Tom Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I loaded my first batch of .40 S&W and gave them a "light crimp" (according to Lee) which was about .0005-.001" with their "factory crimp" carbide die. How much crimp do you usually give a rimless cartridge? I don't want to crimp them too much. With that much crimp I had to beat the @#$% out of my puller to get my tests apart.Also How much do you usually expand the brass. I did it just slightly, maybe .001-.002" and it seemed to work fine. I don't want to give them too much. Without crimping it still seemed like I had to beat the heck out of the puller to get them apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsoup Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Straight walled pistol cartridges shouldn't need much nore than that. If even that. Remember that the pistol rounds index on the case mouth. If you're having problems with bullet set back then your .0005" to .001" should be enough. Although I don't see how you came up with one half thousandths, considering the variations in brass thicknesses in the same lots. Did you mean .005" to .010"When you bell the case mouth it should be enough so that the bullet will start into the case. If you chamfer the id of the neck, jacked bullets should need no bell. Lead and plated bullets do need a bell though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Thanks for the reassurance. I did mean less than .001 crimp. The case diameters were measuring about .420" and after the crimp they'd be about .419". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkie_Lefty Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 At work so I don't have any references handy, your reloading manuals (you do have at least 3 or 4 don't you) should give crimp dimension.Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I have 2 manuals and the instructions for the die. All they seem to say is "not too much" "just enough so it holds the bullet".I'd sure like to have a spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pablo Posted December 28, 2010 Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 Another good subject on PS!I just bought some 44 mag (Winchester 240 gr) - these look like they have a serious crimp. Will this be a bother with future reloading? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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