Round doesnt sit flush

[SIKwitIT]

Just started reloading 45acp with dillon dies and 550 press
Using once shot brass and 200gr xtreme plated bullets. Overall length is measuring 1.250
Crimp .469-471
I havent got a gage yet, waiting for it in the mail but when i drop the rounds in the barrel they dont sit flush like factory rounds. They sit just below. What does this mean?
Thanks

[Fordtrucks]

Possum too much crimp or case length to short. Did u trim? What's the case length is it in spec?

[pacrat]

Just started reloading 45acp with dillon dies and 550 press
Using once shot brass and 200gr xtreme plated bullets. Overall length is measuring 1.250
Crimp .469-471
I havent got a gage yet, waiting for it in the mail but when i drop the rounds in the barrel they dont sit flush like factory rounds. They sit just below. What does this mean? Thanks

It means your cases are a bit shy of the lenght required to headspace on their mouth and sit flush.

Not a biggy, I've found that most 45acp brass is a bit short of the .898" case lenght that most chambers are cut at.

SAAMI spec for case lenght on 45acp is........ .898"-.010".

BTW........your actual barrel is the best case gage you can buy.

JM2c

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Pistol/45%20Automatic.pdf

[ptmn]

If it is significantly below and you don't have an excessive crimp, check to make sure you haven't loaded a 45 GAP case

[wpage]

Either buy a gauge to check or verify with your reload data...

[Divehobo]

Lee Bulge Buster might be your solution.

[ExtremeX]

Straight wall pistol cases like 9mm and 45 ACP headspace off the case mouth...

Not that I trim my cases, but check the trim length to make sure it is in spec. Compare that to a factory round that sits flush and make a comparison.

+1 on to much crimp, that's a solid way of crushing down the case mouth causing dangerous pressure and headspace issues.

-1 on a separate case gauge. You can buy one if you like but IMO they serve little purpose if you have the barrel you are loading for. That said, if you are that new to reloading or unsure if your die setup, it really cant hurt.

[SIKwitIT]

Thanks for the tips. Im going to do some reloading friday, the crimp is coming in right at .470-.469 and isnt eating in to the bullet plating, Is there any other way to check if it has too much crimp?

[pacrat]

Thanks for the tips. Im going to do some reloading friday, the crimp is coming in right at .470-.469 and isnt eating in to the bullet plating, Is there any other way to check if it has too much crimp?

I use a taper crimp die and adjust it to "just" straighten out the "bell" from bullet seating.

A straight edge against the case with a light behind it is plenty good to determine if the crimp is enough. If the case is straight from base to neck with no visible light showing. You're GTG.

Hvy Magnum rounds for a revolver is a different cat and requires a different skinning technique. With them you need a good roll crimp to keep bullets from moving in cases during recoil.

JM2c

[stilly]

Why does it matter what the crimp is at? I mean, yeah it tells us how little or much, but it sounds kinda maddening having to inspect when the round does not go it.

Do this, Roll the rounds after being made and do they roll nicely? Nice and smooth?

What about before they are made? Like maybe as cases, roll on a smooth surface and see how they roll?

[ExtremeX]

Thanks for the tips. Im going to do some reloading friday, the crimp is coming in right at .470-.469 and isnt eating in to the bullet plating, Is there any other way to check if it has too much crimp?

Its fine to measure... I do it too, compare, record my notes...

When using plated bullets, I can pretty much pull the bullet and I don't see any sign of crimp or damage to the bullet. Sometimes I do see a small line or mark which I consider acceptable as well.

Just keep in mind, that if you are using mixed brass, those figures are going to vary and you will see different amounts of crimp because of it when using mixed brass.

All you need to do is have enough to remove the bell from the case.

Crimp does NOT hold the bullet in place for a straight walled pistol case, neck tension is what holds the bullet in place.

You just need to find a happy medium for the mixed brass.

[bruce381]

you are fine they chamber some short its OK.

[357magnum]

Straight wall pistol cases like 9mm and 45 ACP headspace off the case mouth...

Not that I trim my cases, but check the trim length to make sure it is in spec. Compare that to a factory round that sits flush and make a comparison.

+1 on to much crimp, that's a solid way of crushing down the case mouth causing dangerous pressure and headspace issues.

-1 on a separate case gauge. You can buy one if you like but IMO they serve little purpose if you have the barrel you are loading for. That said, if you are that new to reloading or unsure if your die setup, it really cant hurt.

9mm does headspace on the case mouth, but they are not straight wall.

[silas3d]

Have you thought about using a Lee Factory Crimp? I use one for my 45acp and haven't had any issues.

[Cheep]

Resize a piece of brass, drop it in your gauge or barrel, load up that same piece of brass, drop it in your gauge or barrel and compare, if it is the same, just keep going, if it drops in lower, look closely at how you are crimping.