reloading 30-30 bullets not crimping

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yotawheeler

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Hello, so I have just tried reloading my first few rounds and i have to say it is not looking all that great for me right now. I have TRIED to do my homework on this so that i could be well prepared before i put any money down because too be honest i dont want my gun blowing up and well lets face it i dont have the prettiest face to begin with either. first things first my current set up:

Lee Loader rifle dies in 30-30 -the ones that dont use a press-
IMR 3031 powder - charge is 2.2 cc as per the loading data that comes with the kit
CCI no. 200 large rifle primers
30/30 caliber ballistic silvertip bullets 150 grain (.308") RN bullets



I loaded 8 rounds last night and everything seemed to go well and i was pretty happy with everything for the most part, seated the bullets down to the little knurled band that goes around the bullet thinking that i would be able to crimp to that. I flipped my die over and gave it a few taps with the hammer and called it done. this morning i cycled the rounds through my rifle just to check and make sure that everything was going to cycle properly and be happy. everything went well until i was putting the finished rounds back into the holder and found that EVERY bullet had been pushed into the case...these bullets are what the guy at cabela's recommended for my application....however i realize that its a big box store and i should not put much stock in what most of the monkeys on the floor say/think. Im thinking these bullets might be wrong but would be happy if somebody just told me to put the powder back in them shells tap the bullets in again and try giving the crimp another go.

any advice would be much appreciated. I will try to find a picture of the exact bullet that I am using
 
The unfortunate thing about crimping with the Lee Loader is that it is difficult to be so precise each a nd every time that you get the exact same degree of crimp each time. Best you can do is to try your best to duplicate the force, angle, and number of hits with the hammer. Good luck.
 
Doesn't help you with your current problem, but it might be an idea to look for a proper press soon, if you're going to do any quantity of loading. Troll the gun shows for a used one if budget is an issue - those old cast iron C-presses will deal with just about anything (my Lyman Spartan has to be 50 years old and does all of my rifle stuff). 30-30 dies are also a dime a dozen used, or at least plentiful enough to allow haggling.
 
i recommend a flat face bullet rather than the pointy ones. the recoil can affect the bullets in the mag tube. and i have never loaded more than 2 in my old 1906 rifle. One in chamber and one in tube. Never had to use a second shot for deer , and the gun becomes a spray and pray if loaded with all 9. I have seen it all too often.
 
Well, looking at your process, you seem to be doing everything right. Let's take it from when you dropped the bullet in to seat it. Once you place the seating tool in, you would need to tap it. You should not be able to puh it in by hand pressure only. If you could, then the neck has not been re-sized enough to provide adequate tension. If you did have to tap them in, then there should have been enough tension to hold them in place.
Do you have a set of calipers? If so, re-size another case. Measure the inside neck dimension. Measure the bullet. There should be at least .002" difference. That is, if your bullet is .308", then your neck should be .306". That will provide enough tension to hold the bullet under most circumstances. Lots of times cheaper .308" bullets run between .307" to .3085" but you are using Nosler Silvertips so they should be pretty close to your .308".
If this is what you die is giving you, I would simply pull the bullet a little to line up the cannelure again and crimp it fairly solidly. Make sure that you are crimping IN THE CANNELURE or the neck will bulge and you will be unable to chamber that round.
 
The die is not providing enough neck tension. That knurled ring is called the cannelure and that is the point at which the rim should be crimped. FYI 2 thou neck tension as alluded to by Rookie Wildcat is not enough for a lever. 3-5 thou is better, but it is moot without a bushing die. Crimp and you should be fine. (and I do hope you are cycling the ammo at where it can be discharged..... Firearms have gotten some pretty aweful press this week)
 
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