Inconsistant crimp L-N-L .45 acp

[Furncliff]

My Hornanday LNL AP worked fine for .357 mag, I started loading .45acp for the first time. I chamber checked every round, about 40% failed. When I ran the failures through a second time I was able to get a good check on half of those. At the range everything fed in my Hi Point carbine, but my 1911 choked on the rounds that did not pass the drop test. I have adjusted the seater/crimp die three times, the results are the same. I'm using a 230 plated bullet COL is 1.265.

Do I need a separate crimp die?

Thanks

Tom

 

[PsychoKnight]

Ah, yeah.
Everybody I know seats and taper crimps autoloading pistols separately. Even the cheapy Lee 4-die sets have a separate seat and taper crimp die. But those in the know spend the extra cash and go for Redding Competition seating die. As for taper crimp, all the brands are about the same. Just stay away from the Lee full length crimp die - it just masks underlying structural defects in the case, rather than bringing the cartridge to correct dimensions. Newer users tend to use the Lee FCD die, but competitive and veteran shooters shun the scammy device. If you get the Competition seating die, you might at well buy the entire Die set w/ Competition Seater, as its not much more expensive.

 

[MtnCreek]

Which seater/crimp die are you using?
It may be a OAL issue.

 

[Furncliff]

I'm using Hornaday.

There is something going on right at the case mouth. I can see the crimp start and then there seems to be a ridge right the case mouth,. No smooth finish to the crimp.

 

[Walkalong]

You do not need a separate crimp die to taper crimp .45 ACP. It is just a matter of adjustment. Seat a bullet with no crimp, screw the seater stem all the way out, adjust the crimp, then screw the stem back down on top of the bullet. Easy Peasey

The cases should get the bell removed completely to a .001 crimp depending on case length if you have it adjusted properly with a die set that has a proper taper crimp built in.

Should look something like these, or this.

The Hornady sleeved seater will not taper crimp properly. You can get a Lee, or a Redding taper crimp die to crimp in a second step, or buy a seater that taper crimps properly.

 

[cougar1717]

It might be worth it to check the brass length and pull out or trim the oddballs to make sure you're getting a consistent crimp.