Loading 30-06 for Garand w/Lee Hand Press

[Yusuke Komiya]

I was wondering if anyone had experience with this? I'd imagine sizing the brass would be the most difficult part. I will setting up a bench in the near future, but I wanted to see if I could start getting into reloading as soon as possible.

[Ross]

I use an RCBS single stage.

There's a few recipes out there (cmp.org) with, as I recall, 47gr of 4895. (DO NOT RELY ON MY MEMORY FOR THIS). Very good load.

[Bumslie]

You can do it. Dont forget about trimming.



47gr of imr 4895 under 147-155 gr bullet and you're golden.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Catch]

Some case lube will make the sizing easier.
Trimming is a pain.

[God Bless America]

Done it. Sizing was easy. Using military brass. No problem at all. Got some good groups too. I used Imperial sizing wax, these days I have moved on to RCBS or Midway's spray lube. Either will work.

[For54]

I started off with the Lee hand press for reloading 30-06. While it does work, it's not the best solution. Full length resizing fatigues the hands because the hands take all the pressure on that press. After reloading about 200 rounds of 30-06 with the hand press, I was looking for a better solultion.

I switched to a single stage press that I clamp to the desk when I need it. This is much easier to full length resize 30-06 than the hand press.

[rm1911]

You can do it. Dont forget about trimming.



47gr of imr 4895 under 147-155 gr bullet and you're golden.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

That is THE load.

To trim on the cheap, but very effective way, get the Lee trimmer that you chuck into a drill. Under $20 for all the parts needed. And each caliber extra is like $7 each.

[Dragginpanda]

There’s a Lee Zip Trim. Just pull the string

[17+1]

Some case lube will make the sizing easier.
Trimming is a pain.

Even with lube it’s going to be tough.

308/30-06 gun brass resizing on a bench top press takes a lot of effort. Can’t imagine with a hand press.

OP, I’d wait until I had a bench mount if it were me. Maybe save the hand press for 223 or bolt gun brass.

[NorCalFocus]

You've never used sizing wax before have you? Makes sizing even the hardest cases easy(er).


OP make sure to get sizing wax and that will help. While I'm not a fan of neck only sizing, in your case it would make resizing the brass much easier too.

[17+1]

You've never used sizing wax before have you? Makes sizing even the hardest cases easy(er).


OP make sure to get sizing wax and that will help. While I'm not a fan of neck only sizing, in your case it would make resizing the brass much easier too.

Yep, every time. Have a case lube pad and everything. Even use an old 22 or 30 cal chamber mop to lube the mouths before sizing. Full house 308 fired in a non match chamber is a chore to resize.

[NorCalFocus]

Yep, every time. Have a case lube pad and everything. Even use an old 22 or 30 cal chamber mop to lube the mouths before sizing. Full house 308 fired in a non match chamber is a chore to resize.

[17+1]

[Spoilerv2]

I started off with a lee hand press. I got it free when an acquaintance was clearing out his storage unit.

With harder rifle cartridges, I use to chuck the back end on the edge of my table vice. But I’ve since then moved on to lee single stage press.

[NorCalFocus]