Hi guys:

I got my new 14" 30-30 Win Contender barrel, grip, and fore-end back from Bullberry nearly a month ago. Since hunting season has been going on, I have not had time to shoot it until today. It appears to be a real shooter, I'm already getting some MOA groups.

I do have a problem that maybe you guys can help me with...

I am shooting 125 grain Nosler ballistic tip bullets. Whenever I try to seat these bullets with my 30-30 seating die, it crushes the cases. Yes the die has been adjusted properly. Does it have something to do with the fact that the dies were probably meant to seat flat point bullets and not spire points? I don't see how that could make any difference but I sure can't figure out what's going on.

These dies were bought "used" from another AR member and I honestly can't remember who I got them from. I have zero experience loading for the 30-30 as this is my first gun in that caliber.

Anyway, I am using my .308 Winchester seating die to seat my bullets and it works great.

Thanks for the help...X

Have you chamfered your case mouths inside? If the 308 dies work properly then it sounds like the 30-30 seating die is not aligning the bullet. It is letting the bullet get crooked when it starts to seat and will smash the cartridges. If you take the seating stem out of the die you probably will see that it is made for a round or flat nose bullet if so the point will not be aligned properly. This is because current manufacture 30-30's are lever action and spire point's are not to be loaded it the tube.
These are some possibilities I hope this helps.

Swede44mag

It sounds to me that you have the die set to give the bullet a crimp. The .30-30 brass is thin, and that bullet having no cannelure for the brass to crimp into, it pushes down bulging the brass. Just adjust the die out a little or put a thin washer between the die and the press. You do not need to crimp. Good luck.

I'm with Hawky. You probably have the die set too low and it is trying to crimp. I have an RCBS set and have had no problems with any spitzer I have tried including the Ballistic Tips. Sean

I have to agree with the others, sounds like the seating die is set too far in. I have loaded a bunch of 30-30's with 125 gr. Nosler B/T's without a chamfer and never had a problem.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll let you know what I find out.

X

[ 11-27-2003, 22:27: Message edited by: x-caliber ]

Well I finally got the die adjusted properly. I had previously adjusted this seating die just like I always do with my other calibers. I have always followed RCBS's insturctions and run the primed, charged case into the sizing die until I feel the mouth of the case make contact with the sizing die. Then I back off the die one full turn to keep from crimping. However, with this particular die, I had to back off the die six complete turns to keep from crushing the case. The seating plug has only one or two threads showing since the die is adjusted so far up. I'm still not sure what's going on inside this die but at least it's working now!!

Thanks again guys.

X-caliber

X-caliber,
You may have some rust/gunk up in the portion of the die that supports the neck, when the bullet is seated, and it may not be letting the neck expand enough to accept a bullet. It shouldn't have to be backed off that far. Remove the seating stem, and inspect the inside of the die with a really bright light - full sunlight is best. If it needs cleaning, a wrap, or two, of scotchbrite on a bore brush, is the best I've found. Your initial one-turn setting should have been plenty 'nuff clearance. FWIW>>>>Bug.

That's kind of what I was thinking Bug...I'll give your cleaning method a try.

Thanks alot!

X

6 turns is really a lot. One turn should suffice. If these are new dies,I'd almost think that either they put the wrong seating die in the set or the die isn't fully machined out properly.

I would give RCBS a call and tell them what's happening with it if you can't work out the problem.

Regards