.30 Carbine Brass

Sixer · February 2, 2009, 05:36 PM

I'm just getting set up to start reloading and I really want to start off with .30 Carbine ammo. So far I'm having a hard time finding brass and projectiles. I've searched dozens of websites but can't seem to find much. Does anyone know of a good source for .30 Carbine brass and bullets? Thanks!

Crosshair · February 2, 2009, 07:07 PM

Well, the Berrys plated bullets are relatively cheap and work well in my experience.

Berrys 30 Carbine Bullet.

Brass is going to be a bit harder. Many places are out of once fired.

Qtiphky · February 2, 2009, 07:53 PM

I just ordered some from cabelas.com. A little more expensive than some other places, but they had it in stock.

Crosshair · February 2, 2009, 10:18 PM

Of course the 30 carbine is a straight wall case, so with carbide dies you will get quite a few reloads per case. Many more than with a bottleneck case.

firewrench044 · February 2, 2009, 10:19 PM

Midway has the brass, Graf & Sons has Sierra pro hunter FMJ in stock, I
did not check any further
I think Berry"s bullets are plated, tried them but could not get a good patern
and still operate the gas system, you do not need this type of problem with
your first try at loading

My carbine is picky it does not like hard primers (CCIs ) and it does not like
plated bullets, it likes Rem., Win., or Sierra, I also have had tighter paterns with Win.296 and H110 burns dirtier in my carbine

**44 AMP** · February 2, 2009, 11:44 PM

The .30m carbine case has a very slight taper, about .02 from the head to the mouth. I don't know if they still do, but in the old days, they used to recommend lightly lubing the cases, even when using carbide dies.

Lead (cast or swaged) bullets should not be used in the carbine, as fouling can clog the gas port. Jacketed or plated bullets will do better.

Sevens · February 3, 2009, 08:14 AM

If you don't use lube, you will stick a piece of brass in a carbide die when sizing .30 Carbine.

There's no doubt that it's tapered, it's one of the toughest cases to resize out there.

Magnum Wheel Man · February 3, 2009, 08:25 AM

I use a 100 grain plinker bullet for most of my reloads ( speer maybe ??? )

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=618190

also use these short jackets...

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=222789

both of the bullets listed above work well, & are almost like shooting gas checked cast bullets with less hastle...but you can also find lots of 100-110 grain fmj bullets listed here...

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...9016***7243***
at
as far as brass... most of mine is Remington, bought as yellow box loaded ammo & saved... a quick look at Midways listing for 30 Carbine, shows Remington on back order, but available soon, & Remington nickle plated available

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...*670***9013***

Midsouth has Remington brass in stock...

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...52%42%49%4E%45

sundog · February 3, 2009, 09:00 AM

Cast works just fine in the 30 carbine.

lmccrock · February 3, 2009, 10:43 AM

My experience with 30 carbine was that the cases needed to be trimmed after about 2 reloadings. Sizing stretches them enough that they no longer chamber, in a carbine or a Blackhawk. That was with an RCBS die. Especially fun in the Blackhawk as I wondered why the cylinder bound up and would not turn - rounds too long and they were dragging on the frame.

My source of brass was buying ammo and saving the cases, although that was some years ago. I bought some brass at a gun show (long time ago), and it was pretty bad. The primer pockets were loose and shallow so I trashed the lot. I do not remember the brand, but it was nickel plated.

Lee

GerryG · February 3, 2009, 11:55 AM

Be careful of LC52 brass. Some were made by Comm. China and were berdan primed.

Gerry

Crosshair · February 3, 2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

The .30m carbine case has a very slight taper, about .02 from the head to the mouth. I don't know if they still do, but in the old days, they used to recommend lightly lubing the cases, even when using carbide dies.

OK, yes a slight taper. My point was that you tend to get quite a few more reloads out of a 30 carbine vs a .223 or such bottleneck cartridges.

wncchester · February 3, 2009, 10:24 PM

"OK, yes a slight taper. My point was that you tend to get quite a few more reloads out of a 30 carbine vs a .223 or such bottleneck cartridges."

That's not been my experiece, especially with carbide sizers. A carbide die MAKES IT A STRAIGHT WALLED CASE and that means the midsection is sized much more than it would be in a proper steel die. Cases fail when the middle splits and that doesn't take a lot of loads, at least for me. I went back to my old steel die because of the rapid case failure rate.

