Can I seat ahead of the crimp groove?

[DaisyCutter]

I'm loading for my 44 mag Rossi lever. It feeds my SWCs just fine. I have some RNFP bullets that it won't feed too well. It tends to stovepipe instead of feed them. The cartridge AOL with my SWCs is roughly 1.600-1.605", but with the RNFP crimped on the groove, it's 1.550". The RNFP is shorter. I think this is the problem. Can I crimp the RNFP out of the case an extra .050" off the groove to get the 1.600" OAL the rifle prefers to feed?

These are all 240gr lead rounds. I won't be loading them hot, just 9 grains of Unique for plinking.

 

[kingmt]

Yes he can cramps as long as you cut the jacket into the bullet.

 

[RugerBob]

I had the same problem with my rossi m-92 lever gun. Found it easier to just go with a RNFP. Never happened again.
If you do not use the groove, make sure you get a good roll crimp so the bullet doesn't go farther down into the brass and then create a pressure issue.

 

[Hammerdown77]

I'd make up some dummy rounds to try feeding in your rifle first (obviously).

If you seat the crimp groove ahead of the case mouth, you should probably go to a taper crimp die for crimping. If you load 45 ACP, that crimp die will work perfectly.

Make sure you have good neck tension on the bullet since you won't have a good roll crimp on them. You don't want to be able to press the bullet into the case with thumb pressure. This might require turning down the expander ball on your die, or going to a different expander die.

 

[mdi]

Funny my Puma is just the opposite; won't feed SWCs but RNFP feed like butter. You didn't mention what kind of bullet you're using, lead, plated, or jacketed. For crimping the bullet where there is no cannalure or groove, I'd suggest a taper crimp. Yep, the RNFP can be seated out more and perhaps you can crimp in the forward part of the lube groove? I've used a roll crimp on lead bullets where there is no crimp groove, but it tends to distort the bullet and occationally buldge the case below the bullet.

 

[Uniquedot]

There are no problems with crimping out of the groove. Since you said groove and not cannelure i assume you are using lead bullets in which case you should leave the top lube groove unlubed if it's out far enough to be exposed if you have the choice to do so or if you are casting them and there is more than one lube ring. Using a taper crimp for lead bullets in a lever gun is not a good idea as you will likely have to apply so much crimp that the bullets diameter will be squeezed and the bullet will be damaged. You will need to use a roll crimp. BTW all the original 44 and 45 cal bullets were roll crimped on the ogive as there were no crimp grooves.