Dented Shoulders with RCBS FL 30-30 die

[Eb1]

I was having issues with the shoulder being dented a little on my 30-30 brass. So I backed out the decapping pin on my RCBS Full length die. This seemed to resolve the problem.

Here is my question now. Will it be alright to shoot these cases and let the chamber reform the shoulder? I have seen this on Black Hills reloaded blue box before in .223. I shot that ammo, and it reformed the brass.

Am I wrong to assume that the 30-30 will do the same? It is just a little dent in the shoulder.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Yes, it would be fine to shoot that brass -- the pressure will iron out the dents.

How much case lube are you using? That's a common cause of dents in cases.

 

[Eb1]

Good point. I think it was to much at first as well. I was using my hand press, and that I needed a lot. I am coming from a Lee Loader (piece of pine and beating the case w/o lubrication), and I know that I have to iron out my process again. I got really good with the Lee Loader, but was making to much noise. My daughter wanted to help (3yrs), but said it was to loud. So I bought some dies.

I did take the die apart, and clean it when I reset the decapping pin. I also started using less lube, and it worked fine from then on out.

To remove the lube (i don't have a tumbler) I used a tupperware bowl with dish washing detergent and shook them with hot water. Then I let the brass sit in the solution for about 30 minutes. Rinsed the brass, and let dry on a towel over night. Seems to have worked well.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Tooo much case lube....If you backed out your die, make sure you will not be moving your shoulder out or you will start having a chambering problem...

 

[Eb1]

I just backed out the pin. not the die itself.

 

[Steve in PA]

The pin has nothing to do with dents on the shoulder.

Dents on the shoulder are the first sign of too much lube on the brass or a build up of lube in the die itself.

 

[moosehunt]

Almost certainly too much lube. Only a very thin film is required, and ideally, though not practical, none on the shoulder. It's lube on the shoulder that causes the dents. Also note that the dents don't hurt anything, just esthetics. To clean off the lube, just wipe them with a rag or paper towel. No need at all to go through all that washing stuff.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Your .30-30 brass is relatively thin and won't need a whole lot of lube, just enough to prevent the case sticking in the die.

Just make sure you and your daughter wash your hands after handling anything to do with lead. That's about the only precaution you need to take, other than not putting your hands/fingers in your mouth prior to washing.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Steve C]

The best lube I've found is Imperial sizing lube. Comes in a tin like shoe polish. Very little is used to lube the case.

 

[Eb1]

Thanks. Yes, she just watches me, and she now knows all the components.

Anyway.
I think it was too much lube, but I did set the pin to a more reasonable depth as well in the process of elimination. On the later cases I did not get this dent because I was lubing sparingly with the opinion that some lube was being left on the die. So a little here and a little in the die would work, and it did.

 

[mainebear]

The 30-30 round is also one of the most "tender" for lack of a better word. It's not unusual to spoil a few of them regardless of what type of lube you use while trying to set the crimp. If that's what's happening, just don't crimp them, but instead use a Lee Factory Crimp Die as your last step. You may find that this will solve your problems. Works for a whole bunch of us up here in Northern Maine.

 

[Eb1]

mainebear,
it was the RCBS resizing die. I got the factory crimp die down pat now. Yeah that took awhile as well. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Rock_Steady]

I got rid of the problem by trimming all my brass to identical lengths - no change in cleaning or case lube.

 

[moosehunt]

Hello? You should resize before you trim. After trimming, they don't see the sizer die until after they're shot.