Cheap .30 loads

Mckenzie · 09-12-2006, 12:33 PM

Used Lee dies, hornaday 90 grain xtp .309, remington cases, winchester primers, and unique powder. They feed and shoot without fail in my luger. It is much cheaper to buy 9mm cases and form them than to buy the expensive .30 luger cases.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dscn0002.jpg

pipeman45 · 09-12-2006, 04:35 PM

What kind of failure rate do you get necking them down?
Do you anneal the cases before the neck down?

John Sabato · 09-12-2006, 04:42 PM

I have never done this, but would .30 carbine brass be useable for forming 30 caliber Luger brass... if my memory serves me correctly, the head sizes are about the same... and the neck would be pretty darn close to the right size... of course there would a lot of trimming necessary... but at least the brass is fairly common.

If someone has both types of brass handy along with a caliper, could you report back here please... I am sure lots of folks would like to know.

Mckenzie · 09-12-2006, 07:35 PM

So far no failures necking down. You do have to lube the cases. Just a dab of vasoline or other grease on your fingers and rubbed on the case. There is very little support for the bullet, don't no if this will work with cast bullets. Still a cheap alternate to buying .30 luger. Also I am shooting these in a p block commercial. Using an old DWM magazine. Seat the bullets as far out as possible.

Hugh · 09-13-2006, 12:41 AM

New WW 30 Luger brass is often on ebay at pretty cheap prices.

unspellable · 09-14-2006, 02:28 PM

When necking down a case from one caliber to another, pay attention to the outside neck diameter of the loaded round. The neck walls get thicker and you may run out of neck room in the chamber. This will cause the bullet pull to go up and can lead to over pressure.

I first ran into this converting 9.3 X 74R brass to 400-360 Purdey. Both have about the same bullet diameter but one has to shorten the brass and squeeze then squeeze it down. This makes for thick neck walls. The 400-360 Purdey has rather thin neck walls to start with so I had to thin the neck walls with a neck reamer.

This may or may not be a problem with the conversion here, but be sure to check and KNOW it's not a problem. Easier to check neck space than to glue your Luger back together.

To date, I've been using once fired brass from factory loads. As I recall Starline makes 30 Luger brass, might be worth while checking their prices. I've also bought Winchester brass on eBay pretty cheap.

Mckenzie · 09-14-2006, 05:03 PM

Hi guys, just checked starlines price on .30 luger. Close to .18 in thousand quanities. 9mm can be had for .02 with shipping on ebay. You be the judge which is cheaper. My loads with .309 bullets fall into the chamber and fall out when inverted. It is very easy to check if neck diameter is too large. In my pistol I can not load the correct size cast bullet because of this.

Please someone explain how to post a picture so the picture shows. I followed the copy and paste instructions and my picture did not show.
Thanks, John

John Sabato · 09-14-2006, 11:33 PM

You have to copy the URL that says where your photo is stored into your message using the IMG button in the ADD REPLY mode... you can't do it in the SUBMIT REPLY mode unless you know how to use "tags"

09-12-2006, 12:33 PM	#1
Mckenzie Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Cheap .30 loads Used Lee dies, hornaday 90 grain xtp .309, remington cases, winchester primers, and unique powder. They feed and shoot without fail in my luger. It is much cheaper to buy 9mm cases and form them than to buy the expensive .30 luger cases. http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dscn0002.jpg

09-12-2006, 04:35 PM	#2
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What kind of failure rate do you get necking them down? Do you anneal the cases before the neck down? __________________ Dave

09-12-2006, 04:42 PM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	I have never done this, but would .30 carbine brass be useable for forming 30 caliber Luger brass... if my memory serves me correctly, the head sizes are about the same... and the neck would be pretty darn close to the right size... of course there would a lot of trimming necessary... but at least the brass is fairly common. If someone has both types of brass handy along with a caliper, could you report back here please... I am sure lots of folks would like to know. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-13-2006, 12:41 AM	#5
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	New WW 30 Luger brass is often on ebay at pretty cheap prices. __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

09-14-2006, 02:28 PM	#6
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 10 Posts	Necking down caveat When necking down a case from one caliber to another, pay attention to the outside neck diameter of the loaded round. The neck walls get thicker and you may run out of neck room in the chamber. This will cause the bullet pull to go up and can lead to over pressure. I first ran into this converting 9.3 X 74R brass to 400-360 Purdey. Both have about the same bullet diameter but one has to shorten the brass and squeeze then squeeze it down. This makes for thick neck walls. The 400-360 Purdey has rather thin neck walls to start with so I had to thin the neck walls with a neck reamer. This may or may not be a problem with the conversion here, but be sure to check and KNOW it's not a problem. Easier to check neck space than to glue your Luger back together. To date, I've been using once fired brass from factory loads. As I recall Starline makes 30 Luger brass, might be worth while checking their prices. I've also bought Winchester brass on eBay pretty cheap.

09-12-2006, 07:35 PM	#4
Mckenzie Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	So far no failures necking down. You do have to lube the cases. Just a dab of vasoline or other grease on your fingers and rubbed on the case. There is very little support for the bullet, don't no if this will work with cast bullets. Still a cheap alternate to buying .30 luger. Also I am shooting these in a p block commercial. Using an old DWM magazine. Seat the bullets as far out as possible.

09-14-2006, 05:03 PM	#7
Mckenzie Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Hi guys, just checked starlines price on .30 luger. Close to .18 in thousand quanities. 9mm can be had for .02 with shipping on ebay. You be the judge which is cheaper. My loads with .309 bullets fall into the chamber and fall out when inverted. It is very easy to check if neck diameter is too large. In my pistol I can not load the correct size cast bullet because of this. Please someone explain how to post a picture so the picture shows. I followed the copy and paste instructions and my picture did not show. Thanks, John

09-14-2006, 11:33 PM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	You have to copy the URL that says where your photo is stored into your message using the IMG button in the ADD REPLY mode... you can't do it in the SUBMIT REPLY mode unless you know how to use "tags" __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*