[Mr Mario]

I am using a LEE anaversery kit and pace setter dies how much crimp is to much, loaded a few rounds and crimped with the LEE factory crimper and i'm not shure when enough is enough, loading 7.62x39 the ones i've done look good but what does good look like.:what:

[JDGray]

I always measure factory ammo, and use that spec. Be very carefull and measure the very tip of the cartridge case, where the bullet is seated, with the thin tappered tip of your calipers.

[Chawbaccer]

I use unloaded brass and try the crimp. I turn a bullet upside down and see how far it will go into a case vs an uncrimped brass. Mark the bullet and then you have a crimp guage. How much crimp? Best I can say is not a whole lot.

[The Bushmaster]

Crimp??? No more then necessary to keep the bullet in place and to insure proper ignition of the powder...This is part of handloading...Experimenting to get what you concider the best you can get. Remember too little crimp and the bullet shifts during recoil and too much crimp and you may damage the bullet...

[Mr Mario]

Cool I'm geting ready to do some loading this morning before I watch the 500,
spent all day yesterday tumbeling and moly coating my hornady 125gr ssp.
Thanks for the info this is going to be my first big batch.

[steve4102]

spent all day yesterday tumbeling and moly coating my hornady 125gr ssp.
Thanks for the info this is going to be my first big batch.


You have me a little nervous here. To the best of my knowledge Hornady does not make a 125gr bullet in either .308, .310, .311 or .312. The Hornady SSP (single shot pistol) bullets I have are 130gr. Before you go off and load any rounds, make sure of the bullet weight! Using 125gr data and using a 130gr or any other weight of bullet could spell disaster.

Safety First!

[Redbeard55]

The Laser Cast Manual is the only manual that I am aware of that gives crimp dimensions. Most manuals will give trim lengths and seating depths, but ignore seating depth. For years I reloaded straight wall pistol cartridges and crimping was never much of a concern. When I finally started loading lead bullets for semi-autos, the ammo I turned out was inconsistent and generally didn't shoot well. A friend suggested the Laser Cast manual and I have found their recommendations to be pretty much on target. I now keep track of my crimp measurement the same as I do my OAL measurement. The 45 ACP ammo I'm turning out now is as accurate as I can shoot.

[Mr Mario]

Sorry it was a hornady 123gr spire point.

[BigBob3006]

Mr Mario,

A quick way for me to tell if I've enough crimp on a case is to run my finger from the seated bullet to the shoulder of the case, using the tip of the finger. If my finger goes over the crimp without detecting the feel of the sharp edge of the mouth of the case, and I've not deformed the case neck by raising a hump in the neck, then the case has a correct amount of crimp. I don't care if we're dealing with pistol or rifle ammo, in order to get a good constant crimp, it is necessary that all cases be trimmed to the same length.
Bob