Hornady FTX 30-30

St Pauli

St Pauli

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Durham region
New to reloading here
I'd like to reload these in 160gr
I have a reloading manual and the sundries needed just one or two question.

Will Lee dies work without damaging the FTX soft point when seating the bullet?

Case trim length? No mention of it in hornady manual.
Do I just trim to 2.029?

I will load Min charge and work up .5 gr until I find what my 94 likes.


cheers
 
Max case length (2.039) and case trim length (2.029) are right at the top of the 30-30 page in my hornady manual. Trim after full length sizing.

AFAIK (I use Lyman dies for the 30-30 - no special insert) the FTX bullet won't be damaged by seating, but because the projectile tip is soft and squishy it is difficult to get a precise COAL. Just pay attention to how much pressure you use while seating. Perhaps start long and use calipers constantly. FYI the Hornady manual lists the COAL for the 160grain FTX in 30-30 as 2.535. I've loaded them to 2.555. IMHO just make sure the cannelure fits 1/2 through the case mouth and you should be good to go.

FWIW 34gr LVR behind the ftx is the sweet spot in my win94.

Also, when you search CGN, push the search history back to 3 years. Way more results than the default two weeks.
 
Here you go, straight from Lee


Here is the response I got from LEE-

The bullet seater plug that comes with the die set is as close to generic as we can make it. If you find that the bullet seater plug deforms the nose of the bullet you are trying to seat, we can make a custom bullet seater plug to fit your bullet. For this we would need a sample bullet and payment of $8.00. Current lead time is two days to one week. All orders are charged a $4.50 Shipping and Handling Fee. Foreign orders pay an additional 35% Export Fee.

Many times, you can make this fix yourself through the use of a drill press. Secure the seater plug under a 3/32" bit and drill further into it. The distance should never be increased more than 1/4". If this doesn't solve the issue, we recommend sending it to us. Our address is:
Lee Precision, Inc.
4275 Highway "U"
Hartford, WI 53027

Thank You
Lee Precision
 
Safehunter

I put a small washer between the bullet seater and the cap and got the extra 20 thousand to seat I needed.
Ammo is made to Hornady spec. 2.535.
 
Lee dies work good. Use the collet crimp die. Load to book length. 35 grains of lvr has been the sweat spot in over two dozen different 30-30's I've tested. Winchester or cci primers. Max pressure loads always were 37-38 grains and min loads were 33-34 grains. Ymmv
 
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