30-30 Reloading Problem

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CanXB

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Hello everyone,

I have double checked everything and am at a loss. I am having an issue reloading for the 30-30 with Hornady 160 grain FTX projectiles . Brass is prepped and double checked. I am using a Redding die set for seating but the seater bottoms out before the required COAL is achieved. The seating die is just off the case and can not be lowered or I will start to ripple the case necks (already did two of them).

My setup is as follows:
Shell holder in ram
Ram all the way up
Screw die in till it touches the Shell Holder
Back die off one full turn
Set locking ring
Ram down
Case in Shell Holder
Ram up
With seater screwed all the way in my COAL is still too long

Is it possible the Redding dies are not meant to be used in conjunction with the FTX projectiles? I am at a loss here and am not sure what to do next. Initially I was thinking just try a different projectile but it annoys me that I can not figure out what is going on here. Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated.
 
CanXB said:
Hello everyone,

I have double checked everything and am at a loss. I am having an issue reloading for the 30-30 with Hornady 160 grain FTX projectiles . Brass is prepped and double checked. I am using a Redding die set for seating but the seater bottoms out before the required COAL is achieved. The seating die is just off the case and can not be lowered or I will start to ripple the case necks (already did two of them).

My setup is as follows:
Shell holder in ram
Ram all the way up
Screw die in till it touches the Shell Holder
Back die off one full turn
Click to expand...

Never mind, I was thinking resizing. Never had the problem you describe
 
Last edited:
just curious...

What is your load?

the die should not matter if it is designed for 30-30. the bullet should not be a issue if it is sized for 30-30.
is the die factory new? is this your first time loading for 30-30?

how far over is it?
 
Am I missing something?
Why backout the die by a full turn?
TPI on dies is 13tpi, so each full turn is 0.076" difference in height.
How short of C.O.L. are you?
 
Seems odd. Almost like the bullet seating stem or plug is too short.

I was comparing a photo of this 160 grain FTX bullet to a standard 150 grain round nose JSP bullet.

It looks like they are about the same length, but that that the much more tapered and pointed FTX bullet would contact the seating plug with the bullet entering further into the cavity in the plug.

If the plug cavity is designed to push on the shoulder of the more rounded .30-30 JSP 150 grain bullet, and is counter-bored so as not to contact and deform the normal soft bullet nose, then the FTX bullet might simply be almost disappearing up into the plug before making contact.

Just a theory, not being able to see the plug. You could unscrew the stem and plug of the bullet seater and examine it visually and try different bullets to see if this is the problem.

If it is the problem, then perhaps Redding has another seating stem and plug for FTX bullets, or perhaps a longer stem and plug designed for spitzer pointed bullets would fit.
 
Do you have any other rifle seater die? A 303, 308 7.62x39? All you need is something to push the bullet deeper. the crimping can be done on with the correct die, later, if needed.

Phone Scott Lawence at Redding. (607) 753-3331 He will send you a longer seating stem.
 
diopter said:
Had to sign up to see the post, but even had had to search for 160 Hornady FTX to find it.

Redding seater stem is too short for FTX.
Ask Redding for another longer stem or if you're in a hurry to hunt use a spacer in the die to get the seater lower
Click to expand...

thanks.

I'll make a note to myself not to get any FTX.
 
Thanks everyone. It is definitely an issue with the length of the seater stem. The FTX bullet does go up further into the seater and is where I am loosing the required additional adjustment. I will take the info provided (thanks Ganderite) and get a hold of Redding to see if they will send me a different seater plug.

As for the comment about the FTX brass being shorter, in many cases yes it is, but I do not think it is the case with the 30-30. There is no mention of a different trim length in my Hornady manual for the 140 or 160 grain FTX bullets. After seating all my bullets with my RCBS 308 die the mouth of the brass falls exactly into the centre of the cannelure of the FTX bullet telling me that the trim length is correct. Yomama, I was wondering if you had a link or anything where it stated the different required length of brass for the 30-30. The only thing I did not like was that the 308 seating die left a bit of a ring on the projectile, I am assuming due to not having the correct profile in the seater plug. All crimping was then done on the Redding seating die with the seater plug remove. Everything lined up and looked good.
 
Yes Yomamma I see that now after looking through my other manuals. In loading previous cartridges with FTX projectiles there is a shorter trim length specific to just these projectiles. However, with the 30-30 it appears the shorer trim length is recommended for all their projectile regardless of weight or shape. Interesting.
 
I had the same problem with COL but was using Lee die set
My solution was a small thin washer between seater and seater body to get a little extra seating length
 
Yomamma, I went back and reread your last post. I do not think the information you have there is correct regarding TTL. The value of 2.039" is the maximum length not a TTL as stated. The value of 2.029" is the Hornady TTL. So to confirm I went to a couple of other manuals I have. All list max length as 2.039", but TTL does vary ever so slightly.

Hornady 2.029"
Speer 2.030"
Barnes 2.030"
Sierra 2.029"
Lyman 2.028"
 
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