Looked in my Hornady manual and it doesn't advise how much one should crimp. I'm loading 44mag 240gr Xtp with imr 4227. I just loaded 10 at minimum charge to get the gun on paper and the case is just a little rounded into the canelure. I posted a pic in my crushing 44 case thread and someone said it's too much but it looks comparable to my 45-70 factory rounds crimp.
How much crimp?
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
A Google of "roll crimp on 44 magnum" will bring up some good images, likely better than I can come up with. How much crimp is actually difficult to answer. Difficult because too much roll crimp and you crush the case or the bullet, not enough and your bullets begin moving forward when a round is discharged. It can be one of those things in hand loading that the reloader just gets a feel for, like seating a primer.
It sounds like what you have is what you want, slightly rounded into the cannelure. You want the roll crimps to be consistent and uniform. Keep in mind that crimp will hold the bullet in place till the burning powder pressure pushes it out. Each round should require the same release pressure, all part of the uniformity that makes for accurate hand loads.
Just some advice here. When you mention another thread things work well when you include a link. Most people will not hunt and search for your other thread and the picture. However, with a link they will look at the image you referenced.
Thinking back if this is a single shot 44 Magnum rifle the crimp isn't as critical as in for example a tube magazine fed rifle or revolver.
Ron
It sounds like what you have is what you want, slightly rounded into the cannelure. You want the roll crimps to be consistent and uniform. Keep in mind that crimp will hold the bullet in place till the burning powder pressure pushes it out. Each round should require the same release pressure, all part of the uniformity that makes for accurate hand loads.
Just some advice here. When you mention another thread things work well when you include a link. Most people will not hunt and search for your other thread and the picture. However, with a link they will look at the image you referenced.
Thinking back if this is a single shot 44 Magnum rifle the crimp isn't as critical as in for example a tube magazine fed rifle or revolver.
Ron
au_prospector
Member
Post a picture of your crimp. If you can see it, then likely it is okay for minimal charge. If you have a high charge, then you will need a more pronounced crimp. This is one of those things that are learned with hands on practice I think.
There are many rounds that I have really backed off on the crimping, but .44 mag isnt one of them, nor is .357 mag.
My .45-70 is a single shot so no crimp.
.223 no crimp
.38 spl only to remove bell
9mm only to remove bell
.45 ACP only to remove bell
.45 LC light crimp
.30-06 very light, almost none
There are many rounds that I have really backed off on the crimping, but .44 mag isnt one of them, nor is .357 mag.
My .45-70 is a single shot so no crimp.
.223 no crimp
.38 spl only to remove bell
9mm only to remove bell
.45 ACP only to remove bell
.45 LC light crimp
.30-06 very light, almost none
There was a very good example of a crimp in the end of that thread. I posted another one in one of your other threads.
Here are lots of crimp pics.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=469815&page=2
au_prospector
Member
Walkalong when I clip on the link, it comes up as an archived thread and appears to have text only under a very basic format.
Works for me.. ??
Look under "reloading" for a sticky "Reloading Library of Wisdom" Look for the "How much Crimp? Lee FCD.... thread.
Look under "reloading" for a sticky "Reloading Library of Wisdom" Look for the "How much Crimp? Lee FCD.... thread.
lauderdale
Member
Thanks Walkalong. Very informative. Using a new RCBS pro trim 2 on 38\357. W/a Dan Wesson 357. w/lyman .38/357 dies. and horn. xtp's. that helped as I'm into the crimp thing also.
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
The link just worked for me too.
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
.
The fine replies in this thread notwithstanding, aren't there any crimp instructions included with your die set?
The fine replies in this thread notwithstanding, aren't there any crimp instructions included with your die set?
Cheesemaker
Member
You didn't like my post #31:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=807391&page=2
Just kidding - this is how I have crimped since the early 80s.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=807391&page=2
Just kidding - this is how I have crimped since the early 80s.
lauderdale
Member
I purchased the dies for learning the new to me process of the roll crimp off of our buy sell and trade forum w/out the Lyman directions and when I asked the fella's were nice enough to post them to/for me. I cant ask for much more then that. I was having a prob. w/my shop computer, think storms come in?
LeonCarr
Member
To the OP,
First off the powder you are using, IMR-4227, is one of the most UNDERrated powders for the .44 Magnum. IME it does not provide the velocities of W296/H110, but provides much better accuracy. When I lived out in West Texas lots of avid IHMSA shooters swore by IMR-4227 or H4227 for the .44 Magnum because it had less recoil, still had the velocity with 240 grain bullets to take down the 200 Meter Rams, and shot groups several inches tighter at 200 meters than W296/H110.
Ok to get back on topic, google search for information and pictures on a step down crimp. This is a roll crimp in which you seat the bullet into the case to where you barely see the cannelure/crimp groove of the bullet above the case mouth, then with the seating stem screwed out you turn down the crimping/seating die applying crimp until the case mouth is stepped down to where the case mouth contacts the bottom of the cannelure. The case mouth will appear stepped down into the cannelure instead of rolled into the cannelure. Buffalo Bore .44 Magnum Ammunition uses a heavy step down crimp in just about every load cast or jacketed.
I hope this helps. Please follow all safe reloading practices.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
First off the powder you are using, IMR-4227, is one of the most UNDERrated powders for the .44 Magnum. IME it does not provide the velocities of W296/H110, but provides much better accuracy. When I lived out in West Texas lots of avid IHMSA shooters swore by IMR-4227 or H4227 for the .44 Magnum because it had less recoil, still had the velocity with 240 grain bullets to take down the 200 Meter Rams, and shot groups several inches tighter at 200 meters than W296/H110.
Ok to get back on topic, google search for information and pictures on a step down crimp. This is a roll crimp in which you seat the bullet into the case to where you barely see the cannelure/crimp groove of the bullet above the case mouth, then with the seating stem screwed out you turn down the crimping/seating die applying crimp until the case mouth is stepped down to where the case mouth contacts the bottom of the cannelure. The case mouth will appear stepped down into the cannelure instead of rolled into the cannelure. Buffalo Bore .44 Magnum Ammunition uses a heavy step down crimp in just about every load cast or jacketed.
I hope this helps. Please follow all safe reloading practices.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
That was the very good example I mentioned earlier. That's a fine looking crimp.
No, not if you have a nice looking crimp like Cheesmaker's.
You also need plenty of neck tension. Have a little bulge at the bottom of where the bullet is seated?
i set the dies up the way everyone told me in the last thread and the mouth is belled just a little bit to where I can set the bullet in the case just above the base. when I seat them and crimp them there is a slight bump on the case where the bottom of the bullet is.
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