February 2, 2009, 05:36 PM	#1
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,891	.30 Carbine Brass I'm just getting set up to start reloading and I really want to start off with .30 Carbine ammo. So far I'm having a hard time finding brass and projectiles. I've searched dozens of websites but can't seem to find much. Does anyone know of a good source for .30 Carbine brass and bullets? Thanks!

February 2, 2009, 07:07 PM	#2
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	Well, the Berrys plated bullets are relatively cheap and work well in my experience. Berrys 30 Carbine Bullet. Brass is going to be a bit harder. Many places are out of once fired. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

February 2, 2009, 07:53 PM	#3
Qtiphky Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2008 Location: Upper Michigan, above the Mackinac Bridge Posts: 568	Cabela's I just ordered some from cabelas.com. A little more expensive than some other places, but they had it in stock.

February 2, 2009, 10:18 PM	#4
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	Of course the 30 carbine is a straight wall case, so with carbide dies you will get quite a few reloads per case. Many more than with a bottleneck case. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

February 2, 2009, 11:44 PM	#6
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,921	actually, it is not a straight walled case The .30m carbine case has a very slight taper, about .02 from the head to the mouth. I don't know if they still do, but in the old days, they used to recommend lightly lubing the cases, even when using carbide dies. Lead (cast or swaged) bullets should not be used in the carbine, as fouling can clog the gas port. Jacketed or plated bullets will do better. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 2, 2009, 10:19 PM	#5
firewrench044 Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 381	Midway has the brass, Graf & Sons has Sierra pro hunter FMJ in stock, I did not check any further I think Berry"s bullets are plated, tried them but could not get a good patern and still operate the gas system, you do not need this type of problem with your first try at loading My carbine is picky it does not like hard primers (CCIs ) and it does not like plated bullets, it likes Rem., Win., or Sierra, I also have had tighter paterns with Win.296 and H110 burns dirtier in my carbine

February 3, 2009, 08:14 AM	#7
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,757	If you don't use lube, you will stick a piece of brass in a carbide die when sizing .30 Carbine. There's no doubt that it's tapered, it's one of the toughest cases to resize out there. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 3, 2009, 08:25 AM	#8
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I use a 100 grain plinker bullet for most of my reloads ( speer maybe ??? ) http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=618190 also use these short jackets... http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=222789 both of the bullets listed above work well, & are almost like shooting gas checked cast bullets with less hastle...but you can also find lots of 100-110 grain fmj bullets listed here... http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...9016*7243* at as far as brass... most of mine is Remington, bought as yellow box loaded ammo & saved... a quick look at Midways listing for 30 Carbine, shows Remington on back order, but available soon, & Remington nickle plated available http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...6709013* Midsouth has Remington brass in stock... http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...52%42%49%4E%45 __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust... Last edited by Magnum Wheel Man; February 3, 2009 at 09:46 AM.

February 3, 2009, 09:00 AM	#9
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 782	Cast works just fine in the 30 carbine. __________________ safety first

February 3, 2009, 10:43 AM	#10
lmccrock Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2007 Location: Red Rock. TX Posts: 820	My experience with 30 carbine was that the cases needed to be trimmed after about 2 reloadings. Sizing stretches them enough that they no longer chamber, in a carbine or a Blackhawk. That was with an RCBS die. Especially fun in the Blackhawk as I wondered why the cylinder bound up and would not turn - rounds too long and they were dragging on the frame. My source of brass was buying ammo and saving the cases, although that was some years ago. I bought some brass at a gun show (long time ago), and it was pretty bad. The primer pockets were loose and shallow so I trashed the lot. I do not remember the brand, but it was nickel plated. Lee

February 3, 2009, 11:55 AM	#11
GerryG Member Join Date: March 21, 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 17	Be careful of LC52 brass. Some were made by Comm. China and were berdan primed. Gerry

February 3, 2009, 10:24 PM	#13
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"OK, yes a slight taper. My point was that you tend to get quite a few more reloads out of a 30 carbine vs a .223 or such bottleneck cartridges." That's not been my experiece, especially with carbide sizers. A carbide die MAKES IT A STRAIGHT WALLED CASE and that means the midsection is sized much more than it would be in a proper steel die. Cases fail when the middle splits and that doesn't take a lot of loads, at least for me. I went back to my old steel die because of the rapid case failure rate.