[Charlie Z]

Guys,

I've cast some 165gr bullets for my 30-06 and have a few Hawk RTs kicking around. Both shave a bit of lead or copper on many of my seatings and are a bit oversized, compared to standard .308 bullets, running .310 or so. I'm using Redding dies; what do I need to do to get to set these in properly? Larger expanding button or neck reaming?

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[Jack Monteith]

Hi, Charlie:
Get a Lyman 30L M-Die. You may remember that MikeG was making some custom expanders for them last winter.
http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/39
http://beartoothbullets.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=990&highlight=MDie

One nice feature is that you can do most cartridges with 1 long rifle die and 1 short pistol die and the necessary extra expanders.

The first step is .3065" and the second step is .311", then it flares to .335" on a 30L exppander.

Bye
Jack

 

[MikeG]

A .30 cal rifle "M" die should work, if it's just a hair too small, nice thing is that you can go to a .31 cal (for .303 Brit, etc.) and that will handle the .310" bullets nicely.

Another thing that you can do is make sure that there is just a bit of a chamfer on the case mouth (use standard deburring tool).

Good luck. I expect that the standard M die will work just fine, and yes, I can make them to any oddball diameter necessary.

 

[Charlie Z]

Thanks guys. I ordered a 30L(M).

I was wondering if Redding might sell a little larger expander button to screw into the decapping rod. I think that would get around the "unsupported exterior" issue with the M die, no?

Mike, I tried chamfering the case neck with a debur tool and it helped, but I still was shaving quite a few. With the M, I'll be ok, I bet.

Thanks again.

- Charlie