Author Topic: Crimping  (Read 3018 times)

Offline LonesomePigeon

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Crimping
« on: August 30, 2017, 01:37:29 PM »
I recently started casting and reloading for .45 Colt. Casting with pure lead and loading with black powder, Cream of Wheat filler and a beeswax/lamb tallow lubed wad. My basic question is, can you crimp too much? I mean, can over crimping be hard on the gun or create unsafe pressures when using black powder and pure lead bullets?

Offline Kent Shootwell

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2017, 02:33:40 PM »
You can safely crimp as heavy as you like. You will soon learn that you won't want to crimp any more then nessasary. A heavy crimp will produce cracked case mouths and can bulge the cartridge.
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Offline LonesomePigeon

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2017, 04:37:49 PM »
  I try not to crimp heavy. When I set the crimp I usually just hold the round up to the light and watch when the case goes from belled to slightly inward. I have not seen any cracks and the cases are easy to eject so I must be doing it okay. Thanks for the info.

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #3 on: Today at 01:26:24 AM »

Offline mehavey

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2017, 08:27:02 PM »
SET THE CRIMP: Run the case fully up in the ram then screw the die down till it just touches the mouth.  lower the ram and screw the die down 1/2 turn more, and lock it.

SET SEATING DEPTH:  Put a nickel under the lock ring to get the die up off the case mouth.  Use/adjust the seating stem to seat the bullet juuuuust short of the top of the crimp groove.  Back the seat stem off several turns; screw the die all the way down to the lock ring; raise the ram/seated bullet and finish crimping the completed cartridge.

WHILE THE BULLET IS UP IN THE SEATING DIE & CRIMPED: Screw the seating stem down to meet the bulllet, and lock it.

You can now seat & (properly) crimp in a single step.

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2017, 12:18:07 PM »
OK.  First up, let's answer your original Basic Question(s).

Can you crimp too much > Yes.  An overly heavy crimp will shorten case life.

Can over crimping be hard on the gun > No.  But it may get you a little extra felt recoil.

Can over crimping create unsafe pressures using Black Powder and pure lead Bullets > No.

I am a believer in a good solid crimp.  A solid crimp holds the bullet long enough to get an efficient burn started.  This is especially important when using reduced charges.

While you didn't ask a specific question, you did mention you were beginning to cast your own bullets to load for 45 Colt.  What Bullet??  The reason I ask the bullet, most common smokeless bullets will not carry enough lube and you did mention you were using a lubed wad.  A lubed wad is a nuisance.  I would have suggested you start with Big Lube bullets which eliminate the need for lubed wads.  Just my take.

Almost forgot.  A good solid crimp, using ALL the available crimp groove will not change case life enough to spit at.

Offline Sagebrush Burns

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2017, 09:40:32 PM »
You can safely crimp as heavy as you like. You will soon learn that you won't want to crimp any more then nessasary. A heavy crimp will produce cracked case mouths and can bulge the cartridge.

It isn't the crimp that causes cracked case mouths, it is over-expanding the case mouth for lead bullets.  Set the bell at minimum and there is very little problem.

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2017, 09:45:40 PM »
And PLUS ONE to Sagebrush.  Bell the case just enough to get clean bullet entry.

Offline greyhawk

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Re: Crimping
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2017, 11:18:04 PM »
And PLUS ONE to Sagebrush.  Bell the case just enough to get clean bullet entry.

add on -- a lotta size dies squeeze the case neck down way too small and then expander them back up to correct diameter (got a couple LEE dies do this) thats lots of extra work on the brass too . 

 

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