FTX loading problem.

Hey everyone,

I went to the store last night and picked up a box of hornadys FTX bullets for my 30-30. On the box it said "30 cal .308 160gr FTX". This morning I went over to the reloading bench and started to reload some of the rounds. I got the powder all measured out and poured it in the brass and then continued on to seat the bullet. I placed the bullet in ram and proceeded to lift it into the seater die. As the bullet touched the top of the die I felt it seat just a little (I had the seater backed out all the way so I could set the OAL) into the brass. I backed the ram down to inspect the case. To my surprise the FTX had crushed the shoulder and neck of the brass. I put 4 more in and they all did the same thing. I was starting to think that maybe I had picked up the wrong box. So I went and got a factory 30-30 FTX pulled the bullet and compared it to the ones I bought from the store the night before. They measured the exact same. I went ahead to seat the factory FTX back in its original case and it did the same thing the others did. So basically I am stumped! I have absolutely no idea why it’s doing that! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

rcmodel said:

Tried using a chamfering tool to break the sharp inside edge of the case mouth?
That right there should fix the problem.

rc

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Tried that too didn't work.

rcmodel said:

Well, the only other thing I can think off is.
Years ago, die sets came with both .307" and .308" bullet size expander plugs.
Sierra was still selling .307" 30-30 bullets not too many moons ago. I still have a box or two of them.

One expander plug should measure about .305" and the other about .306".

Maybe you got the small one in your die?

Other then that, maybe you got some over-annealed brass with very soft shoulders and hard necks.

rc

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Ok thanks I will check it and see if that's the problem.

Thanks guys! The problem was the shorter brass cases.