Newbie reloading (crimping) question

[jpprescott]

Gents,

I am reloading 45 Colt on a Lee turret press using the carbide 4 die set. My question has to do with the crimping operation. I can set the bullet seating depth with the seating die, but when I go to crimp, it pushes the bullet all the way down to the top of the crimp groove on the bullet. This changes the overall length to shorter than what I'm looking for.
For example... I am loading the 45-270-SAA, In the Brian Pierce article he says oal should be 1.65 to 1.66. I can set that with the seating die, but after crimping they're 1.61 to 1.62.
Am I doing something wrong?

JP

[chaz]

I am thinking you need to seat the bullet a bit higher initially. The crimp die will roll the lip and shorten it. And welcome to the forum.

[tullymars]

I seat and then crimp in separate steps. Takes bit longer but worth the effort.

[jpprescott]

Thanks Chaz. I'll give that a try.
Tullymars, I am using a seating die, and a Lee factory crimp die.

[Snyd]

This is normal. When you crimp the boolit will get "pulled" into the case a skosh more. The Lee Factory Crimp die makes a nice roll crimp. It also depends on how much crimp you are using. Will my full house Ruger Only heavy boolit, H110 loads I put one full turn on the crimp die. For 255 gr Plinkers with Unique I go 1/2-3/4 turn. How do they shoot?

[bradshaw]

jpprescott.... sounds like interference between between crimp die and bullet. Not familiar with Lee dies. In standard die operation, bullet seating depth should remain stable as the next die crimps.

Possibilities to check for:
* Interference between crimp die and bullet; may push bullet.
* Bullet lube or air trapped in crimp die, unless crimp die is open or vented.

I would clean the crimp die thoroughly, and push a bullet through. Bullet should not stick. Purpose of separate seat and crimp stages is to have bullet fully seated prior to crimping.
David Bradshaw

[Snyd]

The Lee Factory Crimp die does not touch the boolit. It has a sleeve in the die with a rim that contacts the case rim. The sleeve is pushed up against the threaded adjuster. To adjust the die you push the round into the die, which pushes the sleeve up, then screw the adjuster down to where it stop. This is where the case mouth is tight against the rim in the sleeve and the top of the sleeve is against the adjuster. Then drop the case out some and turn 1 full turn for a heavy crimp, less for less crimp.

Here are a few pics of my 45 Colt load with a 355gr WFN thats dang near a wad cutter. You can see sleeve does not touch the boolit and there is plenty of room left for even a longer nose which would make for a round too long to chamber even in the long cylinder 454 SRH. The adjuster only contacts the sleeve. There is nothing that can seat the boolit deeper in the case other than the actual crimping itself. A good firm crimp will pull/push (depending on your perspective) the boolit into the case but not much, and it will depend on how far you've turned the adjuster. 1/2 turn won't do it, full turn will a skosh. Makes for a nice firm roll crimp. I think the design of the crimp groove of a particular boolit and where the case rim is in relation to the crimp groove when seating makes a difference also.

[Snyd]

BTW, jpprescott. I've used my Lee Classic Turret press with the Lee 4 Die set to load 1000's of 45 Colt and 454 rounds. Mild to wild. 200gr swc's to 425gr 454 Casull. For the price it's a great setup.

good shootin!

[COR]

Snyd got it covered well...

I seat and crimp separately. I'm never in that big of a hurry when reloading and I feel I get more uniform reloads.



Never heard of "a skosh" before this either... Seems about the equivalent of a few RCH's but I digress...

[jsh]

As mentioned above sounds like bullet is coming in contact with something in the crimp die. Also could be some lube build up but I doubt it in the factory crimp.

As to my measurements a rch is half a skosh. A smidge is a skosh x 2.
Jeff