30-30 Reloading Problems

[superhornet]

On the 45-70 I would guess that the problem is not the seating die, but the lack of enough bell on the case mouth to seat the bullet with out shaving or collapsing the mouth...If in fact it is the die, there is something in it or a real alignment problem...just a guess.. Lone Star can give you more data on this type of problem than I can......IMHO.....

[Cowpox]

ggeilman, I second what superhornet told you. When seating lead bullets, you should put a very small bell on the case mouth.  Easy does it. If you bell too much, the case won't fit into your seating die. Also,over sized bells that do fit into the die, can shorten case life by work hardening the brass, causing splitting at the case mouth. there are belling dies you can buy, but I get by using my size die. Just run the case into the sizer until the case mouth barely touches the expander ball on the depriming stem. Don't get too deep, and your lead bullets will slip right in.

[Cowpox]

Forgot to tell you that I use the sizer die for the next larger caliber. In your case, (45/70) haveing a one caliber larger expander ball will pose a problem. 45 is the largest caliber most of us load. Looks like you will need a belling die.

[ggeilman]

That points me to the fact that about the same time I installed the Perfect Powder Measure on the expanding die. Seems that is were I need to look. Didn't notice it until the bullet upside down problem. I have loaded around 150 rounds without a problem with these prior to this without issue.

[STexhunter]

You made need to bell the case mouth a little more, especially on cast bullets

[ggeilman]

ggeilman, I second what superhornet told you. When seating lead bullets, you should put a very small bell on the case mouth.  Easy does it. If you bell too much, the case won't fit into your seating die. Also,over sized bells that do fit into the die, can shorten case life by work hardening the brass, causing splitting at the case mouth. there are belling dies you can buy, but I get by using my size die. Just run the case into the sizer until the case mouth barely touches the expander ball on the depriming stem. Don't get too deep, and your lead bullets will slip right in.

Yeah, that was part of the problem I was having last night with some of the cases. What is even worse is that now it is stripping the lead so bad that the bullets are just turning in the shells. Tried for over an hour last night and couldn't get things adjusted right. Ruined at least 6 rounds. May have to get new dies.

[jhalcott]

  Are you using an "M" die to expand and bell the case mouth? What is the diameter of the bullet of the bullet you are trying seat?

[ggeilman]

I am using the Lee expander die that came with the set. They are laser-casts at .459. I am sure it is not the bullets. I had no problem with them for the first 125-150 out of the box. It is user error of some sort.

[TNrifleman]

ggeilman, I had the same experience with 30/40 Krag. It turned out that I had my seating die turned down a tad too far. The mouth of the case was contacting the top of the die, which slightly colapsed the shoulder of the case. This enlarged the case diameter where the shoulder begins, causing it to contact the sides of the chamber. You could see nothing wrong, but you could feel it. I turned the die up a half turn, and the seating stem down, and all was well. Look at one of your  rounds that failed to chamber, and see if you can see some abrasions by the shoulder, indicating it is scrubbing the chamber wall, or if you can feel a slight flare in that area.

I really think that Cowpox has the problem well defined here. Years ago, I had the same problem, and that is exactly what was happening. Back the seating die out some, and get yourself a Lee Factory Crimp Die for the 30-30. I'll bet that will cure the problem you are describing.

[Tom W.]

ggeilman, Check the adjustment on your expanding die. After you put the powder measure on it, you must have misadjusted it.

Castaway, have you ever seen this die?  www.larrywillis.com  I believe it will help with your case life on your belted magnums.

My son bought one and it is really great! It's also kinda pricey.

[Castaway]

Interesting.