First 30br

[Cory porter]

I almost have all of my stuff together to get started on my first 30br.

Panda action with an older benchrest stock, and a broughten 5r 29in straight contour barrel. 330nd 18twist. I picked this barrel up from bob white with 800 rounds on it.

I got a new Sinclair/Wilson click adjust micrometer hand die, which is extremely nice. Will be Switching all my seat dies over to them.

100 pieces of brass coming back from DJ’s and just got 200 118g hillbilly bullets in.

My plan is to load at the range and send the brass to Harrell’s to get a FL bushing die.

Looking for some guidance for the rest of the process. When loading first to fireform brass should I use my match bullets and shoot a normal load? Seating depth?

I’m guessing 4198 is to go to powder. What bushing should I get considering I don’t have the brass yet? Overall advice and input would be appreciate, going to be my 100-300 vfs rifle

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

When loading first to fireform brass should I use my match bullets

You can, but with only 200 of them I wouldn't. The Berger 115gr FB will be fine for fireforming and shoot pretty well (see below).

and shoot a normal load?

Yes. Something in the 34.1gr range ought to get you started with H4198.

Seating depth?

Jammed enough to keep the case head against the boltface. For the Berger 115gr FB if you go into the lands about 0.005" from touch you should get nice fireforming and decent groups.

 

[Cory porter]

You can, but with only 200 of them I wouldn't. The Berger 115gr FB will be fine for fireforming and shoot pretty well (see below).



Yes. Something in the 34.1gr range ought to get you started with H4198.



Jammed enough to keep the case head against the boltface. For the Berger 115gr FB if you go into the lands about 0.005" from touch you should get nice fireforming and decent groups.

View attachment 1077848

Wouldn’t be a more cost effective idea to shoot a cheaper bucket than the Berger. Or is there a reason behind you though?

 

[Greyfox]

if you are going to spend barrel life forming brass you may as well enjoy decent accuracy. You will be very close to the same accuracy forming as with formed brass. I compete with several who shoot matches forming brass and sometimes win. The case doesn't change much between the 6 & the 30. I hate the damn things, but they are accurate and consistent.

Rick

 

[tmwinds]

When you get your brass back from DJ just load it with H4198 and your good bullets and go win a match. Get you a.324 and .325 neck bushing. You can't have to much neck tension on a .30 BR. Seat the bullets at the lands, not jumped or jammed. With 800 rounds down the barrel you are good for another 4000 rounds. I've found that my .30 BR also shoots well at 32.0 - 32.4 of 4198.

 

[Brians356]

if you are going to spend barrel life forming brass you may as well enjoy decent accuracy. You will be very close to the same accuracy forming as with formed brass. I compete with several who shoot matches forming brass and sometimes win. The case doesn't change much between the 6 & the 30. I hate the damn things, but they are accurate and consistent.

Rick

When I fire-form, I use a fractional charge of Bullseye and no bullet, which should have a negligible effect on barrel life, and doesn't require a backstop (I fire them at the sky). No inert filler, tissue wad, or wax plug makes the operation a lot less fussy, too. I charge each case in the field with a Lee powder dipper, then fire it. My idea is to get the forming done and behind me as quickly, cheaply, and easily as possible. OTOH, if you feel you can go out and possibly win a match while fire-forming, more power to ya!
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[joshb]

You don’t have to worry about barrel life with the 30br. Other guys here suggested the Speer 125 grain TNT as a good, cheap bullet to shoot in mine. You should pick up a box to try. I tried some Sierra 125s but they’re too long to work in the slow twists. I shot a bunch of my custom bullets before I asked the question about “cheaper” alternatives. I ordered 1000 of the Speers but I haven’t shot any yet. My new 6.5-47 and 6br barrels came in and I got “distracted”.

I had a long conversation with Randy Robinette about it. The length of the bullet is critical. Here’s a pic of the three bullets. Starting right to left: The Speer, a custom and the Sierra.

 

[jimmymac]

You don’t have to worry about barrel life with the 30br. Other guys here suggested the Speer 125 grain TNT as a good, cheap bullet to shoot in mine. You should pick up a box to try. I tried some Sierra 125s but they’re too long to work in the slow twists. I shot a bunch of my custom bullets before I asked the question about “cheaper” alternatives. I ordered 1000 of the Speers but I haven’t shot any yet. My new 6.5-47 and 6br barrels came in and I got “distracted”.

Want to sell 500 of those? I’m new to the 30BR and can’t fnd those in stock.

 

[jimmymac]

Heck. That’s being selfish. I’d be happy with whatever I could get to take care of my fire forming.

 

[Brians356]

Speer TNT is a very accurate, explosive varmint bullet, and perennially a "best buy". I shoot 87-gr TNTs in my custom R700 in 250 Ackley (after fire-forming bulletless, of course) as an impressive rock chuck disintegrator. Also knocks coyotes d__ks in the dirt.
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[joshb]

Heck. That’s being selfish. I’d be happy with whatever I could get to take care of my fire forming.

I just found these on line. Took a few minutes. I’d be glad to send you some of mine but these would be cheaper for you. I put 5 boxes in the cart and it said OK.

 

[jimmymac]

Thanks Josh. There I was the other night looking at a few different places with no luck. I would have never guessed I could buy direct from Speer.

 

[M-61]

I fire formed mine with 30 caliber carbine 110 FMJ bullets that I got from 'somewhere'. Amazed at the groups. I was expecting..........well a mess but the results were shocking. Formed the cases nicely and probably the tightest group these FMJ bullets would ever see. Target quality? No. But a nice surprise none-the-less.
Price per bullet? Not a clue.....don't even know why I had them.

 

[rjs1230]

Thanks Josh. There I was the other night looking at a few different places with no luck. I would have never guessed I could buy direct from Speer.

Grafs and sons have them for $74 for 500 and $7.95 to
ship

 

[Rodney]

Another cheap bullet and one that I used for fire forming are the hornady 110 grain v-maxes. Not as economical as those Speer tnt’s, but another option.

 

[jimmymac]

Grafs and sons have them for $74 for 500 and $7.95 to
ship

Thanks you sir. I obviously didn't look hard enough, but just the other day I thought for sure I checked there. Hell getting old...but it beats the alternative.

 

[joshb]

I fire formed mine with 30 caliber carbine 110 FMJ bullets that I got from 'somewhere'. Amazed at the groups. I was expecting..........well a mess but the results were shocking. Formed the cases nicely and probably the tightest group these FMJ bullets would ever see. Target quality? No. But a nice surprise none-the-less.
Price per bullet? Not a clue.....don't even know why I had them.

Ooh! Thanks for that info! I have ten boxes of those!

 

[joshb]

Thanks you sir. I obviously didn't look hard enough, but just the other day I thought for sure I checked there. Hell getting old...but it beats the alternative.

You did what I did. I checked Grafs and they were out of stock.....for the 100 count boxes. That’s why I moved on to the Speer site.
rjs1230 has better googlefoo. They have the 500 box for a great price! I may buy some more. I’ll wait a few days, tho!

 

[North Fork]

I have a lot of fun shooting the 125 gr TNT at 100 yards they shoot very well at 300 yards not as good

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The 30carbine bullets are my choice for actual bullet fireforming. If you look around you can get them for cheap.