.30 Herrett setup help

Yankee_geezer · May 30, 2015, 01:59 PM

I have resurrected all my reloading paraphernalia after mothballing it in '75. Just started to take stock and see I need .30 Herrett reloads. Tried to set up the dies (Lyman All American) and cannot get the decapping/FL sizing die set up. The brass is once fired WW, and last 3/16" of case needs Arnold Scwarzneggar to pull that handle. Broke the neck clean off the only shell I proved strong enough for and didn't knock the primer all the way out. Help.

Jimro · May 30, 2015, 03:11 PM

Check the internals of the die for rust.

Also, dumb question, but you are lubing your cases?

Jimro

Salmoneye · May 31, 2015, 07:39 AM

Quote:

The brass is once fired WW

Once fired .30-30?

Or has this already been formed, trimmed, and fire-formed?

If .30-30 once fired, did you anneal the cases?

Yankee_geezer · June 1, 2015, 03:31 PM

New brass formed trimmed loaded and fired in my TC.

Yankee_geezer · June 1, 2015, 03:37 PM

Yes i'm lubing the cases, but I never thought about the die internals, i'll check for rust. The case that had its neck torn off showed no scratches or gouges or dents that i could see.

Salmoneye · June 2, 2015, 06:09 AM

If the cases have been fire formed in your chamber, then all you need to do is neck size...

At least that is all I ever did once my brass was fire formed in my Contender...

Yankee_geezer · June 2, 2015, 08:22 AM

How do I set the die to decap and neck size only? It's a 2 die set with the decapping pin in the FL die.

Salmoneye · June 2, 2015, 09:06 AM

Doesn't the pin have an adjustment?

All of my dies do...

You set the die body so that it only sizes the neck and leaves the shoulder alone, and then you adjust the pin in (down) so that it decaps reliably...

T. O'Heir · June 2, 2015, 02:33 PM

"...then all you need to do is neck size..." Until FL sizing is required, eventually. Neck sizing doesn't go on forever.
"...How do I set the die to..." You fiddle with the die body, up or down, until it neck sizes only. Or try a find a .30 Herrett neck sizer. Hate to think what that'd cost. .30 Herrett stuff won't be everywhere.

Salmoneye · June 2, 2015, 04:22 PM

It's been 20+ years since I sold off the Contender and barrels, but IIRC, after fire forming I do not recall ever needing to full length resize .30 or .357 Herrett again...

I do remember trimming once in a while, but that was after many loadings...

Greg Mercurio · June 2, 2015, 07:19 PM

1) Take the decapping rod out of the die.
2) Inspect the die body for 40 year old petrified crud.
3) Clean the die with carb cleaner or something that will remove the petrified lube.
4) Screw the die body into the press and work the die down in increments inspecting the case to the point where the neck is sized but the shoulder isn't touched. You can easily see the necking process as it moves along.
5) Set the locking ring.
6) Remove the die and add the decapping rod.
7) Put the die back in the press.
8) Have fun.

bbqncigars · June 2, 2015, 07:53 PM

Perhaps a silly question, but were the necks reamed? Making .30 Herrett brass was the biggest PITA I've ever dealt with in reloading. IIRC, the steps with virgin 30-30 brass were: push shoulder back (in stages); trim in trimming die; chamfer neck inside and out; ream with reamer and die. I will never do that stuff again. Making 25-20 from 32-20 is as far as I go these days. Thankyou Starline!

Yankee_geezer · June 4, 2015, 11:46 AM

The necks were reamed, scraped in and out to make the plug entry as trauma free as could be. johnd

May 30, 2015, 01:59 PM	#1
Yankee_geezer Junior Member Join Date: April 28, 2015 Location: Central Piedmont NC Posts: 8	.30 Herrett setup help I have resurrected all my reloading paraphernalia after mothballing it in '75. Just started to take stock and see I need .30 Herrett reloads. Tried to set up the dies (Lyman All American) and cannot get the decapping/FL sizing die set up. The brass is once fired WW, and last 3/16" of case needs Arnold Scwarzneggar to pull that handle. Broke the neck clean off the only shell I proved strong enough for and didn't knock the primer all the way out. Help.

May 30, 2015, 03:11 PM	#2
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	Check the internals of the die for rust. Also, dumb question, but you are lubing your cases? Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

June 1, 2015, 03:31 PM	#4
Yankee_geezer Junior Member Join Date: April 28, 2015 Location: Central Piedmont NC Posts: 8	.30 Herrett setup help New brass formed trimmed loaded and fired in my TC.

June 1, 2015, 03:37 PM	#5
Yankee_geezer Junior Member Join Date: April 28, 2015 Location: Central Piedmont NC Posts: 8	.30 Herrett setup help Yes i'm lubing the cases, but I never thought about the die internals, i'll check for rust. The case that had its neck torn off showed no scratches or gouges or dents that i could see.

June 2, 2015, 08:22 AM	#7
Yankee_geezer Junior Member Join Date: April 28, 2015 Location: Central Piedmont NC Posts: 8	.30 Herrett setup How do I set the die to decap and neck size only? It's a 2 die set with the decapping pin in the FL die.

June 2, 2015, 06:09 AM	#6
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	If the cases have been fire formed in your chamber, then all you need to do is neck size... At least that is all I ever did once my brass was fire formed in my Contender...

June 2, 2015, 09:06 AM	#8
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	Doesn't the pin have an adjustment? All of my dies do... You set the die body so that it only sizes the neck and leaves the shoulder alone, and then you adjust the pin in (down) so that it decaps reliably...

June 2, 2015, 02:33 PM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...then all you need to do is neck size..." Until FL sizing is required, eventually. Neck sizing doesn't go on forever. "...How do I set the die to..." You fiddle with the die body, up or down, until it neck sizes only. Or try a find a .30 Herrett neck sizer. Hate to think what that'd cost. .30 Herrett stuff won't be everywhere. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

June 2, 2015, 04:22 PM	#10
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	It's been 20+ years since I sold off the Contender and barrels, but IIRC, after fire forming I do not recall ever needing to full length resize .30 or .357 Herrett again... I do remember trimming once in a while, but that was after many loadings...

June 2, 2015, 07:19 PM	#11
Greg Mercurio Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Posts: 151	1) Take the decapping rod out of the die. 2) Inspect the die body for 40 year old petrified crud. 3) Clean the die with carb cleaner or something that will remove the petrified lube. 4) Screw the die body into the press and work the die down in increments inspecting the case to the point where the neck is sized but the shoulder isn't touched. You can easily see the necking process as it moves along. 5) Set the locking ring. 6) Remove the die and add the decapping rod. 7) Put the die back in the press. 8) Have fun. __________________ Old guy and NRA Life Member

June 2, 2015, 07:53 PM	#12
bbqncigars Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 525	Perhaps a silly question, but were the necks reamed? Making .30 Herrett brass was the biggest PITA I've ever dealt with in reloading. IIRC, the steps with virgin 30-30 brass were: push shoulder back (in stages); trim in trimming die; chamfer neck inside and out; ream with reamer and die. I will never do that stuff again. Making 25-20 from 32-20 is as far as I go these days. Thankyou Starline! __________________ "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant

June 4, 2015, 11:46 AM	#13
Yankee_geezer Junior Member Join Date: April 28, 2015 Location: Central Piedmont NC Posts: 8	.30Herrett The necks were reamed, scraped in and out to make the plug entry as trauma free as could be. johnd