I just picked up a really nice Contender in .30 Herrett and at a recent gun show found a set of Pacific dies that used to be sold by T/C.
There were instructions at one time, but I didn't get them. I've done some looking around for info on that round and have a few questions about the forming steps.

After I pick out a few matched cases, think I'll just do about 6 to get a handle on this, what's the procedure?
Do the forming in small steps to get close, then cut the excess neck and then do the final fit for the chamber so they will all get the shoulder in the same place? Or will those dies stand a continuous stroke?
I'd appreciate any hints on this step.
Been reloading for 50 years but never messed with wildcats and case forming. Don't even know any guys around here who are set up for it.
I don't have a neck reaming die and reamer, so I'm hoping I can get away without that for now.

Man it has been 30+ years since I formed a Herrett.

Trim the cases close leaving them a touch long. Run them into your die. Trim, load with a nice medium fast load and go shoot. Final forming will happen when you fire it.

I was in town yesterday and stopped in at a friends Gun shop where I happened to run into a guy I sort of knew from years ago.
He's an old time wildcatter and knew the 30 Herrett well.
He gave me some tips for getting the brass formed and a few other tips.
I'll have a few ready to try before too long.
One important thing he said was to get neck measurements to find out if my barrel and the brass I used would let me get away without reaming.

quote:

One important thing he said was to get neck measurements to find out if my barrel and the brass I used would let me get away without reaming

Good suggestion. I've had two TC 30 Herrett barrels over the last 30+ years. As I remember neither had to be turned or reamed. But I have slept a NUMBER of times since then.

I seem to have a roomy neck section in my chamber.
All the cases I've fire
formed so far measure .335, fresh from the sizer they seem to be running .331, .333 with a bullet in place.
They all chamber and extract without a problem.
I got a jig set up and have the chopping operation going smooth, so I think I'll get 50 cases done and ready to fire form.
Doing that with 8 grns Unique behind a Speer 100 grn Plinker, ran across that as a good load to fire form with.

I feel fortune that I was able to score an RCBS form and trim die a while back for a pittance.

Before that, I'd fashioned a jig that would I could use to cut (hacksaw) the case down to size and then do the finish work on a case trimmer.

I set up a shell holder and base on my drill press with a fine tooth saw blade, works like a charm and gets forming the cases pretty painless now.

I've been trying to find a used RCBS 30 neck sizing die, but been striking out on that one.
Can't bring myself to spring for a new one.

Somewhere in my vast piles of, uh, stuff... I have a bagfull of formed 30 Herret. I'll give a quick look, if I can find them you can have them.

Nice offer, thanks.
If you find them I'd probably be willing to pay you a fair price.
But. I have a lot of good 30-30 brass, happened on a good deal for a pile of it not long ago and don't use it much anymore. Too many other things to shoot.

John,I havent turned up the herrits, but I did find a bag of 375 supermags made from cut off 375 win brass. I formed one with one pass in my RCBS 30 herret dies. they come out a whisker short in the neck, but wouldnt need fireforming and is very tough brass. Yours if you want them, I dont have a supermag or herret.

Thanks for the kind offer.
i have so much good 30-30 brass I think I'll just use it for now.
I made up a 100 matched cases for the Herrett, that should do me for now.

Hello John,do your best to aquire a copy of John Donnelly's book on cartridge conversions.Out of print but it is worth the price (within reason) Check Amazon.For what it's worth I bought my copy when it came out in 1986 as I recall for $35.00. I have seen this same volume going for $200.00 plus.Worth your money.

Wow,
I just happen to have that book. I need to go through some of them that are stored away. Sorry for the OT post.

Butch if you can't find your's or run into a snag,p.m. me.All my volumes are in the loading room;easy access.

Donnelly's book is in my loading room. I was actually thinking of other books and magazines that I have that are from the 30s-=60s.
Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Norman Conquest:
Hello John,do your best to aquire a copy of John Donnelly's book on cartridge conversions.Out of print but it is worth the price (within reason) Check Amazon.For what it's worth I bought my copy when it came out in 1986 as I recall for $35.00. I have seen this same volume going for $200.00 plus.Worth your money.

WOW, when I wanted to start re-loading my grandfather gave me most of his reloading stuff. Small simple setup, but it got me started. Years later I started getting into wildcats and oddball cartridges. He told me to look through the attic of the barn for some reloading books. Among them was a new copy of Donnelly's book on cartridge conversions. I took it and a stack of others. I had NO idea it was worth that!

The only thing he did not let me take was the complete set of American Rifleman magazines dating back to the early 1930's