Reloading the .50AE

I don't load the 50 AE, but if it's a rimless cartridge like 9mm, 40 cal., 45 acp, ect. than all you need for crimp is just enough to remove any belling that was used during seating, no more than that. It's for this very reason that I even hate using the word crimp when referring to rimless cartridges, because crimping is not what one should be doing. These type cases head space off the mouth, do not attain any neck tension at all from the crimp, and more crimp than is necessary to bring the mouth back to resized spec only decreases neck tension.

I don't use any mouth bell or crimp when loading rimless cartridges, never have. But I also only load with jacketed bullets, so I can get away with it by chamfering the inside of the mouth evenly to assure proper allignment and no bullet shaving during seating.

GS

I'm getting ~ .526 with 3 different cases. Starline, IMI, and nickel Speer. These are with Rainier plated 335's.

If you measure the case just above the base of the seated bullet, or just below the case mouth bell, that is what your case mouth should measure after closing the bell, I just can't bring myself to use the word crimp.

GS

Actually you shouldn't have to disrupt the crimp setting at all on the die to change your seating depth, if that was what you were implying? And if it's the other way around, all you have to do is loosen the seating plug hold down / lock down nut, and then hold the plug in place while you thread the die in, or out more.

GS

Just crimp it enough so the cartridge falls freely into the chamber. Use the chamber as a cartridge guage.