.30 carbine, 550, New Dimension problems - help please

[Robb1]

I have a 550, and I picked up some cheap Hornady New Dimension dies for .30 carbine. My problem is I can't seem to get the bell on my brass small enough to work with the Hornady seater die. I'm always folding over the lip of the brass when I run it into the seater. I've ruined maybe 20 pieces of brass out of 50 and been in the basement all day messing with adjustments.

I'm using a Dillon powder funnel and Dillon powder die. When I dial out the bell, then the funnel seems to be too far up and I guess I'm not getting a full powder throw and I'm getting very inconsistant powder charges. This is very aggrivating. I've only loaded .223 before and have reloaded about 1000 and that was straight forward, but this .30 carbine is frustrating.

Should I lose the New Dimension dies and get Dillon? If not, what am I doing wrong?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Robb

[Robb1]

FYI: I had a galling issue between the small powder bar and the spacer bar. I tore things apart and noticed the scoring that wasn't there before. I had polished the powder bars and powder funnel on purchase so this has happened since that time. According to my buddy Google this is not an uncommon problem when using a fine powder like H110, which is what I was using for .30 carbine.

R

[dillon]

If the case mouth is folding inward when the case pushes up on the funnel, then it is likely that the shellplate bolt is too loose. Push down on the edge of the shellplate between stations 2 and 3. If it feels springy, then tighten the bolt a bit more. The scoring you see is a result of using H-110 powder. Measure the thickness of the spacer bar. It should be .355-.357" thick. We can send a .359" thick spacer if you want to try it.

[Robb1]

No, no case mouths were folding inward. I keep my shellplate adjusted as correctly as possible. It was the lack of the powder bars sliding smoothly that caused the brass to have to push up too hard. I should have known I suppose, but I was initially too fixated on the dies being my problem. My thought process didn't go to the powder bars. Lesson learned!

If you want to send me a thicker spacer bar, I'll definately give it a whirl.

Have you heard of anyone ever giving these powderbars a coat of Duracoat? I was wondering if that would offer protection against this kind of scoring?

Also, is there any chance you could give me your recommended option for a powder other then H110 for .30 carbine? If this is an issue with that specific powder I have no choice but to find another less troublesome powder.

Thankyou for the response, I appreciate your assistance.

Robb

[Robb1]

I misread about the case mouths. I was getting more bell than I wanted and the cases would not fit into the Hornady seater die. The case mouths were to wide and I would fold a lip over on the outside. Sorry for the confusion, I didn't put my thoughts into verbage as well as I should have.

I cleaned and polished the powderbars with some 600 grit paper and it made all the difference in the world, I can get a very delicate bell now.

Now all I need to do is find a good powder that will work well with the Dillon for the .30 carbine.

Robb