Which crimp to use on 38 spl.?

[rue]

Do you roll crimp or taper crimp?
Yes I read my reloading manual before I asked..

[eaglemike]

When shooting lead stuff with a crimp groove I like a roll crimp. With the usuall copper jacketed stuff, I end up using a taper.

It's probably a moot point - very few of the current die makers provide a die that will make a good roll crimp (at least in my experience). The profile usually ends up somewhere between a roll and taper. I find the Lee carbide factory crimp dies to be very good, especially if I'm shooting in competition. YMMV...

all the best,

Mike

[-hanko]

When shooting lead stuff with a crimp groove I like a roll crimp. With the usuall copper jacketed stuff, I end up using a taper.

It's probably a moot point - very few of the current die makers provide a die that will make a good roll crimp (at least in my experience). The profile usually ends up somewhere between a roll and taper. I find the Lee carbide factory crimp dies to be very good, especially if I'm shooting in competition. YMMV...

all the best,

Mike

Roll crimp if the bullet headspaces by design on the rim, taper if on the case mouth.

I really like the Redding profile crimp die, does a VERY good job in on-the-edge .38spl and .357 loads.

-hanko

[gravygrabber]

Roll crimp if the bullet headspaces by design on the rim, taper if on the case mouth.

I really like the Redding profile crimp die, does a VERY good job in on-the-edge .38spl and .357 loads.

-hanko

Sorry that confuses me, the bullets are copper plated if that helps...

[ar15barrels]

If it's got a groove to crimp into, you can use either style of crimp because the cartridge headspaces on the rim.
If they don't have a crimp groove, go with a taper crimp.

[gravygrabber]

If it's got a groove to crimp into, you can use either style of crimp because the cartridge headspaces on the rim.
If they don't have a crimp groove, go with a taper crimp.

Ahh I see. The sides of my bullets are not grooved like lead bullets.
They are actually from this site, http://www.xtremebullets.com/index.htm and are the plated kind.

[pcguy23]

crimp die

+1 on the lee factory crimp die,
I use it for all my .38/.357 reloading
I back off the bullet seating/crimp die to only seat the bullet and then use a separate lee factory crimp die for crimping operations

Mark

[gravygrabber]

I have RCBS dies...

[eaglemike]

If you have room for the 4th die, you might want to use the Lee carbide factory crimp die instead of the supplied crimping die.

It's traditional practice to roll crimp rounds that locate on the rim, such as .38 special. However, that is often not possible with the bullets and dies available today. If it's a rimmed cartridge, and the bullet has a cannelure or crimp groove, AND you have a die that will roll crimp, that's best.

It's best to use a taper crimp die of the semiauto rounds, such as .45 acp. Unless you have a match grade barrel, the crimp won't matter as much as one might think. The spec's for a match chamber are different - shorter. The .45 acp brass is often shorter than max spec, resulting in inconsistent headspacing of the cartridge. 9mm is much worse, as it's tapered quite a bit - and the chamber dimensions and cartridge variance can add up to about a mile* of headspace variation.

I learned how to single-point threads making .38 special crimping dies at Star Machine Works. Every die was threaded onto a mandrel, then the outside was turned and threaded so it was concentric - after it'd come off the screw machine. Then finish reamed, polished, hardened, and polished again.

all the best,

Mike

*machine shop terminology

[Linus]

Heres a useful video on reloading for the 38 Special.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=98I1i8Toj8E