Author Topic: brass to form for 7-30.... (Read 433 times)

Kivaari · « **on:** December 09, 2004, 05:52:47 PM »

Based on the cost of most available 7-30 headstamped brass, I'm likely going to use .375 Winchester (forms to 2.023-2.025 OAL) or .38-55 Winchester.

Has anyone weighed each of these caliber's brass?

I know .375 Win is likely heavier, but I'm curious how each compare to the original's brass thickness? Am I getting a heavier case with the .375 over , say, Federal 7-30 Waters brass?

Thanks for the help,

BCB · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2004, 11:16:32 PM »

Kivaari,
Based on the price of .375 and .38-55 brass, I bet I would just use plain ol' 30-30 brass... I have used nothing but 30-30 brass and have had great success. Some cases have been reloaded nearly 20 times. Good-luck...BCB

skb2706 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2004, 03:58:09 AM »

Although not exactly how you asked it I have weighed .375 Win brass and compared it to 30-30 brass.

30-30 Win brass weighed in at an average of 142 gr.
.375 Win weighed in at an average of 154 gr.

I did some experiementing with both on a wildcat project I was working on and if you consider initial cost, time spent messing with it, availibility and end result. I found that using 30-30 brass was the best way to go. It cheap, of decent quality, can be found anywhere and if you use .375 Win brass you really gain nothing.

Kivaari · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2004, 05:46:52 PM »

I've read of several folks cautioning that the shoulders of 7-30 Waters formed from 30/30 are thinner at the shoulders due to neck thickness brass being added to the shoulder.

I was hoping to minimize this risk and find some thicker brass that would last longer with stiff loads of Varget and give me the longest neck possible.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2004, 10:12:32 PM »

ive used lots of 3030 brass for the 7 waters and never had problems

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2004, 12:00:30 AM »

If you are getting short case life from your cases made from .30-30 and used in the 7-30 then you are either loading way too danged hot or you have a chamber problem with your barrel.

Reed1911 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2004, 01:54:12 AM »

I have to agree with Greaybeard. The only reason we use the .375 Win brass is ease of forming. For sales use it's much less expensive to pay the .01 difference in cost and just size the brass rather than sizing, fire-forming, and sizing again. Yes the .375 brass creates a stiffer neck and it is a little helpful if you are loading 90 degree flat base bullets since the neck will not crumple as often.