219 Zipper Contender

[Doc T]

     I have become interested in the 219 Zipper in a Contender carbine.  Can anyone tell me about forming the brass?  I emailed RCBS and they have a die to form brass from .30-30 cases.  The only problem is that is sells for $237.95!!!!!!  Can you believe that?  Won't the regular die sets form cases?  If not, is there a source for the brass?  $237.95 is almost the cost of the barrel itself.

Any help would be appreciated.
Doc T

[The Old Redneck]

I shot a 219 years ago and it was a pain to form brass for. Reeds that advertise here might sell brass, Pete at Quality Cartrige made brass for the 219 at one time. It is a fun round to shoot.

[Reed1911]

Quality Cartridge does sell the brass and Redding makes a form die for about 35.00. Using the Redding die is not going to be quite straight forward though, you'll need to anneal the brass and set the shoulder back and neck down to .22 first or you'll just be trashing cases. The necking down can be done with a bushing die or buy a cheap (lee) .22-250 die and cut it down, the shoulder can be moved back using a form die or a cut back die. All in all it can be done for under 100.00 with a little planning and though. No need for the very over priced RCBS form set. Jamison also plans to make the brass but at the current progress he's making on the calibers it may be 2020 before we see it.

[Doc T]

     I found someone on Gunbroker that forms the brass and sells it for $19 for 50.  I figure 100 pieces would last me a loooong time.  I still haven't decided yet.

Doc T

[Steelbanger]

Wouldn't the best approach be to neck down 25-35 Win. cases? Seems like it'd be much easier than going from 30 cal. But on the other hand are 25-35 cases still available?
 And that's my 2¢ worth of input.

[iiranger]

ch4d.com is the other old, big source for form dies or any dies for that matter. Never hurts to "shop." (Or so my mother taught me.) .219 is based on the .30/30 and not the sturdiest of brass. If you don't mind the extra care, great old cartridge. Obviouslly with all that taper, you don't exceed the lever action load pressures by much. eabco.com workss with the .219 Don Wasp and some other improves, but I don't recall that he stocks .219 Zip. luck. enjoy

[Datil]

 Hello Every body, I have a NEF in a 219 Zipper, I form my beass from 25-35.
 A hole lot easier than from 30-30. Just run 25-35 brass though a standard
 219 sizer die thence trim to length. Getting 35 to 3600 fps with 35 v-max,
 ample dose of imr 4320. Hoot to shoot preirie dogs with. Marv.

[smk]

Like Datil says 219 zippers are extremely easy to form. Just run 25-35 into a standard zipper sizing die and cut off the extra long neck - no forming dies are needed. 25-35 brass is still available. Winchester runs it once a year I think, but you can find it on EBAY or at gun shows. I bought hundreds of it in the last few years for my zipper and 25-35.

[HL]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you need to watch the pressure in the Zipper and Wasp when used in the Contender. The Encore won't have a problem, but I thought the Zipper and Wasp run at higher pressures than ideal for that head size.

HL

[moxgrove]

ea brown, eabco has preformed brass for most  30-30 based cartridges. that's where I get my low pressure 375 win brass

[Doc T]

I've done it.  I bought 100 pieces of new formed brass and dies are on the way.  A 23" stainless tapered barrel in in the works at the T/C custom shop.  Now I have to wait 8-10 weeks.

Doc T