Fire Forming for 7-30 waters

[ga65]

A friend recently turned me on to this site and I have enjoyed the information about TC pistols from every one.  I love hunting Wood Chucks with my Super 14 223 and would like to hunt deer with my Contender so I recently purchased a Super 14 7-30 Waters barrel and would like some advise.

I have scads of 30-30 brass (Win., Federal, Rem.) and was curious if it would be worth while fire forming the 30-30 to 7-30 waters?  Would anyone recomend a paticular make of brass, what powder, charge and weight bullet for the fire froming process.    

As perviously mentioned I plan on using this rig for White Tail Deer in Penn.  I was wondering if there is a general opion on the best overall load. When I start reloading with either factory or fire formed brass. I have several reloading manuls but thought some one could point me in the right direction of what works and doesn't work.

Thanks, Ga

God Bless and Protect Our Troops!

[jeff]

Ga

Yes you can use 30-30 brass for the Waters.

Use what you already have and resizing is very simple.

Just make sure that you lube the cases, easy does it.

You will want to size just enough to allow the case to chamber, a little donut ring will appear and you need it.  When you sizing die is set correctly you will have a little resistance in chambering the case, this is the way it needs to be for your first firing.  Brass wiill last if you follow these steps.  Afterwards, size only enough to seat and hold the bullet (this means neck size only).  Don't forget to check case lengths ..

I use Winchester brass because that was what was available on sale...

7-30 headstamped brass is almost impossible to find and it will cost you more.

good luck

jeff

[Johnly]

I agree with Jeff.  You form the cases using the same technique as you would use when making Herrett brass from 30-30 brass.  I use R-P Nickel 30-30 brass in my 7-30 and fireform with 34.0 gr. of WW748 pushing a 140 gr. Sierra.

[coltfan]

GA65,

I have also recently started shooting the 7-30 Waters. Since I already load 30-30 ammunition, I was concerned about an accidental mix up with 7-30 cartridges. If you also load 30-30 cartridges, you might want to keep this in mind. Someone here posted a site that stocks Federal nickel plated 7-30 brass which is headstamped 7-30. Call Beikirch Ammunition 585-248-3660, they are located in Rochester, NY, cost was $32.00 for 100 rounds. I ordered the brass on Tuesday and it was delivered on Wednesday (I’m also located in PA). No fire forming required. Since you already have the 30-30 brass you are ahead of the game, but when I calculated the cost of buying 30-30 brass plus the cost of the bullets, powder and primers required just for fire-forming, the Federal factory brass was a better deal.

I will send a PM with some load info.

[janehal]

If you are just getting started, check out Gary Reeder Custom Gun for a conversion to 7 GNR ....very easy to fireform to and it is a lot more gun when you are done....Dies are from RCBS

[Hopalong7]

1-Federal brass...works best and longest
2-Winchester brass...easily in second place
3-Remington brass...only when out of #1 and #2
For years thought I had to use a heavy(140-175)bullet seated just touching lands and starting load doses of prefered powder...later discovered regular hunting loads backed off about 10% worked fine and were very accurate for shooting most anything.
Just $.02 from an OLD 7-30 shooter.  GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt  

[T/C nimrod]

What makes the Remington brass last pick? Or, why Federal first?

[Tommyt]

Here is a pic I have posted many times I hope no one is tired of it
Just A helping hand :grin:

[Hawkeye]

I fireform my 30-30 brass with 32.5 grns of IMR4895 which is my shooting and hunting load. They seem to shoot so close to the formed loads I don't worry about messing with zero. I fire form with 120grn Hornady SP bullets and hunt with the 120 Hornady V-Max. I use the Soft Point bullets for silhouete matches.
Remington brass seems softer than other brass and doesn't hold up under many reloadings. I was getting alot of split case necks with Remington after shooting a few times. Only use Fed now. I have 100 of the nickel cases that have been fired at least 30 times and are still holding up.
I only neck size them. I have one 7-30 Waters TC 12" Hunter barrel that likes the 139SST the best as far as groups and velocity goes. I took a nice 8 pnt with it this last Nov. The favorite barrel I have is a TC 14" with a custom break and it has shot many a silhouete match and hunted with it alot.  The 120 V-Max has made good one shot kills on whitetail and a few coyotes. I have got it shooting less than 1" at 100 yds with this load.
I'm sure you will like this cal. and good luck with working up a load.

Mike

[Hopalong7]

T/CNimrod, What makes REM brass last? Good question. I should have explained. Split necks...show up much quicker and more often.  My feeble old brain quickly counts at least 5 TC chamberings I make from 30-30 brass and of these only the 30-30AI requires less "working" of the brass than the 7-30Waters. The 219Zipper requiring the most.  Remington brass appears to be softer than Federal or Win.  It takes less effort to reshape it but it doesn't conform to the shape as well, ie...dimples around the neck and shoulder area. In the 7-30Waters this is not nearly as noticable as in the 219Zipper because of the extent of the shape change to the original brass.  You may not lose any REM brass at fireforming stage, but the FED or WIN will withstand many more fireings. Also, and this may just be in my head, but the FED or WIN seem more accurate(I bet this will get somebody going). I have not proven this!!!  I do know that I've had a large problem with misaligned necks when expanding 223 to 7TCU w/ REM brass and swithched to WIN...no problem.  So, I think this may contribute to a possible loss of accuracy in 30-30 based rounds. Well, I've rambled off way too much for $0.02 worth.  GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt  

[ga65]

Thanks Guys,

I have a good start with your info and ordered the bullets and will start reloading and fire forming.  And some one aske what part of Pa. I from I from the NorthWest corner south East of Erie.

Thanks again,

Ga.

[steveatsatx]

I just got my first 7-30 contender and here's how I fireform at home (in the garage).
First I necksize the 30-30 case in the waters die. then add 10 grains of 700x. Then a little cotton(a single cotton ball will do 10 cases). Then fill with corn meal ,pack it in with the blunt end of a drill bit, then add a little Plumbers putty in the end.
FIRE! It blows the shoulder out perfectly!
That way I don't have to go to the range to get a boxful. Any old primers will work and Bullseye will also do the job.
I'm sure this is not news to most of you, but I just got registered, and couldn't wait to put in my nickles worth!

San Antonio Steve

[steveatsatx]

I forgot to add that that load is NOT harmless!!!
Use a bullet stop of some kind or you will put a hole in something you didn't intend to!
S.A Steve

[fast*eddie]

I loaded my 30-30 fire form loads the same as my 7-30 brass. I shot my 1st deer with a fire 30-30 form round at about 55 yards using the Sierra 130 grain single shot pistol bullet . oh yeah - Federal brass and H335 powder.