jacket bullet (cheap) and 6 grains of titegroup or 8 grains of unique.

That flows the brass, fills out the shoulder, does not kick and is a lot of fun to plink with at 50 yards.

150's are pretty heavy for this caliber. Seams to be a lot happier at 125ish levels.

kurt

rrp · May 20, 2010, 09:48 PM

Thanks Kurt. I was going to use the 150's for the fire forming because I had some cheap bulk stuff sitting around here. I plan on using 125 gr Nosler ballistic tips for regular use. Do you happen to know where I can find the col for this round.? Thanks again, Rick

Scorch · May 21, 2010, 12:18 AM

Hornady #7 says max COAL is 2.320"

Lemmon · May 21, 2010, 10:39 AM

Maybe off the subject but speaking of the 30 Herret, I took a large deer with the 30 Herret TC. Used a new Remington 30-30 round, pulled and used the 150 grain flat nose bullet from it and reformed the brass with the original Remington primer to make that 30 Herret round. Don't remember the load but hit the deer in the chest and pulled a perfectly mushroomed bullet out at the tailbone when I cut him up. Very accurate and and a pleasure to shoot. Also liked the 35 Herret.

rrp · May 21, 2010, 10:57 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I've got about 40 pieces of brass ready to load for fire forming. I've had this barrel for a couple of years and thought it would be too much of a hassle to reload for. Not too bad at all. I got a set of dies on another forum and cut down the brass with my dremel, shaped it with my resizing die, and trimmed it to 1.6. It looks and fits great, so I think by Monday, I should have it ready for the range.

SL1 · May 24, 2010, 09:47 PM

Since you are new to reloading for the .30 Herrett and the Contender, I suggest that you read the articles here http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/ .

In particular, pay attention to the headspace issues. They can affect accuracy and case life. There is a LOT of misinformation about the .30 Herrett in the old reloading manuals, and much of it was simply repeated in the newer manuals rather than make substantial updates, since this cartridge is pretty much "out of favor" these days.

AS for the COL for this catridge, there really isn't one. It depends on how your particular barrel was chambered. Some have so much free-bore that you just can't get the bullet out to the rifling and still grip it with the case neck, while others have almost no throat and you need to be careful to not jam even short bullets into the rifling. That is one reason that load data varies so much. So, find the COL where the bullets you want to use hit YOUR rifling and then decide how close you want to (can) put the bullet to the rifling to get your COL.

SL1

May 20, 2010, 09:26 PM	#1
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	30 Herret reloading questions I've just started reloading for 30 Herret for the first time. The brass is coming along excellent. Formed and trimmed to 1.60. They fit nice in my contender and will fire the primer. I am still not able to find the correct overall length that I should use, for seating the bullets. I am going to use some rem 150 gr sp for fire forming the brass. I have read that I should fire form the brass with the same load that I will be using regularly. Is this right or wrong? I've also read that I should use a partial load of fast burning powder for the fire forming. I just want to be safe and do the right thing. Thanks

May 21, 2010, 12:18 AM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	Hornady #7 says max COAL is 2.320" __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

May 20, 2010, 09:40 PM	#2
azklmsr Member Join Date: December 17, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 32	I've been shooting mine since about 1976. I think that means I'm old! I ussually fire form with Hornady 100gr half jacket bullet (cheap) and 6 grains of titegroup or 8 grains of unique. That flows the brass, fills out the shoulder, does not kick and is a lot of fun to plink with at 50 yards. 150's are pretty heavy for this caliber. Seams to be a lot happier at 125ish levels. kurt

May 20, 2010, 09:48 PM	#3
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	Thanks Kurt. I was going to use the 150's for the fire forming because I had some cheap bulk stuff sitting around here. I plan on using 125 gr Nosler ballistic tips for regular use. Do you happen to know where I can find the col for this round.? Thanks again, Rick

May 21, 2010, 10:39 AM	#5
Lemmon Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2009 Location: Rural South Carolina Posts: 445	Maybe off the subject but speaking of the 30 Herret, I took a large deer with the 30 Herret TC. Used a new Remington 30-30 round, pulled and used the 150 grain flat nose bullet from it and reformed the brass with the original Remington primer to make that 30 Herret round. Don't remember the load but hit the deer in the chest and pulled a perfectly mushroomed bullet out at the tailbone when I cut him up. Very accurate and and a pleasure to shoot. Also liked the 35 Herret.

May 21, 2010, 10:57 PM	#6
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	Thanks for the help guys. I've got about 40 pieces of brass ready to load for fire forming. I've had this barrel for a couple of years and thought it would be too much of a hassle to reload for. Not too bad at all. I got a set of dies on another forum and cut down the brass with my dremel, shaped it with my resizing die, and trimmed it to 1.6. It looks and fits great, so I think by Monday, I should have it ready for the range.

May 24, 2010, 09:47 PM	#7
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Since you are new to reloading for the .30 Herrett and the Contender, I suggest that you read the articles here http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/ . In particular, pay attention to the headspace issues. They can affect accuracy and case life. There is a LOT of misinformation about the .30 Herrett in the old reloading manuals, and much of it was simply repeated in the newer manuals rather than make substantial updates, since this cartridge is pretty much "out of favor" these days. AS for the COL for this catridge, there really isn't one. It depends on how your particular barrel was chambered. Some have so much free-bore that you just can't get the bullet out to the rifling and still grip it with the case neck, while others have almost no throat and you need to be careful to not jam even short bullets into the rifling. That is one reason that load data varies so much. So, find the COL where the bullets you want to use hit YOUR rifling and then decide how close you want to (can) put the bullet to the rifling to get your COL. SL1