Author Topic: 7x30 Waters (Read 1188 times)

Biggergun · « **on:** June 05, 2004, 09:26:06 AM »

I read such good things about the waters I picked one up on Ebay.
Now that I have it I can't find brass,checked Midsouth and Midway,
Midway's web sight has it listed as "coming soon" at $21 @20!! For
BRASS. :shock: So all you Waters shooters out there,do you form
form your own from 30-30 brass or get it from one of the wildcat
brass suppliers like E.A.Brown?

cbagman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2004, 09:41:54 AM »

I started by buying 3 boxes of Federal factory ammo at @ $17 per box. It whacked deer as good as later handloads..Then I got on Ebay and lucked out getting a set of dies and 200 cases, some factory and some reformed from 30-30 from a guy not reloading anymore. You can get reformed ones from a guy on Ebay as well. You can just search there for "7-30 Brass".. One seller sells 50 nickled factory cases new for about $49. None of it is cheap.. That is one reason I went to wildcats like 7mm Super Bower which is from a .307 Winchester case, and the .357 Herrett which is made off .30-.30's. I picked up hundreds of thutty-thutty cases at the public ranges. Good luck from Cbagman

BCB · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2004, 10:13:34 AM »

Biggergun,

30-30 Winchester brass is free at many ranges. And once-fired can be had for a buck or so a box. I form all of my 7-30 Waters cases from 30-30 brass. Of the thousands that I have shot, probably only a box or so actually have the 7-30 Waters headstamp. It's a good shooter in the Contender. Good-luck...BCB

Steve P · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2004, 10:44:20 AM »

Use 30-30 brass. As you size the neck down to 7mm, have your barrel available and adjust that sizing die so you are putting a false shoulder on the 30-30 brass. Make sure the false shoulder is down the neck only far enough to the base of your brass come level with the back of your barrel. This false shoulder will help you fireform the brass to better match your chamber.

Good luck.

Steve

flatlander · « **Reply #4 on:** June 05, 2004, 12:50:14 PM »

I haven't ordered any myself, but the last time I checked EA Brown was selling formed 7x30 brass for $30/100. It might be worth looking into. Everything I have has been fireformed from 30-30 also. It is a very easy forming process and it gives you the excuse to shoot more (as if any of us needed one). I might try out EABCO next time though. Maybe someone here has tried them already and can give us a report. I wouldn't pay $21 for 20 pieces of brass. You can buy fully loaded rounds for less.

Biggergun · « **Reply #5 on:** June 05, 2004, 06:07:12 PM »

I found some Federal Premium at a local gun shop, got two boxs
That will give me something to work with until I buy some brass.
I checked E.A.Brown after I first posted,didn't think about them till I
typed it in my post :oops:
I bought 30Herrett brass there last year after trying,unsuccessfully, to
form my own. Thanks for the tips maybe i'll give it another try forming
my own in the 7x30.

fast*eddie · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2004, 04:22:45 PM »

I bought 3 boxes of Federal 7-30 waters ammo for $14 / box and shot it up just to sight in the scope and get used to the barrel. Bought some 30-30 brass and neck sized it. Gave it a regular load. Grabbed the wrong ammo during deer season and took a doe with a round that was fire formed when I shot her. No need for a reduced load.

ftw · « **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2004, 05:32:48 PM »

I did the same. I bought two boxes of factory ammo and shot it at the range just getting used to the Contender and sighting in. I reloaded it and had so much fun shooting it, I bought a 100 cases fron Eabco and reloaded them.
I have also bought other items from them and never had any problems. I just did not want to mess with fire forming.

wheelgun · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2004, 01:59:34 AM »

I have fire formed all of my 7-30 brass its easy to form and 30-30 brass is easy to find.I pick up most of mine at the range or friends that don't reload.I have used 375 win brass a couple of times.The 7-30 is a great caliber in the contender I had two of them until a couple of months ago I traded one for a 14" 30-30 which will be a 30-30 AI later.

coltfan · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2004, 05:06:49 PM »

You can purchase factory formed Federal brass (Nickel plated) from Beikirch Ammunition Company. They are located at P.O. Box 151, 930 Linden Avenue, East Rochester NY. 14445-0151. Phones are 800-622-3006 (orders only), 585-248-3660 or 248-3434. Fax is 585-248-3973. Last time I bought was about a year ago and I believe the cost was about $35.00 for 100 rounds.

I prefer to go this route for a few reasons. First the Federal cases are headstamped 7X30 Waters, which helps prevent ammunition mix ups. Second is the fact that you will "waste" a box bullets plus the primers and powder required to fireform 30-30 brass. I'm estimating this cost at about $14.00 for 100 rounds. Of course, I never really consider any chance to get out and shoot, a "waste" of ammunition.

The only downside is the fact that the cases are nickel plated. Some people don't like nickel brass, as they believe it is harder due to the plating process. I just like getting brass that is ready to go. But that's just my two cents.

fast*eddie · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2004, 03:31:25 PM »

I didn't "waste "anything fireforming. I did regular loads not reduced. Saw no need to firerorm and reload when I could use a regular load and just shoot. I got my 1st pistol deer with a fireform load . :lol:

MnMike · « **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2004, 04:55:16 PM »

I bought 100 rounds of Federal (nickel) brass when it was still generally available. So I have been using this mostly. I also tried fire forming some 30-30 and noticed that I got no primer flatening (a sign of headspace problems) with the 30-30 fire formed brass unlike the Federal brass or factory ammo. I then set up some of my Federal brass to touch the grooves with reduced loads (fire forming supposedly formed brass). It was more accurate after the first use. My chamber may be a bit off, but I think I will go to fire forming 30-30 when my current supply is gone.

just my opinion
mike

mdc1 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2004, 11:24:35 PM »

I had trouble with the nickel cases. My contender seems to like hot loads; consequently I had case failures after the second use (case head separation). I get 5 loads out of fireformed 30-30 brass, not counting the fireforming load. I don't know if the same problem would occur with milder loads or not.

chez48 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2004, 02:08:08 AM »

I have just finished using my first 100 rouinds of 7-30
EAB brass. I had no problems. I was usually able to get 3-4 loadings of 35.5-36.5 grains of W748 before I started to get splits. I was very satisfied with the brass. I might like to try the nickel to keep the color different from the 30-30 lever gun ammo

freddogs · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2004, 10:39:54 AM »

I fireform 30-30 brass, it works well for me. I also have shot deer with fireforming loads. They aren't wasted since you can practice with them. I got lots of 30-30 brass free from rifle range sightins. It's a fine round. Even with a singleshot pistol it's easy to go through a box of shells. Enjoy.