First reload - OAL and crimp help

[wiiawiwb]

I just finished seating and roll crimping my first 45LC. It will be used in a Ruger SRH 454 Casull. I am using a coated Missouri Bullet 255 gr. SWC. and once-fired

http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=210&category=20&secondary=14&keywords=

I am a little concerned because the OAL is 1.602 which is longer than 1.600 per the Lyman book. The trouble was that if I seated the bullet any deeper it would be above the crimp groove. Is being over the OAL an issue?

I've included two pictures so you can see it and get your feedback on my seating and roll crimp too.

 

[WestKentucky]

Cylinder test. Load the round into the gun and see if it extends past the front of the cylinder. If it does then seat deeper. If it doesn't then your good.

 

[wiiawiwb]

Yes, and I should have mentioned that in my OP. The round slid easily in and out of the cylinder of the Ruger and is far shorter than its end.

The second round I reloaded measured 1.597.

 

[murf]

that crimp is good for a light load, but light for a heavy load.

murf

 

[rcmodel]

You simply can't use book published OAL unless you are using the Exact Same Bullet shown in the manual.

And the Missouri bullet you are using certainly isn't the Lyman mold bullet Lyman was measuring.

Anyway, Lyman doesn't show 1.600" for a 255 SWC.
they show 1.575" for a similar bullet.

1.600" in the cartridge drawing is SAAMI Max length for any bullet in .45 Colt.

But regardless of all that?
The correct OAL for ANY caliber Revolver lead bullet, of any shape is seated and crimped to the crimp groove.

You don't even need to bother measuring them, cause it doesn't matter what they measure as long as they are seated too the crimp groove for that specific bullet design.

rc

 

[steve4102]

RC has it right.

Ignore the OAL listed in the manual, seat to crimp groove and crimp.

BTW .002 is nothing, literally nothing, your OAL will most likely vary from round to round by much more than that.

 

[wiiawiwb]

Here is the second round I did and a clearer picture. Does the crimp groove look any better or still too light?

I did not drop any powder or seat a primer in these first two reloads. Every load I do will be at the light-load end of the spectrum until I've comfortably done a few dozen and shot them. I won't play games here.

You guys have an eagle eye for this through years of experience and thousands of rounds reloaded. By closely examining, how will I know when it has been adequately roll crimped?

 

[TimSr]

Ignore OAL and crimp in the cannelure for revolver rounds. It will give you the proper seating depth for published 255gr SWC loads even if other bullets are shaped differnetly.

 

[MEHavey]

As stated above:

- OAL is determined by crimp groove location (checked to see that they enter the cylinder)
- With cast bullets... unless you are bumping up against MAX charge, don't sweat the difference
- Depending on whether you are using "normal" dies (Lyman, RCBS, Redding, etc -- NOT Lee
factory crimp), adjust die ~ 1/2 turn past contact with the case mouth to roll the crimp into
the groove as seen the middle/rights bullets here:

 

[wiiawiwb]

Those are great pictures and the one in the center is the bullet head I am using (except mine is coated). For what it's worth, I am using the Lee FCD.

Both of my crimps above look a little light compared to the center one above and really light compared to the one on the right. The funny part is I have been comparing my two reloads to several factory ammo I have and the crimps on them seem to be less than mine.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Everyone else already said it.

A human hair is about 0.003" diameter.

 

[ku4hx]

Some powders do required a heavy crimp; many do not. I don't crimp any of my non magnum "gallery" loads and it's never been a problem. Magnum level loads sometimes have a tendency to back the case away from the bullet under heavy recoil, but if that were happening you'd know pretty quickly to tighten your crimp.

Slow burn rate powders such as H110 and W296 (just to name two) need high neck tension and a heavier crimp to ensure a complete and consistent powder burn. Powders such as Bullseye and Unique (again, just to name two), generally don't need a crimp. For these, why crimp and work harden case mouths even more for no real gain?

The amount of crimp you need is one area where the "artsy" part of reloading comes in. Basically, you have to shoot your product to find out how much crimp you need for any given load.

 

[forestswin]

while the discussion is about the precision of a length measurement that differs by 0.002" or 0.003" in this thread - no we can't see it and its doubtful that it matters much

but measurements in the thousandths can't and shouldn't be ignored just because we can't see the difference - thats why we use calipers and micrometers that easily can make the measurements

for example measurements of diameter that differ .002" or 0.003"

try shooting 0.354" or 0.360" diameter bullets in a 357 - do you think it would matter?

 

[mdi]

PC coating adds another variable. Coating thickness can easily vary .002"-.003" from bullet to bullet. As others have said, seat to crimp groove and disregard book OAL. IMO lose the Lee FCD and get a plain old roll crimp die, especially when reloading lead (or PCed lead) for revolvers. I favor Redding's Profile Crimp dies...

 

[gwpercle]

Seat to crimp into the crimp groove on revolver ammo, don't worry about OAL, if it chambers and the nose of the bullet doesn't protrude past the cylinder you are good to go.
To many obsess about OAL when in revolvers , crimping into the crimp groove is much more important than an exact OAL dimension .
Now in semi auto reloading, OAL is a little more important, just to get your loaded rounds in the feeding ballpark but it's still not critical. The ammo must feed from the magazine, chamber and fire, if that dimension is not exactly as published OAL ...oh well, the gun will tell you if it's too long or too short.
Don't think it has to be at book OAL...it's ok to vary it a little, no harm will be done.
Gary

 

[Walkalong]

As posted, roll crimp into the crimp groove on the bullet and that determines the OAL.

Not coated, but you get the idea.

 

[wiiawiwb]

A picture is worth a thousand words. I've got to more aggressively crimp groove the bullets. I've been reluctant thinking that to err on the side of too hard a crimp would cause a worse problem.

 

[Walkalong]

Increase the OAL a little bit, the case mouth should be in the crimp groove.

 

[wiiawiwb]

Ok, thanks. That makes sense. I was more focused on OAL than the crimp groove. Now, I'll make sure the case mouth is in the crimp groove.