Roll Crimp Problem

P

Pcfishslayer

Inactive
I obviously have not been loading very long but have been pretty successful loading 223, 38 special, and 357 mag. The roll crimp has never been an issue until today. Maybe i just tried to load to early in the morning but I could not get it to roll at all. I readjusted the die a few times and it never got any better. It ended up looking more like a collet crimp,

I used the same Lee dies that I have several times before. I am hoping someone has seen this before and knows what I did. Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
image.jpeg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
It looks like your bullet is seated in past the canalure and the top of the brass is being pushed into the bullet above it. The bullet needs to be seated so the top edge of the brass falls somewhere near the middle of the canalure. Read the instructions.......set bullet seating depth and then adjust crimp.
 
SET THE CRIMP
1. Size & expand an empty case.
2. Without any die in the press, run the case all the way up to the top of the ram
3. Loosen/back the lock ring way off on the seating die.
4. Screw the die down until it touches (not crimps) the case mouth.
5. Drop the ram & case, then screw the seating die another ½ -⅔ turn. Lock the ring there.

SET THE SEATING DEPTH
6. Back the die off and put a nickle under the ring. Back the seating plug out as well.
7. Fill the case w/ (the right amount of) powder and set the bullet into the mouth.
8. Raise the ram and seat the bullet to correct depth by adjusting the plug to where the case mouth is 90% into the crimp cannelure on the bullet.
9. Lower the ram.

CRIMP the CARTRIDGE
9. Fully loosen/back out the seating plug; pull the nickle out from under the ring; and screw the seating die down to the press.
10. Raise the ram and crimp the previously-seated bullet.
11. While the cartridge is still in the die, screw the plug down to fully stop against the bullet. Lock the plug's ring at the point.

YOU CAN NOW SEAT AND CRIMP the remainder of the bullets IN ONE STEP.***



*** As long the bullet has a crimp groove/cannelure.
 
You have the die adjusted way too far down. The roll crimp ledge is sliding down past the mouth, causing the "collet crimp" look (yes, I've done it myself:)). Either your brass is much longer than the last time you loaded or you kept adjusting down and making it worse.

Assuming you are seating in the Lee seating die and crimping in the FCD, make sure you have the seating depth where you want it (the comments on the position of the cannelure above are spot on) then adjust the crimping die according to instructions. If you are doing both in one step, set the crimp first, then the seating depth.
 
If I'm staying with a single headstamp, I've never found the
crying need to trim in normal/straightwall/handgun cases.
(Not even my 44-40's ...yet :cool: )
 
You have the die adjusted way too far down. The roll crimp ledge is sliding down past the mouth, causing the "collet crimp" look (yes, I've done it myself). Either your brass is much longer than the last time you loaded or you kept adjusting down and making it worse.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
Setting the die for roll crimp is VERY simple: you start by backing of the die and raising the ram on a resized case WITHOUT any bullet in it. With the ram at the top, screw in the die until it just touches the mouth of the case and then back it off about 1/4 turn. This is the no-crimp position, and you need to know that before you start deciding how much lower to make it for a roll crimp. You probably do not want to use any more than about 3/4 turn down on the die for a good crimp.
 
I readjusted the die a few times and it never got any better. It ended up looking more like a collet crimp,
Click to expand...

It looks like you are crimping with a full length sizing die. I do that occasionally; I use a full length sizing die to remove the bullet line. I have 2 45 ACP type pistol that like new, over the counter factory ammo. To remove the appearance of the case having swallowed a bullet I run the case into the full length sizing die just enough to remove the bullet line.

F. Guffey
 
And then there is the question regarding 'how much crimp?'. Crimping for me is just a hint of a crimp, in the big inning it was suggested crimping could be a bad habit because crimping did not increase bullet hold, if more than a hint of a crimp was applied bullet hold was reduced. After that reloaders started using neck tension with no way to measure it, it sounded cool when they used neck tension 5 times in a paragraph.

F. Guffey
 
Am l wrong in thinking, trimming all the cases to the same length will give you the same crimp, roll or taper on every bullet. I like all my reloads to be as close to exact as possible & trouble free. Some say never trimmed a straight walled case & nerer had a problem. That's until you do, why take the chance. It's one simple step to trim , why not do it and be on the safe side.
 
Am l wrong in thinking, trimming all the cases to the same length will give you the same crimp
Click to expand...

I have to ask do you really think .001 is going to make that much difference when crimping? Just take your caliper or micrometer and open it up to .001. No reason to spend the time trimming handgun brass. That's not his problem nor will it cure the problem.
 
Readjust the crimping die and separate seating from crimping. In the cartridge pictured, the crimp is waaaay too heavy but the case mouth cannot be turned/rolled into the jacket, so it flattens out, looking like a collet crimp...
 
Thanks for all the feedback. I think it was exactly what everyone stated. I think in my early morning state I seated the bullets a little too deep and tried way too hard to put a heavy roll crimp on.
Thanks again!
 
Don P
If your at max, yes .001 will be a problem. I rather be on the safe side. All crimp instructions , roll or taper , trim all to the same length. If the case is short you may have no crimp , to long to much taper. Makes perfect sense to me.
 
to long to much taper
Click to expand...

Makes sense to me also except when it comes to the difference between too much and not enough and the difference; it seems adding a factor like time simply will lock up a reloader. I always suggest they purchase R. Lee's book on modern reloading, after purchasing the book I always suggest they reloader read the book.

So? What does R. Lee say about too much crimp? It does get a little complicated because R. Lee adds factors.

F. Guffey
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top