Reloading Hornady LeverEvolution brass

[Albertaktm]

Finally, after days of research and talking to knowledgeable folks, I fired up my brand new Classic Turrent Press and 2 of my 3 sets of reloading dies.

Did 100 rounds of 44 Mag, 240 grain 7 guns of Titegroup. Loaded up 16 rounds of the same with 9 grains. After a couple of botched rounds it went really well ( enough reading and talking , practical time)!

Switched over to the 45-70. A couple more goofs but it went well. Loaded up 50 rounds of 300 grain plated with 58 grains of IMR 3130.

I had a bunch of fired once Hornady LeverEvolution brass and a bunch of new Winchester brass. I started with the Hornady. Set the dies with this brass.

Switched over to the new stuff after 30 or so. I started getting a few buckled cases seating the bullets. WTF? Looked at the finished product and noticed the new brass going right up past the cannelure while the other Hornady I had done were just below the cannelure. Both had exact OAL of 2.550. Measured the empty cases and sure enough, the Hornady is a few mils shorter than the book length spec. The new stuff was bang on.

Everything chambers and fires fine.

I picked up 3 different bags of cleaned once fired 30-30 from the gun show yesterday. First thing I did was take one from each bag and measure! They were all the same.

All in all my first learning experience loading! I didn't measure the once fired zHornady first before loading as I didn't figure it would stretch much with one firing.
Maybe it shrunk!

[JEBar]

Hornady LeverEvolution brass isn't standard size and should ONLY be reloaded with their LeverEvolution bullets ... because we prefer to load other bullets, we will not reload any of their brass

[Albertaktm]

So I got a good tight crimp and theOAL is correct. Chambers and fires fine. Can you explain why I shouldn’t use it?. I don’t plan on buying Hornady bullets and don’t really want to throw out 150 hornady cases.

It’s just plinking rounds. Not shooting groups with this rifle. Or hunting.

[CT_Shooter]

Leverevolution brass is not within SAAMI specs for standard ammunition. You may get other opinions on this, but I would think that the smaller case volume would have an effect on pressure ... with a mild load it could be safe. I'd suggest starting low and working up your loads.

So I got a good tight crimp and the OAL is correct. Chambers and fires fine. Can you explain why I shouldn’t use it?

[JEBar]

the choice is very much up to you ... my concern is, SAAMI specs are there for a reason .... with LeverEvolution brass the bottom of a standard length bullet will not provide the same space for powder as it does with standard length brass ... with some powders, compression can be an issue .... here again, after considering everything, the choice is yours

[Albertaktm]

CT:

Good point. The books said 59 to 64 grains of my IMR 3130. I loaded everything to 58 grains as a few load data reports stated 51 to 60. My Lee 2nd addition and the Hodgdon said 59-64 so that’s what I went with. Sort of.

[fortyshooter]

Watch out for the shorter Hornady flex tip brass in .45 Colt also!

[runnin n gunnin]

I love Hornady bullets and load them for many calibers, however, I do not prefer their brass. I have been using Starline for all calibers and have never had a single problem, and many reloads on each casing.

[BruniX]

I love Hornady bullets and load them for many calibers, however, I do not prefer their brass. I have been using Starline for all calibers and have never had a single problem, and many reloads on each casing.

interesting,
I would like to test flextip in 45-70, but because of the non-standard length of the cases, I did not want to try ....
In addition, I do not have the hornady reload data ...
Do you mean that you can use flex tip 45-70 in starline standard cases?
BruniX

[runnin n gunnin]

I love Hornady bullets and load them for many calibers, however, I do not prefer their brass. I have been using Starline for all calibers and have never had a single problem, and many reloads on each casing.

interesting,

I would like to test flextip in 45-70

, but because of the non-standard length of the cases, I did not want to try ....
In addition, I do not have the hornady reload data ...
Do you mean that you can use flex tip 45-70 in starline standard cases?
BruniX

Hey BruniX. I use Hornady for everything, but have not yet loaded for the 45-70. I have my dies, shell holder, crimp die, etc coming from Midway this week. Having said that, I also have a box of Hornady flext tip 45-70 factory ammo to shoot when I get my Henry side gate 45-70 for Christmas.
I know the flex tip is listed in Hornady's reload book. I will pull the data today and follow up with another post with the information to you.

Bye the way, I admire your Churchill quote re: remembering history, one I use often, especially with the younger generation.

[runnin n gunnin]

Brunix, here is the data directly out of the latest Hornady book. You can use the standard 45-70 casing, but it must be trimmed to length specifically for the flex tip from 2.105 to 2.040

I hope this helps you.

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[BruniX]

Thanks , Nice i will try it ...

[Albertaktm]

Hell, I'll ship you 100 Hornady shorter cases, no trimming required!

[BruniX]

Hell, I'll ship you 100 Hornady shorter cases, no trimming required!

it's not for shooting mare than 5 - 10 round, only for test

i don't buy any bullet , only mold them...

I feel as much pleasure to reload and mold the bullets as to shoot them ...
but to try a few rounds, why not ..?

So far, I have reloaded some Sierra bullets JHP 300 gr ...

Not bad, but as I only shoot target, little benefit for a high cost...
I would like to test Hornady flex tip to see the accuracy and the curve at 100 & 200 m

Also, i like the "kick ass recoil" of 405 gr Hard cast...

[JEBar]

Also, i like the "kick ass recoil" of 405 gr Hard cast...

many years ago I could and would have said that .... but those days are gone .... I still enjoy the bullet delivering a crushing blow to its target but I no longer like the rifle stock to deliver one to my shoulder ..

[runnin n gunnin]

Oh JEBar, it reminds me that I am still alive !

[JEBar]

Oh JEBar, it reminds me that I am still alive !

my preference is to gain such reminders through much more pleasant experiences ....

[runnin n gunnin]

Oh JEBar, it reminds me that I am still alive !

my preference is to gain such reminders through much

more pleasant experiences

....

True, True, but that kick keeps on giving for a while !

[JEBar]

True, True, but that kick keeps on giving for a while !

yep, it most certainly can .... that happens to be yet another reason I try to minimize the experience