I am having problems setting up to reload for 30-30, maybe some of you can help me. I am using a Dillon 550b. I bought RCBS cowboy dies because I am loading my own cast and powder coated bullets. I used a Lyman 311440 mould that is a flat nose bullet between 150-160 grains. I put the sizing die in station 1 and the brass sizes fine and fits in a case gauge fine after sizing. In station 2 I have the Dillon powder measure. In station 3 I have the expanding die and in station 4 the seating and crimp die. Everything seems fine until the seating/crimping station. When I follow the directions and set the seating it seems fine, but I can not get the crimp to set so it will chamber or fit in a case gauge. I need help. What am I doing wrong? I have never used a combo seating/crimping die, have always done separately. However, no more dies or stations. What is my solution? What am I doing wrong and what can I do to solve this problem?
Problems loading 30-30
- Thread starter bigarm
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
We or at least I need more information before I can try to help. What is wrong with the completed round? What doesn't fit in the case gauge? Maybe you are not setting the seating/crimp die correctly.
I'm not a fan of loading rifle cartridges on a progressive press.
I'm not a fan of loading rifle cartridges on a progressive press.
Barman54
Member
30-30 Problems
I have the same set-up as you.
I do not use a Expander Die in station 3, Just seat it only.
In Station 4 I use a .30 Cal Lee crimp Die, that I had not used for a long time.
I bought it years ago when I first started to load for my M-1, but did not need it.
I load both Lead, and Jacketed Bullets W/O Expanding the sized and powdered charged shell.
The Lead bullets are from X-treme.
Barman54
Out
I have the same set-up as you.
I do not use a Expander Die in station 3, Just seat it only.
In Station 4 I use a .30 Cal Lee crimp Die, that I had not used for a long time.
I bought it years ago when I first started to load for my M-1, but did not need it.
I load both Lead, and Jacketed Bullets W/O Expanding the sized and powdered charged shell.
The Lead bullets are from X-treme.
Barman54
Out
greyling22
Member
it takes me 5 stations to do 30/30 with lead. I deprime and size on the singe stage, then trim and tumble if needed. then I run flare in station 1, powder in 2, seat in 3, crimp in 4. I could never get my oversized lead bullets to seat without flare (or expand, whatever you call it).
243winxb
Member
I would expand with a Lyman M die and forget any crimp.
jcwit
member
I reload 30/30 with a Lee Loader, made my own flaring tool complete with a stop.
I know, it only neck sizes, every 6-8-10 reloads I resize then using a press and a .32 Spec. die.
I know, it only neck sizes, every 6-8-10 reloads I resize then using a press and a .32 Spec. die.
Don McDowell
Member
You may be crimping to much , or crimping outside of the crimp groove.
Begin by running a case up into the seating die and adjusting that die down until you just feel it bump the case mouth. Now lower the case and run the seating stem itself down all the way. Slowly run the case and bullet into the seating die until the bullet is seated to where you want it. Once you have the bullet seated to the proper point then back the seating stem out and run the case into the die until the top of the stroke, check the crimp to see if you think its enough, then run the loaded round back up to the top of the stroke and run the seating stem down to make firm contact with the bullet. You should be good to go check the round in the chamber, and lock the die in place.
Begin by running a case up into the seating die and adjusting that die down until you just feel it bump the case mouth. Now lower the case and run the seating stem itself down all the way. Slowly run the case and bullet into the seating die until the bullet is seated to where you want it. Once you have the bullet seated to the proper point then back the seating stem out and run the case into the die until the top of the stroke, check the crimp to see if you think its enough, then run the loaded round back up to the top of the stroke and run the seating stem down to make firm contact with the bullet. You should be good to go check the round in the chamber, and lock the die in place.
Went back to work on it today. Had a little more luck, but still problems. I put the Dillon powder funnel for the 30 carbine in the powder measure and can bell the case with that, but if I am not VERY careful, one side of the case will get crushed. Not sure why that is happening. I moved the RCBS seating/crimping die to station 3 and seat only with it. I put a Lee factory crimp die in station 4. I will get a finished round or two that pass the case gauge then one that won't fit. I need to work some more with it and see if I can get some consistency. A couple of other things - I bought 50 new pieces of Hornady brass (the only new brass I could find) and used it today. When I size the cases, the empty cases will fit both in the case gauge and the chamber of the rifle, so station 1 does not seem to be a problem. That is the update for far. Not where I want to be but making a little progress.
gamestalker
member
What do you mean by,
"if I'm not very careful, one side of the case will get crushed" ?
About the only thing that will cause a case to get crushed, is if the die is improperly adjusted.
It's really a whole lot easier to load bottle neck on a single stage.
GS
"if I'm not very careful, one side of the case will get crushed" ?
About the only thing that will cause a case to get crushed, is if the die is improperly adjusted.
It's really a whole lot easier to load bottle neck on a single stage.
GS
Another update
Talked to Dillon today. They had me take off the shell plate and then loosen the screws below and move it a little to the right. I did that and it seems to have lessened, but not totally eliminated the crushed cases in station 2. I did manage to get some that passed the case gauge. However, I came up with a new problem I have never had before. Not I can't get the powder to drop. I took it apart and put in a different powder die. Did not make a difference. I took it apart and polished the powder funnel with wet/dry sand paper and steel wool. Put it back together and got it to drop powder once and then it stopped again. I gave up for the day. Any suggestions? I will call Dillon again and see what they say. I think I better stay with straight walled cartridges!
Talked to Dillon today. They had me take off the shell plate and then loosen the screws below and move it a little to the right. I did that and it seems to have lessened, but not totally eliminated the crushed cases in station 2. I did manage to get some that passed the case gauge. However, I came up with a new problem I have never had before. Not I can't get the powder to drop. I took it apart and put in a different powder die. Did not make a difference. I took it apart and polished the powder funnel with wet/dry sand paper and steel wool. Put it back together and got it to drop powder once and then it stopped again. I gave up for the day. Any suggestions? I will call Dillon again and see what they say. I think I better stay with straight walled cartridges!
SwaneeSR
Member
Seems the only way I crush the side to the case in station 2 of my 550b is when i do not have the brass button in place because i am checking charge amounts and i fail to get the case into proper position under the powder die. So you have the right brass buttons. And you have fiddled with the shell plate so that you have loosened the brass set screw and adjusted the shell plate pressure on the detent ball. The shell plate is clean and moves well with a click. You should not crush the case.
Seems the only way I crush the side to the case in station 2 of my 550b is when i do not have the brass button in place because i am checking charge amounts and i fail to get the case into proper position under the powder die. So you have the right brass buttons. And you have fiddled with the shell plate so that you have loosened the brass set screw and adjusted the shell plate pressure on the detent ball. The shell plate is clean and moves well with a click. You should not crush the case.
I have crushed cases that way many times, but that is not my problem this time.
I have crushed cases that way many times, but that is not my problem this time.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Why not stop loading the 30-30 on a progressive press? If it's you only press at least load only 1 case at a time. Sorry to say IMO the 30-30 was not made to be loaded on a progressive press, more so than other rifle cartridges.
loose noose
Member
ArchAngel, has it right, I've loaded 1000s of 30-30 rounds all on a single stage Rock Chucker press without any problems, using both jacketed, as well as cast for CAS. I too have a progressive press but any bottleneck cartridge case I definitely prefer to use my single stage.
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