More equipment for more calibers

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Mad Trapper
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by Mad Trapper »

Thank you GG and Harry.
I really appreciate the advice, I will be careful.
Like I said, be my first time using 2400.
Ive noticed since I bought the 6 lbs last month, Ive not seen it in any other stores.
Sportsmans warehouse in Lexington carries the largest amount of supplies for reloading.
Cabaelas is down the road but I dont think they carry as much.
Sportsman warehouse never has 2400 when Im in there.
Could be someone is beating me to it.
My biggest concern is damaging the blackhawk.
Even though Ive never seen such a massive cylinder on a revolver.
I just picked up a second set of 30 carbine dies, (Lee).
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/44791 ... -3-die-set
Im still making up dummy rds, practicing with the crimp adjustment.
The blackhawk calls for a slight taper crimp, because the mouth of the case (headspaces) rests on a shoulder in the cylinder.
Doing a full roll crimp will cause the brass to push through, sliding past the shoulder and sticking out the other end and locking up cylinder rotation.
And toooo light a crimp, and the bullets may jump crimp with heavy recoil.
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by Ohio3Wheels »

I check my tapper crimps by pushing the bullet against the bench it it moves it's not tight enough. All the straight cases I load get tapper crimped.

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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by Mad Trapper »

Thank you 3wheels.
I will do that.
I usually try twisting the bullet while pushing and pulling, but that may not be enough.
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These speer .308 110 gr HPs that I bought for the 30-30 should do good in the 30 carbine.
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by donhuff »

MT,
You'll love the 30 blackhawk. It is my second favorite ruger with my 45C being the most favorite.

THAT IS, you'll love it AFTER, you get the hang of making the ammo so that it fits into the cylinder correctly. It can be frustrating sometimes. I use steel dies, so that the case resizes to the correct taper to fit the chambers. Yes you have to lube them but it's worth it. Size them down enough so that they will drop all the way into the chambers, and then will fall back out!

Trim your cases so that they are all the same length. Doing this first, will make things go a lot easier, especially with the taper crimping. I suggest that you get a Lee collet style factory crimp die. https://leeprecision.com/factory-crimp-die-30m1.html
This made dealing the the .30 so much easier. Cause even using a taper crimp, you sometimes end up bulging the case right under the crimp. The collet crimp doesn't do that, and usually the loaded rounds will fall back out of the chambers when you tilt the gun up. I even use that crimp die on my 32-20 loads too because that case is so thin and flimsy that it is super easy to buckle the case under the crimp. I loaded a couple hundred 32s a couple hours ago and used it then, it works a lot better than the roll or taper crimp on that case.

Seat your primers HARD to make sure they are all the way in. My gun is sensitive to the length from rear of cylinder, to the recoil plate. I say seat them hard because the 30C seems to require more pressure to get them in all the way, than most most other calibers do. It's so aggravating to be going through a cylinder full and get to #4 and it locks up because of a high primer. I modded the pawl on all of mine so that I can roll the cylinder both ways. That makes it alot easier to get the long round out, just open the gate and roll it backwards. (makes em easier to load too, not so much on the 30 but with a 44-45, just a little to far and click. Then you have to go all the way round again).

10.0 with a 150 grain bullet is not a low loading! I have never tried that heavy a bullet as I like the speed of the lighter ones. I have not taken to the "heavy for caliber" loads like most people seem to like. I usually use the 311008 bullet, Lyman or NOE @ 118 grains. I loaded a few today with 12.0 grains of 4227. I sometimes use 11.5 of 2400. I have tried some wit 15.0 of 300MP but I don't remember how they shot, but I bet they were LOUD as hail! They must not have done so good cause my notes say to try 15.5 and 16.0. This powder makes a huge fire ball but will usually out do H110/296 for velocity in 357s with heavy bullets.

BTW, That speer bullet works great in the carbine.
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by donhuff »

I for got to mention accuracy of the 30C ruger. It is usually amazingly accurate with almost anything you feed it.
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16" SS 92 357
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by Mad Trapper »

Thank you Donhuff for the valuable information.
I was reading an article where someone was punching 8" paper plates at 200 yds with the 30 blackhawk.
I find that hard to believe, especially since I can barely see a paper plate at 100 yds.
He had to have had a scope mounted, but still it is hard to swallow.
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by donhuff »

Believe it! It really is that accurate. Shoots pretty flat too.

I have shot some very small groups at 100 yards with mine. And it does this with , like I said, almost any combination of bullets and powders. I don't even have a favorite load for mine because it shoots everything so well. Though I guess I do tend to load the 311008 and 4227 the most.

I thought of another tip. The case is super strong. You will rarely ever loose one to cracks unless you do something wrong during resizing/loading and crunch one. But because of this, when you use cast bullets, they will need to be a little harder than plain ole lead. The case will tend to size down your bullets if they are to soft. So make them a little harder, AND it helps to have an expander that is close to the bullet size. Seems like mine is .308 or .309". I size my bullets @ .310 to better fit the cylinder throats, so with a .309 expander, after the case springs back a thousands or so, gives me a couple of thousands to expand for bullet grip. To check this, load a couple and then pull the bullets and measure to see if they shrunk.
Don Huff

to bad those that know it all, cant do it all!
16" SS 92 357
20" BL 92 357
20" SS 92 44
20" BL 92 44
20" Bl 92 45C
20" Bl 92 454
SS Rio Grande 30-30
Bl Rio Grande 45-70
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by Mad Trapper »

Thank you Don
I dont have the 311008, yet.
I did buy two molds last month, both RCBS,
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/13129 ... -gas-check
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/45204 ... -flat-nose
I got them for both the 30-30 and the 30 carbine.
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by GasGuzzler »

My turrets are still NOT here. Tracking shows today is the day. They've been at the Fort Worth Distribution Center since 1-11-18.
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Re: More equipment for more calibers

Post by Mad Trapper »

Could be bad weather.
Ive got dies that have been in Lexington the last few days due to heavy snow.
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