Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Herter's FL Resizing Die 30-30

I purchased a set of Herter's dies for a 30-30 from a member on the fire not to long ago. Just got around to resizing some 30-30 brass. Set up the die the normal way, touch the shell plate and add 1/4 turn, but I cant even get started and the ram jambs up. Don't want to put too much pressure and wind up with a stuck case!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm about to throw these in the garbage!

Thank you,

Maybe run the die down to touching then back out half a turn. Size it and then go down 1/4 turn if needed, then to touching if it isn’t bumping the shoulder enough.

I'll try it.

Thank you,

Tried it, didn't work. Gonna just throw them out. $35.00 down the drain!

Before you throw them out make sure something hasn’t gotten in the die that is impeding the case. I assume you are lubing the case.

I lubed the cases, sprayed a little lube up in the die, barely starts in and wants to jam really I also took the die apart and use a swab to clean inside.

In one of my presses, a primer will now and then get jammed in the linkage. When it happens it’s as of there is a solid stop. Check for that. Maybe even remove and replace the whole ram/linkage/handle assembly.

The decapping rod may be bent and not allowing the expander button to align itself with the mouth of the case as it enters the die.

Check the diameter of the expander button on the decapping rod.

Remove the decapping rod completely and by hand and see if the case will at least partially enter the die.

Tried it before with the decapping rod out, same results. Diameter of the expander button is .307

How old is the brass. Has it been annealed.

Before throwing them in the garbage, please yourslef: Lube the damned thing and work that lever with attitude! all your strenght!

I came close to doing that but I felt a serious jam coming on!

It would be interesting to see what would happen. If the brass isn’t hardly going into the die it seems it’s handing up somehow and the brass would collapse. Or if the die isn’t righ, reform the brass into whatever the die is. Usually when I have had problems the case usually makes it most of the way up before getting caught up.

Are you using the correct shell holder? I’d double check that just in case it came with the wrong one and it’s too loose or tight when putting your case in.

Try polishing the inside of the die - sounds like it's rougher than a cob . . .

I tried what you guys said, I gave it the old home run, almost broke the bench but it didn't jam. After that 1st one, the rest are acting as smooth as silk.

Thank you very much!

How long of a cheater bar did you use?

Just used the Armstrong and I was really worried but then I thought whats the worst that can happen? I was gonna throw the dies out anyway, so if I stuck a case in it I'd throw it out with it. Thought I was gonna break the bench though!

those old Herters dies are very hit or miss, buy a new sizer

I already did. Got one coming.

I have several of their die sets and they all work good,after cleaning.

Must be lucky i guess.

Every good reloader has stuck a few cases in some sizing dies.