I’m starting to load.30-30 and have a question regarding crimping. I do not crimp .32-20 cases and get good accuracy (I load single rounds into the chamber). I understand that if I load multiple rounds crimping is a necessity, but would it be advisable or would there be an advantage (specially accuracy) to not crimping .30-30 rounds and loading single rounds? Thanks, Tom

Isn't the only really viable answer, "You have to try it and find out"?

TomJ, you state that you load single rounds into the chamber, I hope that is not what you do during an official match. Read the rules, all rounds must be loaded from the magazine. I know a bloke that will disqualify you from the National matches if you single load into the chamber, just sayin'.

To clarify on the point that Taps made, you are allowed to load one round at a time but it must be done through the magazine instead of directly into the chamber through the ejection port. This is how I load my 30-30 rounds for cowboy lever action matches and do not crimp. There's a noticeable difference in point of impact for me with five rounds (four in magazine plus one in the chamber) versus one round loaded in my rifle, so I only single load. That makes crimping or not when loading all five rounds irrelevant for me. You may want to do the same test to see if you should even care about this.

I never crimp and load them in the magazine tube anyway. Never had the bullets back into the case.

I guess that I should have made it clear that I load one round at a time into the magazine then chamber it. Think I’ll experiment trying no crimp. Thanks to everyone for your comments, Tom

Taps wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:17 pm TomJ, you state that you load single rounds into the chamber, I hope that is not what you do during an official match. Read the rules, all rounds must be loaded from the magazine. I know a bloke that will disqualify you from the National matches if you single load into the chamber, just sayin'.

Hey TAPS you tell them Brother...
As for crimping them well my 32-20 works so much better when the cases are crimped and everything has the same resistance... Just Saying?

I use a Lee factory crimp for my 30-30 loads. Works good for me.

I as well only load 1 at atime through the magazine. But when doing some testing i found that crimping improved the grouping by quite a large amount. I found this in my 30-30 as well as my 357. I single load both guns because it makes me take my time a bit more and gives me a chance to set the gun down. So you will have to decide if your gun shoots better with or without a crimp is the only way to know for sure.

Mike, I agree with you about the better accuracy when crimping the 30-30 and .357 Mag. It is noticeable, so I always crimp those cartridges.

Jim Luke

Since this is my first time loading for a 30-30, how much crimp would recommend or is it a matter of experimentation?

Since there is no gauge to tell how much crip you put on a case all i can say is TEST TEST TEST. I am a firm believer in testing. I go through a bunch of bullets powder and primers to be sure what my gun likes. Statr with a lite crimp and work your way up looking for presure signs and group size.
Mike Haynes

frankmako wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:44 am I use a Lee factory crimp for my 30-30 loads. Works good for me.

Does anyone else here have input on Lee Factory Crimp vs regular old crimp?

Get a Lee .002 undersize mandrel (order from Lee)- this will minimize the amount of crimp you need.

Michael

snaketail2 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 03, 2018 11:43 am Get a Lee .002 undersize mandrel (order from Lee)- this will minimize the amount of crimp you need.

Michael

Is that an undersize mandrel for a factory Crimp Die?