Swirled crimps?...

[Dave McCracken]

Here's a query for the reloading mavens out there....

My old MEC 600 gets used for cranking out a number of loads. I use both STS and AA hulls, though the AAs are fading fast.

These loads use shot of diverse sizes, different wad pressures, and the Clays Powder charge is different for the various recipes.

If I set the loader up for my skeet load in AA hulls, I have to reset it on a cut and try type basis for either trap load and the squirrel load.Otherwise, too much material meets in the middle and I get a nasty looking "Swirled" crimp.

I can do the resetting, but I'd like to get things done a little faster and easier.

So, here's the query.

Do swirled crimps have any negative effect on pattern, speed or performance? Or is the downside merely cosmetic?

Thanks...

 

[sm]

IME

Cosmetic

FWIW I tested once fired AA with the exact same load wad pressure and all , only change was crimp "appearance" ( this bugged me also). I couldn't tell a difference on the pattern board or how the clays broke. I even Chron'd and couldn't see any signifigant change, just the normal variation.

Another test consisted of AA hulls that had been reloaded a dozen times. The differences in pattern was slight and some velocity lost which I attributed to number of times a shell loaded, volume, wear on wad cup...etc.

NO difference in those perfect, with swirled,or with an itty bitty hole in center. For those with larger holes and not staying together I used electrical tape or candle wax.

These taped or waxed shells I used afield with no problem AEB ( as evidenced by) my game bag or freezer. I was not going to reload these again and figured they should be retired in style.

Sometimes I would crank out loads and use the red hulls for hard shot, and /or different shot sizes. The green, blue, black or lavendar hulls for soft shot and/or again shot size diffferences. Of course I did want to re-set , usually on a time crunch.

I had a motley crew in my shellpouch sometimes ,took some ribbing... but with a fixed choke and knowing what I had loaded...I cried all the way to the freezer.

I did not reveal the why and the code either...side bets you know

 

[HSMITH]

Well, I think the swirlies may actually help patterns a tiny bit when using "veteran" hulls. The pressure required to open the crimp is crucial to consitent velocity, and consistent velocity is a key in consistent patterns. I think the extra material all wadded up in the middle provides more resistance than otherwise would be present helping to build pressure and burn the powder more consistently.

I do think swirled crimps are akin to novice badges though, so I set the punch down a little when I start getting swirls. Rather than fool around with multiple settings I just set the crimp depth punch down a little, say .080" instead of a nominal factory depth of .067" on the AA's.

If you set up your press to make an exact duplicate of the AA 1 1/8th ounce load crimps you will have good crimps even dropping down to a 7/8ths ounce load in a one ounce wad with VERY minor adjustments....

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, guys. It hardly seemed crucial, but it's better to ask.

sm, if e'er we shoot together, I'll keep the side bets very small.

H, maybe an advantage there. These loads are so low pressure I get burn marks on the outside because the hull doesn't expand enough to seal off the chamber.

Guess I'll just lower the crimp so there's a teeny little hole in the middle on most loads and live with the occasional swirl.

Thanks...

 

[sm]

Yeah keep the side bets small will ya? I don't mind paying YOU...RC and a moonpie about right? < empty pocket smilie here> Just don't embarass me too bad.

I don't recall my crimp depth measurments, I did lower and had results similar.

Since we are on the subject...

OH Two Tips :

1) Beeswax, I used a lot of beeswax in another life. Anyway beeswax is easier to use than candle wax. One doesn't have to take loads to kitchen, because I know people wouldn't have candles and fire in the reloading area.

2) Using a pc of electrical tape I kept my allen wrench on the pull handle, just as handle begins to "Y". Not that I or any of us have had the allen wrench that adjusts cam and the like walk off on reloading bench.

any questions about beeswax -holler...lots of good uses, where to get, how to prep...

