Neck sizing only will eventually cause some grief in a lever gun just like it can in a bolt gun, when it starts getting tougher to chamber it needs to be brought back down a little with a full length die, I very seldom set my die to the point it is touching the shell holder I prefer to size down to just touching the shoulder without moving it back any, this generally lets the case get some sizeing along the length without working the brass too much, to answer your question you should be able to reload several times before it gets hard to chamber, just how many times will depend on how hard you are willng to work the lever or I guess chamber size will also have an effect. I myself would buy the full length set and not over work the brass, you can neck size with it or full length if you want.

Rick

rick - does regular case trimming help the problem, or does the case growth come regardless?

another thing is that i do have an RCBS X-die for .30/30. i'm a novice, but it looks like this is an FL die. if is simply went with this die, i am guessing all i would need to buy is a seating die? if so, can it be any brand? would i have to get an RCBS shell holder or would the lee shell holder work?

rick - here is what midwayUSA says about the RCBS X-die:

MidWayUSA wrote: The X-Sizer Die features a specially designed mandrel that eliminates the need for repeated trimming after an initial trim of .020" off the maximum case length. The mandrel contacts the case mouth during sizing and reduces the growth rate. Because of an extremely close tolerance between the mandrel and die neck wall, the neck wall of the case does not thicken as the case length is pushed back. Cases repeatedly sized in the X-Die will initially grow a few thousandths of an inch, then stabilize below the maximum case length with no discernable loss of accuracy or case life. Shellholder sold separately.

I own one RCBS X die set in 223, I dont like it and I dont use it set up like they tell you to set it up I use mine like a regular FL set, it makes the shoulder bulge to a more rounded shape than a straight flat taper, could I not have it set up right, maybe, but I prefer to use my way.

After several firings and neck sizing only the body of the case will grow slightly as the brass gets worked and more brittle so it eventually will need a squeeze back.

I use Lee, Lyman, RCBS shell holders in my Rock Chucker, the numbers dont always match with each other but they will hold the case they are supposed to and I generally have a shell holder in each set of dies for that round along with a Lee Trim Tool and a Lee Prime Tool shell holder, If you dont want to use that method you have to know what case a shellholder will fit, 270 30-06 308 243 7mm08 260rem all use the same one, you just have to know the parent case.

Everone has their own way of doing it and their own opinions on what and how they want to accomplish the same thing, thats what makes for good reading on this board   Good Luck, its well worth it and is a great undertaking.

Yes you can use any brand of seating die you want, and you can use the X die as a straight FL die by not setting it down as far, (the mandrel ) or do like the instructions tell you to set it up, all it really does is bump the case mouth back a little, thats where the shoulder bulge comes from.

Rick

I reload 30-30 with RCBS dies (gave my Lee away).

The correct to case Lee shell holder will work fine.  But remember that what ever shell holder you set/adjust your die to should be the same all the time you reload.

I'd try the x-die as you have it.  30-30 cases really don't "grow" much as they are low pressure rounds.  I'd FL size all 30-30 in Marlin or Winchester rifles.  They will feed properly.  Neck sizing will not improve accuracy, but will cause the rounds to occasionally fail to go into the chamber all the way. 

I'd not recommend the collet Lee die, especially for an Auto, pump, or lever rifle.  You really want the round to be to factory spec as the action doesn't have the cam closer force of a bolt.

I load for bolt and lever 30-30 and do them the same with a RCBS FL die.  20 reloads of the same case is usual for me.

what lee dies work best?

the ones that say 'rcbs fl die set 30-30'.

Tas, I have and use several sets of LEE dies, I find there stuff to be a more than fair value for the cost, I use some of their molds in my casting, trim tool, 4 primer tools, chamfer tool, I have three primer pocket cleaners, still have several Loadall sets, dippers yep I use it!

Only Thing I do different to their dies is change the lock rings, I have used theirs and have never had a problem with them moving, I just prefer the LYMAN lock rings, I change them on my RCBS dies too.

Rick

I didn't want to mention those Lee lock rings

BEAR

Bear

Thanks Bear,

Rick