Need help Troubleshooting Reloading 30-30 For 2011 Marlin 336W

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Gorisan

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Hello, firstly thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

This is my formula, after consulting a few manuals, Berry's website, and various tutorials.
Using Lee Pacesetter dies

*Winchester brass, shoulders bumped back .015" from what my chamber formed it too. (Factory Winchester brass shoulder is close to -0.030" from fire formed cases)
*All cases were between 2.030 and 2.035 so I did not trim
*Berry's 150Grain .308 (30-30) plated bullet - https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/bp-30-30-308-150gr-rnfp
*Cartridge OAL via Berry's site and Lee's Manual to 2.550"

Problem, This will not fit my chamber, not even close.

Further information: Factory Winchester 30-30 Cartrige OAL is 2.485"
My first attempt at seating the Berry's Bullet put the OAL at 2.477" This will in fact fit chamber - marked this one for disassembly

So, do I just reduce the OAL? The Berry's bullets are not to exceed 2000 FPS and I need to figure out how to adjust my
powder charge. I was using 22gr of IMR 4198 which would have kept this sub 2000Fps

I realise as the bullet seats deeper the pressure goes up. How does one compensate for all this,

Am I really missing the boat on something here? Why when the book spec and other sources point to 2.550" being fine, it isn't?

Oh and a side question: I have failure to extract on about 10% of factory ammo, am I likely in need of replacing extractor, this was by all looks and accounts a rarely or never fired rifle.
-I have yet to fire any reloads from this rifle.

Cheers!
 
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Smoke or sharpie the cartridge then try it in the chamber. This way you will see where it's binding in the chamber.

From the info so far the problem could be any number of things: over crimping, long at the shoulder, over belling, fat at the base, bullet ogive hitting the rifling.....
 
Thank you so far for the pointers.
I was using the full length dies, backed up a tad though.

Over crimping unlikely as I just kissed it closed, looks fine. Not ruled out mind you.
Will use the sharpie trick next go at it, bullet ogive is my guess at this point, but will measure everything.

Cheers!
 
Berry's Bullet I have not used them

a Couple of points ..I like a crimp ring on bullets that will be used in tube type Mag

Have you tried to chamber .. extract a empty case ?

Are you using a lee crimper? Roll ? Taper ?

it is easy to over crimp and create a bump that will stop / make it harder to chamber a case

If the rim thickness is too thick you will have extraction issues or if extractor is dirty or out of spec

Have you heard of the plonk test .... each rifle / bullet combo is different and the rifle will dictate OAL
 
Lee Pacesetter, so 1) decap/full length die 2) Seating die 3) crimp die

(Dummy Load)

Yes, I just tried a full length sized empty case in the chamber. It does chamber.
After seating the bullet I did not apply any crimp.( I am used to a flare with my pistol reloads) This full length die did not give me a flair, I just put it on the cartridge and ride it up the seating die, the bullet seems to go in fine.

I painted the bullet and neck with a sharpie. The dummy load now does not chamber --- no noticeable markings on the bullet actually.

It does now chamber with a bit of force @ 2.510" , Much more comfortable with the chambering @ 2.500" This is where I will call that bullet with my chamber.
I will do some more digging as to what I can expect for a safe load to be, we are looking at a bullet seating of .050" deeper.

As far as a Crimp: The neck tension seems quite tight, perhaps even tight enough line up in a tube. Although instincts tell me to apply a slight crimp at least

Thank you and everyone for your comments and suggestions.
 
I think you're likely expanding the neck too much with the bullets. What's the difference in a resized case neck diameter and a loaded cartridge neck diameter?

BTW.. 2000 FPS is a bit on the slow side for 150 gn. I regularly get 2050 FPS with my Marlin 336C shooting 170 gn RNFP and they're middle of the range loads.
 
Ignore the published OAL. It means nothing.

You have to find the correct OAL for YOUR rifle. Keep seating deeper until a round will chamber without leaving rifling marks on the bullet.

Do not use the factory crimp die or the seater crimp. Mild load does not need a crimp.

Load 20, 20.5, 21.0, 21.5 and 22. 5 of each.

Find out what groups. I found that the plated bullets did not shoot very well and were best at very mild loads.
 
I never crimp my 30 30 thousands of rounds no problem. My marlin has very short freebore . If bullet ogive is hanging up before you can close the bolt you have to back it off
 
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