Sorry if this has been asked before, but I have most of the powders listed in the reloading manuals for the 7-30 Waters.

I have 30-30 brass and 375 Winchester brass to form to 7-30. I have fire formed other wildcats but not sure what load to use for the 7-30. Most of the other wild cats have been small diameter cases where the pressure would not have much affect on the Contender (223 brass and 222Rem mag brass)

With the bullets seated out to contact the lands, will the lowest charge of powder listed in the reloading manuals be sufficient to blow the shoulders out properly without raising pressures above 40,000?

Some reloading manuals show cup for max loads only, so my assumption is with the lowest charge listed, I should be well under the max pressure with the lowest listed load. Would this be correct?

Any help from 7-30 shooters will be greatly appreciated.

Good shooting,

HL

I believe that you can do that around 40K PSI but you should use the fastest burning powder listed in order to have a quick pressure peak. Allowing the pressure to rise slowly will almost always leave the case deformed.

You are on the right track on forming 7-30 Waters cases.

I used to shoot a TC Contender in 7-30 Waters in IHMSA pistol silhouette competition. I looked in my records and my fire forming load was exactly what Sierra lists as their starting load for the 160 Sierra BT. I loaded 30-30 cases with a Fed 210M primer, 31.2 grains of 748, and the 160 BT.

These loads gave about 1900 fps in my 14 inch barrel and were quite acurate. I often used them in competition. They formed the cases very nicely.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the replies. I have a large amount of REmington 140gr. that I will give a try.

To properly form the cases without unduly stressing the brass, you DO NOT need fast powders. That is simply a myth. What you need is a powder bulky enough to provide a compressed load (and still of the proper burning rate to achieve full formation of the brass) and a bullet long enough to reach the lands if at all possible.

I just finished working with a 25x30-30 IMP, which is in the same basic capacity range as a Waters. To fireform, I used 34.5 grains H4831 and the Hornady 120 grain HP. With the compressed load of powder and the bullet seated into the rifling, you get the best possible scenario as the case is fully supported during the fireforming process. Case loss is zero using this method, and, more importantly, case life is indefinite.

Other methods may or may not fully form the case upon the first firing. The end result of such is short case life and accuracy that is less than optimal.

I have formed 7-30 Waters cases with a starting load of Win. 748 and the bullet seated about 0.30" short of touching the lands. I adjust the sizer die to neck the brass just far enough to allow the action to close - this leaves a shoulder to headspace on and prevents the case from stretching at the web. Now that Federal brass is available, I think it is more economical and a lot less work to just buy the 7-30 brass. It also seems to be tougher or thicker than the .30-30 brass and lasts a lot longer.

Bobby,

Do you by chance have a load for a 140 gr bullet using 4831? I checked all my reloading references and don't see anything for the 7-30 with that powder.

If you have something, I would appreciate just a little info.

BTW, I am envious of the sausage being made in Shiner. When ever I get by there I fill up a couple coolers and get some to friends.

The 7-30 will be my new caliber to take to our family ranch in San Saba County. We have been having quite a few cougar kills and a lot of sightings in our area, and I plan on taking one with the 7-30, if possible.