Bullet seating issues 30-30

[ELR LVR]

Well i dont know how that worked but maybe my die was set too deep? According to the lee die setup instructions it asks you to screw the die to the shell holder plus an additional 1/4 turn but it seems that backing off a 1/4 turn is what it needed?

plus an ADDITIONAL 1/4 turn??? :O ----after bottoming out? ---- for a SEATING DIE?
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That may be true for the SIZING DIE just to ensure camover/shoulder bump
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but for a seater it dont need to be even touching a shellholder at all
, you can likely be a full turn or even more out from bottomed out
Glad you got it figured out though
Looked like the case was bottoming out inside the die, which will of course - Shorten the case
Physics
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If you are wanting to crimp bullets, keep the crimp clear of the neck while performing the actual seating process
Live and learn, its alright

 

[Oldbloke]

chamfer and a touch of lube

 

[DHD]

Someone else mentioned the M Die. A more refined expander would be a NOE expanders. It is a 2 step expander (2 different diameters) and will allow you to set a flat base bullet into the top of the case straight. I use them for all my revolvers and also for 300BO. They will not fix trying to seat and crimp at the same time though.

That said, I have been told NOE is going out of business, but a family member will continue the expander part of the business.

 

[PhilC]

Someone else mentioned the M Die. A more refined expander would be a NOE expanders. It is a 2 step expander (2 different diameters) and will allow you to set a flat base bullet into the top of the case straight. I use them for all my revolvers and also for 300BO. They will not fix trying to seat and crimp at the same time though.

That said, I have been told NOE is going out of business, but a family member will continue the expander part of the business.

I agree and after trying my first NOE one I bought them for every caliber I load. NOE is indeed closing their mould business but a family member will continue the expander portion.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Just remember if you are going to seat bullets and than crimp as a separate step with the same seating die. You have to back out the seating stem, otherwise the bullet will be seated deeper because you screw the die body down(closer to shellholder).

 

[Kracken McGraw]

https://support.leeprecision.net/en/knowledgebase/article/crushed-cases

I believe Lee had a Whoospy on their printed instructions on the OP’s dies.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Always set up regular seating dies as instructed in post #2.

 

[dellet]

The first thing to do is figure out which seating die you have. The instructions you posted are for the dead length seating die and are correct for that die.

In another post you mentioned having to buy a separate crimp die. If there was no dedicated crimp die in the set, then there will Likely be a crimp feature in the seating die and different instructions apply. Screwing the die body down to contact, then adjust the seating stem.

Can’t get the right instructions before knowing which die you have.

Something to keep in mind is that trim length needs to be consistent and brass should all be same headstamp for a repeatable crimp.

 

[Shiloh24]

Your comment.
I screw my seating die in until it touches the shell holder plus a 1/4 turn tighter. Sounds like you’re adjusting the seating die as if it's a sizing die.

Sounds like the flat base of the bullet is against the end of the case mouth. Cannot image how else you push on the neck enough to bulge it. It damages the neck then slips in. I'm assuming you do the seating depth and crimp with the same die. They must be adjusted separately.

I always adjusted seating depth with a screw on top of the die, not by moving the die up and down. I never crimped so I am not familiar with the process. Are you changing the amount of crimp when adjusting the seating depth? I assume you crimp with the seating die since you cannot control the amount of sizing and amount of crimp both at the same time by moving the die up and down.

Just throwing things out to think about.

I thought i was doing the right thing because i followed the lee instructions with the extra 1/4 turn which is also how they say to setup the sizing die. Ive since learned thats incorrect lol thanks Lee. When i was seating those first two (pictured above) i backed off my seating adjuster to start the bullets and then slowly worked them down so i dont think there was any damage until the last pull of the ram. I have a separate die for crimping so i wasnt trying to crimp at all with the seating die but it appears that what may have been happening. This is my first time reloading 30-30 and flat base bullets so a bit of a learning curve i guess.

 

[Shiloh24]

The first thing to do is figure out which seating die you have. The instructions you posted are for the dead length seating die and are correct for that die.

In another post you mentioned having to buy a separate crimp die. If there was no dedicated crimp die in the set, then there will Likely be a crimp feature in the seating die and different instructions apply. Screwing the die body down to contact, then adjust the seating stem.

Can’t get the right instructions before knowing which die you have.

Something to keep in mind is that trim length needs to be consistent and brass should all be same headstamp for a repeatable crimp.

Valid points! The instructions i posted came in my .308 die set which came with a separate crimp die. The 30-30 dies i bought used and came with only the sizing die and the seating die (and the wrong shelholder) and no instructions so its a good point i shouldnt assume its the same instructions. Just like i should have checked the shelholder when i bought it. I slammed that puppy into my lee press and started priming some brass and instantly had problems lol. Lesson is dont assume. I also had trimmed all my brass to the same length so i know that was consistent at least.