 

[HSMITH]

RC AND a Moon Pie? Where you at? Feelin' hungry AND thirsty here............ but I do have the buck-thirty-five handy to take my whoopin' like a man and pay up. You are ON when we meet bud, but be forewarned I shoot like I type so bring an appetite .

 

[sm]

LOL
Well a trap shooter I'm not, skeet, 5 stand and S/C my games...

I have a distinct feeling if some of this bunch showed up to squad against others...with our 'swirled shells" "motley crew loads" beeswaxed crimped lots...
We might not beat the other squad, we would have fun, leave a lasting impression, EAT well, probably teach some new shooters.

On Second thought...we would kick butt...I'll just let the other squad see my "motley crew" of reloads....they'll be laughing so hard that they couldn't hit squat. Oh be be sure to wear our "Redneck Club" attire...yep we'd win...

oh did ya know a moon pie will work out of trap machine?...don't ask me how I know...but let me load the traps...when the fellas on opposing squad see that...we've got 'em...

 

[Dave McCracken]

Since the diabetes hit, make it a diet soda and a hunk of jerky.

Maybe it's a good idea we live far apart, I'd hate to have PGC apply for a restraining order. Sounds like we might have too much fun.

Dunno about beeswax, sm. When the crimp material looks ratty, I pitch them. When/if the Hull Elf moves, then I might have to worry about it.

And the allen wrenches stay in the cigar box I keep bars and bushings in. Since no system is foolproof, I've spares.

Moon pies out of a trap machine sounds interesting. So does one of those Texas Punkin chunkin' catapaults, shoot them on the fly. Maybe I could finally use up those lead 2s....

 

[sm]

Grin...

Well Dave the Hull Elf doesn't visit me, neither does the fat guy in red suit, the tooth fairy...soooo...one learns to adapt ,improvise,overcome. Oh the spares tools and stuff are in cigar boxes too...which one of those cigar boxes...well?

In a fun Skeet shoot thrown in amongst the normal White Flyer [tm] targets we would have a Blue Rock [tm] "white" , "flourescent green" , "neon yellow". Rules might state if a person hit a certain color a person won a prize (ham, turkey, gift certificate to a steak house). We would just have them loaded at random . If we ran all 5 fields we had 5 duplicates.

We all chipped in and bought a shotgun for a guy that managed the property and kept an eye on stuff. We had been teaching him to shoot. The "prize" if one hit this "one special target" a new shotgun was the prize.

This fellow is shooting in the fun shoot...I'm in the trap house [hidden and waiting] and you guessed it..."imagine that" H1 is a moonpie and this fella wins himself a 1100 in 20 ga.

It was all pre planned -this fella gave and didn't ask for much. He really worked hard around the range keeping it mowed and all. He's not one to take gifts so we concocted this idea. It worked

He was let in on the deal afterwards and humbled. So since it went over so well we incorporated the "moonpie" target when the kids came out to learn using the single shots...talk about kids gettin focused, watching the bird and having fun!!

I just cranked the La Porte down , used refridgerated pies on L7...had moms, dads, bros, sis...everybody wanted to shoot that stage!!

So to get back on topic the last time I did this was again... "staged" for a lady shooter whom won the Mec 600 "imagine that" we had chipped in on.

Funny - boxes of hulls, shot, powder, wads , primers , a pre-drilled piece of wood ,wing-nuts, bolts 'C' clamps, and a small refinished cabinet..."just fell in her prize box too".

More to shooting than competition, being serious, worrying about guns , scores, gizmos and gadgets.

Young lady was so grateful she had plenty of help geting that Mec set up and running and reloaded her "first shells" a few hours later...oh yeah, she had to go shoot "her first reloads" right then and there. Heck she was so exited she was estastic. She spent time at the pattern board tweaking loads and making notes. She was really proud and wanted 'Us" to try her loads. sheesh we created a monster

"RC and a Moon Pie"..means different things to different folks...

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks for posting that, sm. You gave me a nice grin...

 

[HSMITH]

That is good stuff sm, you guys are the kind of people I like to be around.