I've been successfully loading pistol ammo (.44 Magnum and .45ACP) on my Hornady LnL AP press for a month or so now, no complaints (some of you have helped me figure out some of the minor issues I've encountered thus far, thanks for that). I decided to see if I could load some .30-30 up on this press, had the #2 shellplate for it, a set of RCBS dies a buddy gave me (older set, but he didn't have a rifle to go with it, and I've got two), IMR 3031 powder, and a box of 170 grain flat point hornady .30 bullets...
Well, just running the case through the case-activated powder drop resulted in the necks of the cases crimping inward... and there's not that much pressure being applied. I noted in my Hornady reloading book, and the Speer book, that they mention that the necks on these are quite thin... and the couple of powder cuts that happen is enough to crimp the case (that's my theory). The powder charge is dead-on, though. I've seen other folks load .223, etc. on these, so I'm thinking this is strictly a function of the thinner .30-30 case necks..
So, as I see it, I'm going to have to manually charge the powder in these... also seems like I have to go real slow, as I have to hold the bullet on the neck (even when I don't crush the necks in the powder station) all the way up to the die...
Do any of you guys load .30-30 on a progressive press? If so, how's that workin' out for you? I'm thinking I'll just pick up the Hornady 'O' frame press (since I'm already setup with bushings) so I'll only be wasting (for now) the #2 shellplate I bought. I also guess I might get another powder measure too. I was thinking of getting a single stage anyway when I start to reload for my .300 Weatherby (I haven't bought the dies or anything else for that yet).
Well, just running the case through the case-activated powder drop resulted in the necks of the cases crimping inward... and there's not that much pressure being applied. I noted in my Hornady reloading book, and the Speer book, that they mention that the necks on these are quite thin... and the couple of powder cuts that happen is enough to crimp the case (that's my theory). The powder charge is dead-on, though. I've seen other folks load .223, etc. on these, so I'm thinking this is strictly a function of the thinner .30-30 case necks..
So, as I see it, I'm going to have to manually charge the powder in these... also seems like I have to go real slow, as I have to hold the bullet on the neck (even when I don't crush the necks in the powder station) all the way up to the die...
Do any of you guys load .30-30 on a progressive press? If so, how's that workin' out for you? I'm thinking I'll just pick up the Hornady 'O' frame press (since I'm already setup with bushings) so I'll only be wasting (for now) the #2 shellplate I bought. I also guess I might get another powder measure too. I was thinking of getting a single stage anyway when I start to reload for my .300 Weatherby (I haven't bought the dies or anything else for that yet).