This crimp look okay?

[drkphibr]

New to reloading and wanted to run this by folks with more experience. This is a 45-70 cartridge with the following specs:

COAL: 2.540
42 grains of H-Varget powder
CCI large rifle primer
405 gr SP bullet

My biggest question is on the crimp. Lee dies used (and all directions on their site were followed with regards to seating process/depths and adjustments). There's really nothing to adjust on the factory crimp die other than the directions to touch the shellholder with the die and then back it off 1/2 turn (that turn being the crimp "depth"). Bullet cannelures are MUCH lower that the COAL specs, so I'm just wondering if my crimp is too low/high or just right. This will be used in a lever action repro. Thanks.

[Low-Pressure]

The crimp doesn't have to be on the cannelure. Looks good to me, re-read the manual, I thought there's an adjustment on the Lee FCD.

[kblack583]

New to reloading and wanted to run this by folks with more experience. This is a 45-70 cartridge with the following specs:

COAL: 2.540
42 grains of H-Varget powder
CCI large rifle primer
405 gr SP bullet

My biggest question is on the crimp. Lee dies used (and all directions on their site were followed with regards to seating process/depths and adjustments). There's really nothing to adjust on the factory crimp die other than the directions to touch the shellholder with the die and then back it off 1/2 turn (that turn being the crimp "depth"). Bullet cannelures are MUCH lower that the COAL specs, so I'm just wondering if my crimp is too low/high or just right. This will be used in a lever action repro. Thanks.

Dont back it off 1/2 turn. Go 1/2 MORE turn. Gives you a light crimp.

[drkphibr]

Thanks for the fast replies. Had it backwards, I did turn the die in the additional 1/2 turn (just double checked) and I will check the doc that came with the factory crimp to verify adjustment. I watched the video on adjustment and it didn't say anything, but I'll double check that as well. Thanks again.

[kblack583]

Just looked at your picture. You went right way.

Looks like you may have gone a little more than half turn which is fine for lever gun. You want your crimp a little heavier. On my 45-70 (1895) i load the tube full and cycle all rounds out hard and check to see if there is any difference in COAL.

[Bigdaa]

+My recommendation is to have your crimp in the canelure with some of the canelure showing. For this big gun, you need a heavy crimp. Anyone suggesting lighter needs to stop doing so in cases as this. You need an aggressive roll crimp. Your crimp looks to have bypassed the roll and sent some of the cartridge case up flat against the bullet.

Show some of the canelure!

I will try and show you an example, say on my 500 S&W.


May I say that shooting that big old boy in a lever gun has to be one of the greatest of experiences. I hope I get to one of these days.

[Bert Gamble]

Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but this is a good time for a question. I looked at the picture and see the crimp. Is that a "roll" crimp or a "taper" crimp?

[Bigdaa]

Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but this is a good time for a question. I looked at the picture and see the crimp. Is that a "roll" crimp or a "taper" crimp?

It's a roll, pushed too far UNLESS it's camera angle that is making me see something that is not there.

[XDRoX]

IMO that's a little too much crimp. I'd back off a tiny bit. It'll work fine, but IMO it's excess wear to your brass.

[CSACANNONEER]

What gun are you shooting these in? You might not want/need a crimp at all. And, I agree that it looks like there's too much crimp.

[drkphibr]

Crimp/cannelure follow up...

Shooting this in a Marlin 1895 lever action.

Impossible to seat the bullet and crimp in the bullet's cannelure (see pic) and still remain within COAL of ~2.540 (and verifying against 3 different reloading manuals).

Looks like the "vote" is about 50/50 in terms of the lever action needing a heavy crimp or not. I understand the brass wear and will bring the crimp up a bit for the next batch. I'm more concerned with safety and functionality...will it work fine or not?

Thanks.

[XDRoX]

I'm not familiar with that round or that gun, but I never crimp enough to where it dents the bullet.

[Low-Pressure]

I just finished my 1st batch of 30-06 and used the Lee FCD also. I set them just like what the instruction said and here's a picture.

['ol shooter]

Case crimp

The Lee "Factory Crimp die is neither a roll crimp or a taper crimp, it is a completely different style of crimp. If you have ever seen a magnum rifle cartridge that is crimped, you would see the same style of crimp. Instead of rolling the case, the die actually squeezes the brass either into the cannelure or the bullet, depending on bullet position. It uses a four fingered collet to accomplish this. I use this die on my .300 Win Mag cases and .444 Marlin cases, and they hold up very well under stiff recoil.

[Bigdaa]

I just finished my 1st batch of 30-06 and used the Lee FCD also. I set them just like what the instruction said and here's a picture.

Nice. I need not post another pic on a good looking roll crimp.