How much load development can I get out of fire forming 50 pieces of 30br?

[Bill Norris]

Yes a drop tube makes a world of difference, as well as pour rate. I was skeptical also until I tried it.
I use damaged carbon arrow shafts that were lying around. Heat shrinked a funnel to one end. Took a .243 case and cut the rim and web off the primer end. Then ran masking tape around the shaft to get the right diameter to get the case to slip on snugly. Enlarged the neck so it slips over a 6 PPC case neck but also fits inside a 30 BR neck, that way it pulls double duty.

The shape of the funnel you pour into also seems to affect drop rate. My rcbs powder funnel seems to allow the powder to drop quicker than the kitchen funnel I use. With it, the powder seems to jump around more before going down the shaft. The kitchen funnel has a wine glass shape to it.

I can get 36.1 gr N130 in a 30 BR case and it only comes up the neck 1/4-1/3 of the length of the neck. I don’t think the powder comes in contact with the base of the bullet much if at all.

Mine actually slips over any caliber I've tried so far being 6mm .25 6.5mm and 30 cal.

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

I guess I'll be making my first drop tube today! I swear! (politely) This woulda been the furtherest thing from my mind had I not been chattin with yall

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Experiment.
Drop it fast from a short tube.
Drop it slow from a short tube.
Drop it fast from a long tube.
Drop it slow from a long tube.

You can see.a difference.

 

[Kevin1990]

For less than $1.00 you can solve it with this. Believe it or not. 1/4 inch X 8 inch and a tiny funnel works for me every time. I believe Hobby Lobby will have both in stock.

Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Haha kidding, that's actually a cool set up having it slip over the case.

 

[Clancy]

I’m gonna uses cartridge X as an example because my load is HOT…..

But I crunch powder at 31.6 with a Satern funnel and I can pour 33.6 to the bottom
Off the neck with an 8” drop tube.

 

[WyleWD]

You going to have to make me a believer.
I really don't understand the principle of why a drop tube works. To me. all I see is a longer tube making power farther to get to its destination. Don't get me wrong If ita help. I'll be all about trying it. What do I need? A 1/2x1/4 hose attached to my funnel?

Just bought the Aluminum funnel and drop tube a couple weeks ago. Handiest thing since sliced bread. JME WD

Click on the link: https://www.pmatool.com/search.php?search_query=Drop+Tube&section=product

 

[Clancy]

Just bought the Aluminum funnel and drop tube a couple weeks ago. Handiest thing since sliced bread. JME WD

Click on the link: https://www.pmatool.com/search.php?search_query=Drop+Tube&section=product

That’s what I have. Don’t drop it! Super glue was involved.

 

[Clancy]

I want to mention that sometimes a full case is a sign you should have stopped a long time ago…

Sometimes it just means you’re using too slow of a powder and need more!

There, ass covered. Thanks for coming.

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

Well about everyone I know shooting 30 around here is all up around 35g of lt 30 or v130. Even 4198. But that's a different discussion.
Here's a question. Do the really compressed loads shoot different than the ones that seem to be ok. Both having the same charge?

 

[Bill Norris]

Well about everyone I know shooting 30 around here is all up around 35g of lt 30 or v130. Even 4198. But that's a different discussion.
Here's a question. Do the really compressed loads shoot different than the ones that seem to be ok. Both having the same charge?

All of my 30BR loads are compressed. Would not be able to comment otherwise.

 

[Ccrider]

Do the really compressed loads shoot different than the ones that seem to be ok. Both having the same charge?

Yes. Maybe better, maybe worse.

 

[AlNyhus]

Experiment.
Drop it fast from a short tube.
Drop it slow from a short tube.
Drop it fast from a long tube.
Drop it slow from a long tube.

You can see.a difference.

Yep. A four inch drop tube with a .17 cal orifice at the bottom also does a nice job. You can even drop two half-charges.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[JEFFPPC]

Randy Robinette has written that 30 br loads should be Lightly compressed. I be,sieve he was referring to H4198.

