30-30 primer push out

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Gasoline boy

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Hello I have an interesting situation going on. I have a Henry 30-30 and thought id try out some lever evolution reloading. I ave loaded down a few grains from max load and am experiencing a bit of primer push out.
Now this is where it gets interesting. When I noticed this issue I decided to go buy a box of factory lever evolution, same weight same projectile, same point of impact. They are printing paper in almost exactly the same place. And I am seeing primer push out in the factory ammo.
So both my hand loads and the factory loads are pushing the primers out.
thoughts?
 
it can only be one problem if it does it with factory ammo a headspace issue
that being said a primer backing out is not a big issue it may mean that the chamber is at max specs and really not a issue
when reloading it's a easy fix don't full length size your cases size them to the chamber set your die so the bolt closes snug on a resized case
 
struff55 said:
that being said a primer backing out is not a big issue it may mean that the chamber is at max specs and really not a issue
when reloading it's a easy fix don't full length size your cases size them to the chamber set your die so the bolt closes snug on a resized case
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I suppose it depends on how far the primes are backing out. If they are just a little proud then you are correct and I wouldn't worry too much about it.

A headspace issue can be solved by setting the sizing die to match the chamber. It would be a mistake to continue to size cases down to factory length and then shoot them over and over. That will eventually cause case head separations.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
I suppose it depends on how far the primes are backing out. If they are just a little proud then you are correct and I wouldn't worry too much about it.

A headspace issue can be solved by setting the sizing die to match the chamber. It would be a mistake to continue to size cases down to factory length and then shoot them over and over. That will eventually cause case head separations.
Click to expand...
The factory primers are backed out less than my reloads, I figured this difference is that my brass are once fired and I assume the factory are virgin brass. Measuring the amount of backout is somewhat challenging in that my resized, trimmed case length is longer than the fired case length with the primer, but it is 0.005 in difference between the case head and the backed out primer.
 
Some years ago, there was an acquaintance with a Savage 99 lever action 243 Win that would do the same. By setting "air gap" between the shell holder and die in his press, the issue went away. Based on that, we believed his chamber was cut long, or the bolt lock-up had worn - resulting in more lengthwise space - fired case probably pushed forward to shoulder contact when firing pin struck - with case fully forward to shoulder, a 30-30 may or may not have its rim on the recess - we believed it was the shoulder that stopped the forward movement - neck, then thinner front end likely expanded first and held tight to the chamber walls - case body probably strong enough not to get stretched back to the bolt face - hence the primer had room to be pushed to the rear. Based on that, I always wondered if that is not a common occurrence - except case not strong enough to resist the pressure - primer gets backed out some amount on firing, then re-seated to flush during firing?
 
Exactly what yomama said above. I had the same thing. The solution is sizing the case a tiny bit longer (neck further forward, not the actual case length).
 
Nothing to worry about. The 30-30win is rated for pretty low chamber pressures. Even with a 'full' charge or factory loads, there often isn't enough pressure to fully expand the brass to fill the chamber. What your seeing is caused by low chamber pressures. Now if you had ruptured primers or leaking gasses, carbon, etc. around the primers that's another issue.
 
Gasoline boy, yomamma and Suther are telling you what the problem is and how to fix it.

The operating pressures generated by the 30-30 aren't high enough to force the case head back against the bolt hard enough to keep the primer seated and fully fireform the case at the same time, so, the primer pops out of its seat as far as it can.

The trick Suther is suggesting, keeps the face of the case against the bolt face during firing and allow the case to be blown out enough to fill the whole area between the bolt face and the shoulder.

You should use Suther's suggestion of slipping an "O" ring, or a small elastic band from Staples @ $2/100, and fireforming the case which will be proprietary to your rifle and likely won't fit another 30-30 chamber.

This has the added benefit of making your brass last longer, because it doesn't get worked as much, if you reset your die so that it "neck resizes" only.

I will add another suggestion, seeing as you have a lever action and locking up the bolt on a tight case can be difficult to impossible.

Use a felt marker to color your case necks and shoulders. Then when you're setting up your die, in your press, you can adjust it down until it just touches the shoulder.

Try this case, empty, in your rifle and check that the lever closes easily.

If it's a bit snug, or you're concerned about a bit of dirt/grit causing an issue, rotate your die about 3mm and push back the shoulder a few thousandths. This will partially resize the case shoulder and about 20mm of the body underneath it. No more binding.

Tighten the set screw on the die locking collar and leave it there.

If you're loading for several or even a couple of 30-30 chambered rifles, which you don't indicate, the cases from the largest chamber will not be interchangeable between firearms.
 
Has anyone played with spicing up the 30-30 to bring pressures closer to the other cartridges available in single shot rifles? The Henry comes in 308, so theoretically the action should be capable of holding 60k psi in a 30-30... but is the case up for it? Maybe there's something else I'm not thinking about?
 
Suther said:
Has anyone played with spicing up the 30-30 to bring pressures closer to the other cartridges available in single shot rifles? The Henry comes in 308, so theoretically the action should be capable of holding 60k psi in a 30-30... but is the case up for it? Maybe there's something else I'm not thinking about?
Click to expand...
There are "special" reloading sections when reloading for a Ruger #1 or Thompson/Contender
 
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