30-30 trouble

ebruder

ebruder

CGN Regular
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Kingston
Hey guys...

What's going wrong here?

The brass is 1F federal. I have deprimed and full length sized. I tried to seat the bullets and this happened. Three times:

ImageUploadedByCanadianGunNutz1386803304.325715.jpg

The bullets are cast with gas checks. 170 gr and I measured them to 0.308".

The dies are rcbs.

Any thoughts?

EB
 

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Some things I would look at would include miking the expander ball (mixups do happen at the factory and it's not bad to eliminate basics), possibly using a deburring tool on the inside of the neck and maybe lubricating the inside of the neck
 
first issue...federal brass

second make sure you have adjusted the dies correct.

Are you using something like the Lee Universal Case Expander die????

Lee Universal Flaring Die gently flares the case mouth to accept cast bullets without shaving. Includes neck plugs for .22 cal through .45 cal
Click to expand...
 
It looks like your bullets have entered the case neck a ways. My best guess is as the bullet expands the neck it is straightening the case mouth, pulling it back towards the bullet and causing it to catch a groove. Insufficient chamfering could be the issue.
 
HI; resize, flare die, bullet seating die, Lee factory crimp die. Lead needs a four step process.
Looks like no or too little flare when trying to seat the bullet.
Nice looking bullets. Where did you get them? Also what is the bullet diameter? I use .310
 
yomomma said:
Are you using something like the Lee Universal Case Expander die????
Click to expand...
I had a similar problem with 30 caliber gas check lead bullets in 30-30 and 30-06 giving me grief. Luckily, after pulling the neck expander from my 32-20 die, I thought it might do the job (I think it is .3125). Using hand pressure to lightly flare the case mouth a bit, the expander plug worked perfectly and bullet seating was a breeze afterwards.
 
Did you chamfer your brass at all? I always do it to every case. Haven't seen that before on my 30-30 cases and some of mine are pretty old!
 
Well, I thought I'd be clever...

I tried chamfering the neck... No good.

Then I decided to try seat a .308 FMJ BT bullet thinking the boat tail would slide right in... ImageUploadedByCanadianGunNutz1386819479.422618.jpg

Nope!

So us this a brass issue? Or should I get one of the flair dies?

EB
 

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VICIOUS said:
HI; resize, flare die, bullet seating die, Lee factory crimp die. Lead needs a four step process.
Looks like no or too little flare when trying to seat the bullet.
Nice looking bullets. Where did you get them? Also what is the bullet diameter? I use .310
Click to expand...

They are .308. Got them from R&R bullets. They seem nice. I'd love to know how they shoot!!
 
First off, how much reloading have you done before using these cast bullets? Are you flaring/is there any flare to the mouth of the brass? How are you setting your seating die? IIRC, if the seating die is turned too far down, it will start crimping much too early, pinches the bullet, and you might end up with a squished case.
 
Read the directions for setting up your seating die, you have the die set too low and are crimping the case mouth as you are just seating the bullets.

RCBS Seating Die Setup without crimp. (always crimp in a separate operation from seating)

Thread the seater die a few turns into the press. Put a case in the shell holder and lower the press handle, running the ram with the case to the top of the press stroke. Turn the die body down until it stops. The crimp shoulder in the die is now pressing against the top of the case mouth. Back the die out one turn, raising the crimp shoulder above the case mouth. Secure the die in position with the die lock ring.

For cast bullets it is a big help to have a Lyman type "M" die to expand and flare the case mouth for larger diameter cast bullets.

typemdie_zps25e733bd.jpg


The type "M" die expands the neck and then flares the case mouth.

mtype_zpsd7a1881f.jpg


Exaggerated type "M" die example for loading cast pistol bullets.

bulletseatingflaresands_zps1aff9c57.jpg
 
you guys are awesome... thanks...

Turns out the seating die was too deep... I set it to the case, and not the shell holder, and voila! Problem solved.

Thanks again!
EB
 
ebruder said:
Well, I thought I'd be clever...

I tried chamfering the neck... No good.

Then I decided to try seat a .308 FMJ BT bullet thinking the boat tail would slide right in... View attachment 8319

Nope!

So us this a brass issue? Or should I get one of the flair dies?

EB
Click to expand...

This sure sounds like a die issue! If a regular boat tail can't slide in like butter, you seem to have a problem with your die!
 
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