Do you crimp 30-30

[big103]

I`m doing some of my first reloads for 30-30 wondering if you guys crimp for it? Has anyone experienced anything like bullet set back because they dint crimp?


Let me know what happened to you. A lot of stuff on the net is either theorized, or hear say.

I have a Winchester 94.

[GeoffLinder]

Roll crimp is more than advised for 30-30. Tubular magazine in lever actions puts a lot of push on the rounds from recoil. This is why you use flat points so they don't set each other off in the tube.

[mjmagee67]

What he said!!

[ar15barrels]

I crimp my flat nosed bullets that may go into lever guns.
I don't crimp my pointed billets because I will be firing them in single shot contenders.

[GeoffLinder]

I crimp my flat nosed bullets that may go into lever guns.
I don't crimp my pointed billets because I will be firing them in single shot contenders.

Yup, I ignored the contender because 90% plus of folks reloading 30-30 are using it in lever actions and the OP did not specify, but you are correct for that specific application.

[mud99]

Crimp it or bad things happen.

[big103]

Yup, I ignored the contender because 90% plus of folks reloading 30-30 are using it in lever actions and the OP did not specify, but you are correct for that specific application.

Sorry about that fixed it. I have a Winchester model 94.

All right guys thanks for the heads up. But has anybody here not crimped and experienced bad things?

[Dark Mod]

Ive not crimped before and never experienced anything bad. I crimp now just because Its the right thing to do. The neck tension had been fine in the past when i was loading non canelured bullets, but the next batch of bullets i bought i made damn sure they had a canelure

[GeoffLinder]

Sorry about that fixed it. I have a Winchester model 94.

All right guys thanks for the heads up. But has anybody here not crimped and experienced bad things?

I only load 30-30 for a lever action so I have always crimped. It was the first caliber I ever reloaded almost 30 years ago and was warned to do so by the person who taught me to reload and I have never tried it otherwise for 30-30.

The consequences of a serious setback raising pressure dangerously is a possibility that should not be ignored.

[Munk]

I FL resize, and find that I get excellent neck tension. The crimping I do doesn't seem major, but it helps. I'm also not using the cannelure on the bullets when I do it usually.

So far, i've loaded a tube, then unloaded them one-by-one to check for setback and noticed none. Then I tried loading up a full tube, fired 2, then measured the rest, and saw no change in OAL that wasn't a result of the FTX's squishy tip being squishy.

[gunboat]

No, I don't crimp my 30/30 -
I only shoot cast loads -- a 310 expander, slight bell and the boolit is snug as a bug in a rug --
If I was a hunter, I think I would give field loads a bit of crimp --
In fact, i can't think of anything i load that I crimp -
my tuppence

[3006mv]

just crimp it you'll get more consistent start up pressure anyway

[GeoffLinder]

just crimp it you'll get more consistent start up pressure anyway

Agreed, crimping when done properly will add consistency in release tension which gives smaller velocity differences over the chrono.

Trimming to same length is important for crimp consistency.

[big103]

All right guys thanks for all your input glad to hear from a couple people that do and don`t crimp.

Thanks

[Whiterabbit]

In fact, i can't think of anything i load that I crimp -

I agree. There is NOTHING I load, rifle or pistol, that I crimp. I rely heavily on case neck tension to get me where I need to go. Whether jacketed, solid copper (or brass), or cast (I stopped shooting jacketed and brass awhile ago)

If I DON'T have enough neck tension, I troubleshoot that before anything else. When that's set up right, I never need to crimp. Only remove bell (on cartridges that need belling)