help... hesitant newbe 30-30 hornady ftx in a lee loader

[tikkaberetta]

Can't get the overall length correct. Has anyone had any issues like this?
I'm using a lee press with a pacesetter 3 die kit.
When I press my ftx bullet into the casing the shortest oal I can achieve is still too long.
I can achieve the proper length if I shim the die adjustment thimble. But is that acceptable?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[yomomma]

If your die is adjusted correctly

I have had this issue once with my lee .223 die....wrote them and had a new piece for my die within a week

 

[hoytcanon]

I load with the same dies and the 160 FTX... no problem getting the proper OAL... are you sure you adjusted the dies correctly?

If you are too LONG then FP's would be even worse, and they are a standard .30/30 load.

 

[bcsteve]

I load with the same dies and the 160 FTX... no problem getting the proper OAL... are you sure you adjusted the dies correctly?

If you are too LONG then FP's would be even worse, and they are a standard .30/30 load.

My thought exactly, you die can't be adjusted properly. Unscrew your seating die a bit and screw in your seating stem further down. Its probably crimping before your bullet is pushed in far enough.

 

[LUTNIT]

I've used those dies with the FTX bullets without issue. Take them apart and give them a good cleaning and see if it helps maybe.
Also ignore and OAL numbers published in books. Seat to the cannalure, crimp (if you have a tube mag), and fire.

As for the shimming of the seating die; I drop a 00 buck pellet between the seating plug and adjustment stem all the time when loading really short bullets. Usually .32 cal (.312") pistol bullets in .303 British or 7.62x54R. Works fine and is no danger. If you forget to take it out you just get a bullet pushed all the way into the case next time you use the die if you are loading normal rifle bullets. A kinetic puller will usually fix that.

 

[tikkaberetta]

I load with the same dies and the 160 FTX... no problem getting the proper OAL... are you sure you adjusted the dies correctly?

If you are too LONG then FP's would be even worse, and they are a standard .30/30 load.

like I was saying about the "new to this". I'm unsure as to what you mean by FP. ..

 

[tikkaberetta]

I ensure that the collar is seated every time and have had no issues loading .270, or .303 with the same setup.

When I load using a "shim" much like the suggestion to use 00 buckshot. I can achieve proper OAL, however it's not being crimped on the cannalure. The cannalure ends up lower than the top of the casing.

I haven't had anything to compare to, so I'm left assuming that the higher grain bullet results in a longer bullet.

I really appreciate all the help.

 

[cyclops666]

Don't you have to trim the cases because of the longer bullet? Aren't hornady cases shorter?

 

[hound2013]

ive done 160 ,150, and 140grain ftx all the time with the full length sizing die set from lee with no issues if i were you try to screw in the die more ,or reset your die ..... go on youtube there might be a video on tips and tricks for that set of dies .>>>oilman

 

[bcsteve]

I ensure that the collar is seated every time and have had no issues loading .270, or .303 with the same setup.

When I load using a "shim" much like the suggestion to use 00 buckshot. I can achieve proper OAL, however it's not being crimped on the cannalure. The cannalure ends up lower than the top of the casing.

I haven't had anything to compare to, so I'm left assuming that the higher grain bullet results in a longer bullet.

I really appreciate all the help.

Don't try to seat and crimp in the same stroke. Unscrew your die a bit and screw down your seating stem. Seat to the proper depth with the proper setting than do the opposite, raise the seating stem and screw down the die so you can crimp without the stem interfering.

 

[legi0n]

like I was saying about the "new to this". I'm unsure as to what you mean by FP. ..

FP = flat point