.30-30 case capacity differences

[bdbrown66]

I'm currently creating some brass for my 360 Buckhammer by using resized 30-30 brass. And what I'm finding is that there is a significant difference in case capacity between Remington and Winchester cases. For example, using 3 Remington cases that were resized and trimmed, the average weight is 127.3 gr. For Winchester cases, the average is 134.6 gr. Since the outside dimensions are the same, the extra weight is obviously on the interior, reducing case capacity. Seven grains of difference seems like a lot to me, and it's quite noticeable when loading to at or near case capacity, as with the 360. What will fit in the Remington case just fine will not allow the bullet to be seated in the Winchester case. I've got to believe that the Winchester cases are stronger and would probably last longer, but if it reduces my top end loads by 5-10% that's not a good trade-off IMO. Guess I'll just stick with Remington cases.

And I have heard a rumor that the factory 360 cases were given more material in the head than the 30-30 cases, but I'm not sure that's true. Weighing 3 factory 360 Remington cases averaged 126.5 gr, and 3 factory 360 Federal cases averaged 128.1 gr (although these cases hadn't been cleaned yet so still had powder residue in them). In any case, the factory 360 cases were within a grain +/- of the converted Remington 30-30 cases, so I doubt there's much difference in the head construction.

I don't load for the 30-30 itself, but anyone else adjusting for these differences between Remington and Winchester cases in that caliber?

 

[JD338]

I would use a chronograph for your load development while watching for signs of high pressure. Assuming you are using a lever gun so be aware of sticky extraction. Start low and work up.
I was just reading up on the 360 BH yesterday. It actually out performs the 35 Remington. This is due to running it at 50,000 psi vs. 30,000 psi.
I bet it's going to be a fun gun to hunt with.

JD338

 

[bdbrown66]

I would use a chronograph for your load development while watching for signs of high pressure. Assuming you are using a lever gun so be aware of sticky extraction. Start low and work up.
I was just reading up on the 360 BH yesterday. It actually out performs the 35 Remington. This is due to running it at 50,000 psi vs. 30,000 psi.
I bet it's going to be a fun gun to hunt with.

JD338

Oh, I always do those things. My issue here is, the reduced case capacity makes it impossible to get the maximum potential from the round, per the published load data.

 

[Guy Miner]

Using Remington 360 Buckhammer cases I got great results with the Hornady 200 gr RNSP and CFE BLK powder.

Accuracy was considerably better than factory ammo (which was certainly okay) and picked up quite a bit of velocity as well, at 2311 fps from a Henry lever action.

I liked the 360 Buckhammer enough that for most purposes I think I'd prefer it over the wonderful old 45-70!

Regards, Guy

 

[bdbrown66]

Using Remington 360 Buckhammer cases I got great results with the Hornady 200 gr RNSP and CFE BLK powder.

Accuracy was considerably better than factory ammo (which was certainly okay) and picked up quite a bit of velocity as well, at 2311 fps from a Henry lever action.

I liked the 360 Buckhammer enough that for most purposes I think I'd prefer it over the wonderful old 45-70!

Regards, Guy

I remember you talking about that, Guy. I guess I just haven't found the sweet spot for mine yet. Some loads that were ok, just not good enough to get me excited. I've heard some good things about these FTX bullets, tho, so thought I'd give them a try.

Odd that none of the brass makers are making anything for the 360 yet, not even Starline. You either have to shoot up some factory ammo or convert 30-30 brass.

 

[Guy Miner]

I'm not sure that the 360 is going to stick around long... It's a regionally popular thing, but I'm not seeing a lot of others picking up on it. If Marlin starts making 360 Buckhammer rifles then maybe it will be a success. The 35 Rem suffers a similar fate - just not as popular as it ought to be and has roughly the same power level.

Guy

 

[bdbrown66]

I'm not sure that the 360 is going to stick around long... It's a regionally popular thing, but I'm not seeing a lot of others picking up on it. If Marlin starts making 360 Buckhammer rifles then maybe it will be a success. The 35 Rem suffers a similar fate - just not as popular as it ought to be and has roughly the same power level.

Guy

It was always intended to be first and foremost a regional cartridge, to compete with the 350 Legend in a lever platform. The 350 has been around now for about 15 years or so, and there are now folks using it in places where straight wall cartridges are not required. As long as 35 cal bullets and 30-30 brass is available, the 360 will be viable for some folks, at least.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

As for comparing velocity 35Rem to the 360BH as Guy stated the 360 gets the velocity by increasing pressure. One of our fellow members who I haven't seen post for awhile took his 35Rem to higher level of velocity by safely increasing pressure and he achieved what they've done for the 360 now. The 360 was and is a project to fill the requirements of a straight wall determined length case for limited use areas that yielded little more velocity that the 350 Ledgen. Marketing. If Remington does to it what they did to the 280,260,35Whelen and 7mm08 it will fall onto hard times.