Ranch Dog .30 mould & Winchester Model 94's

jamesharrison

jamesharrison

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Ranch Dog 6 gang custom Lee mould . 30-30 LFNGCTL

So, is it just me & the 3 Winchester 94's I load for, or has anyone else noticed that unless you do a Hornady on your brass (ie trim them by 1/4" or so below the Trim to length, you'll jam the bullets 0.250" into the rifling when you seat them to the appropriate point on the bullet?

Are Marlin Model 336's, I presume with micro-rifling, that much different, in terms of leade / throat / seating depth from the Winchesters having normal rifling?

I realize that Ranch Dog specifically designed these moulds for use in Marlin rifles, but at the time I ordered them, I asked Michael about using them in Winchester Model 94's & he said no problem. He didn't mention anything about having to really shorten brass or they would jam into the rifling.

Looks like it may be back to the drawing board.
 
I have an older win 94(40's), and the same problem with lyman 311041. Have to seat deeper(not in crimp groove), so my roll crimp is not as effective, but i only use light loads(7.4 unique). So far so good.
 
Will it still feed ok if you seat the bullets deeper? If not, have the throat reamed so you can seat them to standard length.
 
Re: Seat the boolits deeper
Can't as then I have no crimping grove to crimp onto.

Re: Are you sure that boolit is made for the 30-30?
Michael / Ranch Dog designed this bullet specifically for the .30-30.

Re: Use a LEE crimping die.
I don't like to use Lee crimping dies on cast bullets, as it really deforms the bullets.

Re: Will it still feed ok if you seat the bullets deeper? If not, have the throat reamed so you can seat them to standard length.
It feeds fine if I seat them deeper. It feeds even if I seat them to the normal crimp groove. The problem with that is that the lands jam into the bullet nose. I wouldn't have the throat reamed on my late father's wedding present rifle, thanks just the same. It works fine with every other cast bullet I've fed through it, just not these ones.

BUT, in any event, I've sold the mould to a fellow who's going to use it for a Marlin rifle, as there were a lot of replies on the cast bullet forums that confirmed the mould doesn't work worth a darn in Winchester, or normally-rifled barrels, because of its design. I've already ordered its replacement, so should be good to go when it warms up enough here to start casting again.
 
Marlin Micro-Groove barrels do indeed have larger bores. My .44 mag slugs .4315" and the .30-30's are usually around .3090" to .3095" from my reading. I didn't slug mine before I sold it.

jamesharrison said:
I don't like to use Lee crimping dies on cast bullets, as it really deforms the bullets.
Click to expand...
You may be using it wrong then. I use a Lee factory crimp die on most of my cast bullet loads and I've never had an issue with deformed bullets. If it's deforming the bullets I'd say you are applying way too heavy of a crimp. Even when I was loading for a .30-30 lever with cast bullets I didn't have an issue with set back and a light enough crimp that it didn't damage the bullets.

As for crimping with no crimp groove I would make sure it isn't on a section of the ogive. Measure and make sure it's still on the shank. Other than that I've never had setback using a Lee FCD with no cannalure. I do use a lighter crimp when there is no cannalure though; otherwise it can deform the bullet.

The slots you can see in the top of the die don't have to completely close when you crimp. The die is adjustable from barely a crimp at all to hugely over crimped where it bulges below the crimp. You just adjust the depth of the die in the press.
 
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I have the mold now and the mold is made for marlins Ranch dog has another design meant for other levers. With this mold once your past the crimp groove your onto the nose/ogive and the crimp may or may not hold. This mold has worked in the odd winny but most people I have asked trim there brass or use a different mold. but problem solved I got a great mold for a great price and the OP ordered up a new mold.
 
Yes!! Your statement is correct. I have a few Ranch Dog moulds exclusively for my Marlins. Never any problems with feeding ect:
 
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