 

[steve210]

A slow drop works wonders, pour it slowly into the funnel so that it swirls and it will really pack in the case.

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

I was loading last night for today's match. I had bought a .324 bushing to fix my seating depth slipping problem. That has worked surprisingly. I still have some rounds that are tighter than others. Not by much though. If I had a tool that told me the force I was using to seat these bullets I'm guessing the results would be surprising. The .325 bushing allowed the bullets to push out. The. 324 seems Just right. I'm going to break down everything I loaded last night and start over. I didn't get to go shoot because wife's in hospital. Had to take her last night I mention that because she's needs some Prayers if possible.
And I'll be making a drop tube. I think if anything if the drop tube will help make compression more consistent that's probably what I need . Yall have talked me into it

 

[Bill Norris]

I was loading last night for today's match. I had bought a .324 bushing to fix my seating depth slipping problem. That has worked surprisingly. I still have some rounds that are tighter than others. Not by much though. If I had a tool that told me the force I was using to seat these bullets I'm guessing the results would be surprising. The .325 bushing allowed the bullets to push out. The. 324 seems Just right. I'm going to break down everything I loaded last night and start over. I didn't get to go shoot because wife's in hospital. Had to take her last night I mention that because she's needs some Prayers if possible.
And I'll be making a drop tube. I think if anything if the drop tube will help make compression more consistent that's probably what I need . Yall have talked me into it

I believe u will find it helps to settle the powder slower. Sorry to hear of your wifes sickness. Prayers.

 

[Sandbagger1]

Prayers up for your wife!

 

[ELR LVR]

I'm back to square one in load development with my 30br because I have had to switch bullets because of economic reasons.
Normally with any new combination I always use fired cases to do my serious load work up. I have 50 pieces of turned neck Lapua and I'm figuring on trying to find a good seating depth with this virgin brass. I figure 34.5 of Lt and start shooting groups at Jam and back off 5 thousandths 5 shot groups for 25 rounds. And then do it again.
Does this sound right?
I' kinda figure tune will be between 34.5 and 35.5 anyway. So that is my reasoning for trying to do a seating depth test first.
I'm all ears. Thanks

You can accomplish A lot, with only 50 pcs.
if your load development is efficient and well planned out.
Starting .005" off jam and backing off every 3-5 rounds is good
I use 3 rounds for load development to save on components.
I recently developed a load for a .224 caliber wildcat with only 30 pieces of brass formed so far.
Shown is a progression In about a week, it went from looking like a shotgun pattern, 1st pic
to starting to group near POA and show a pattern 2nd pic
to putting 3 in 1 hole at POA 3rd pic
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Tip: Start with seating depth first
this will then allow you to move on to trying different powders with that seating depth to find the powder YOUR GUN
likes
Dont dictate to your gun what powder you are going to force down its throat
it will tell you and let you know on the target.
---------------------------------------------------------
I went through maybe 5 different powders until I honed in on it
I had some 2230-C I wasn't using and come to find this is the powder it liked.
I started with a good known powder to first find seating depth (W-748) since that powder always performs well in various calibers
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The first Pic shows how the wrong powder choice, even if it's the right burn rate, will drive you crazy if you think you are going to develop any kind of accurate load with a powder the rifle doesn't like.
(IE: some people will buy only Varget and then try to force their gun to shoot with it, but it may not like Varget at all, which is foolish load development)
I have no idea why one powder in similar burn rate will do poorly while another powder will shine.
I enjoy the science of load development more than just printing tiny groups though.

 

[AlNyhus]

Ona 30BR, a neck bushing .004 smaller than the neck measures (over the pressure ring of a seated bullet) is the standard setup to start with. For seating depth, find the touch point of the bullet you're going to use. Then make the seating stem .030 shorter so you have a 'jam-seat' when closing the bolt. Again...a standard starting setup.

Start low with the powder and go up in .3 gr increments until it shoots. If the bullets are BR quality, that will be a sub .2 shooting setup. -Al