.38 Crimp Questions

[red rick]

Here are my latest reloads ( 1.457 OAL ) .

Has anyone tried the factory crimp die with lead bullets ?

A Lee Tech. Rep. told me to use it and not to crimp at the seating stage and it would only size the case to saami spec.

I am going to try these rounds for now and I might try the factory crimp die next time to compare the two .

 

[1KPerDay]

Looks pretty good... I think I'd crank out the OAL a smidge still.

I had issues with the FCD and lead pills in .38. I drove out the sizing ring and now use the die to crimp separately from seating.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think the crimp in Post #26 is a bit excessive for a .38 Special. Maybe that would be good for a .357 Magnum but just a little too much for a .38 Special. (IMO of course)

 

[ljnowell]

Take this advice if you want but I shoot several thousand of that same bullet in bullseye practice every year. I found that for the best accuracy I seat the bullet with the crimp groove and about half of the forward driving band is in the case then I apply just the slightest of crimps. When loaded with light loads this has given the best groups at 25 yards out of my competition guns.

 

[red rick]

What is your OAL and grains of Bullseye ? I will try it .

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What is your OAL and grains of Bullseye ? I will try it .

Red, when seating revolver bullets you should always seat to the crimp groove provided by the manufacturer. That will set the proper OAL for the cartridge using that bullet. I have never measured the OAL of and cartridge I've loaded for revolvers.

 

[jim8115]

A light roll crimp wouldn't hurt. With light loads, like these, you could shoot them. I would check the rounds still in the cylinder after shooting the first second and third. If no setback you are probably ok.

He is using 3.7 grains of bullseye, thats not really a light load for a standard 38

 

[Gadawg88]

Red rick - I use the Lee fcd to crimp that same bullet in a separate step from the seating die with good success. I agree that the crimp in your last picture seems heavy for a 38sp. Some say the fcd can swage down lead bullets causing issues, but that has not been my personal experience.

 

[RealGun]

Red rick - I use the Lee fcd to crimp that same bullet in a separate step from the seating die with good success. I agree that the crimp in your last picture seems heavy for a 38sp. Some say the fcd can swage down lead bullets causing issues, but that has not been my personal experience.

That requires pulling bullets to measure. Something has to give, or the die is going to be really sticky. It also depends on how soft the lead compound is. It is a real problem. Sometimes the swaging occurs before the FCD, because all the dies in a standard set are designed for a smaller bullet.

 

[fguffey]

Adjust the seating die down a little more until the case mouth has a visible rolled edge into the crimp groove on the bullet.

Careful, If I decided to screw the down further to increase the die's ability to crimp I would back the seating plug off first or I could seat the bullet on one die and crimp on the other.

F. Guffey