Does crimping change the OAL/CAL

[ScottJoshuaLin]

Hey guys,
I'm pretty new to reloading ammo.
My question is: Does crimping change the cartridge overall length?
My 9mm is 1.137" in CAL/OAL, but after taper crimping, the length became 1.138"

Please Help!! Thank you!

[highpower790]

.001 is what your going to worry about?Its just a varience in the bullet!

[JTROKS]

You are squeezing the bullet enough for the nose to stretch .001"? As I'm reading that you measured it before crimping and after crimping. I say yeah that's a little too much crimp unless you're loading marshmallow soft swaged bullets.

[ScottJoshuaLin]

Sounds like too much crimp.
Measure the OAL before and after crimping, if it is longer, too much crimp. You should have the diameter of the bullet + about .020.
Try seating and crimping in two separate operations.
If you really want to be sure, put it in a kinetic bullet puller and pound it on the concrete. If it takes 4 or 5 hits, you have too much crimp. Once it is apart, look for a light ring on the bullet, not a heavy one.
Remember, you are just removing the bell.
I got a lot of help here when I first started.

Thank you so much! I will prepare my next ten rounds with less crimp, and I already crimp and seat separately! Thanks again

[ScottJoshuaLin]

.001 is what your going to worry about?Its just a varience in the bullet!

Haha, I know it's a small change, but the change is consistent with the ten rounds I've loaded. I believe less crimp will solve this. Thanks for your comment though; it makes me feel safer in terms of marginal error.

[ScottJoshuaLin]

You are squeezing the bullet enough for the nose to stretch .001"? As I'm reading that you measured it before crimping and after crimping. I say yeah that's a little too much crimp unless you're loading marshmallow soft swaged bullets.

Yes, I measured before and after. I'm loading Rainier 115gr plated bullets. With 4.2gr of Titegroup in Remington brass and federal primers w/ an OAL of 1.137" to be shot from a Glock 19.
If anyone has a recipe they would like to share, please do!
Thanks!

[Joseblanco]

Measure your bullets and you will find that the lengths are not equal on all of them. Use a comparator and measure it one third down the o-give.

[ScottJoshuaLin]

Also, I measured the OAL after seating the bullet with one stroke, then did another stroke with the same round and measured. The OAL was reduced..
Is this normal?

[JTROKS]

Also, I measured the OAL after seating the bullet with one stroke, then did another stroke with the same round and measured. The OAL was reduced..
Is this normal?

I think that's the variance how the seating stem engaged the bullet. Are you loading hardcast bullets that are lubed? How often do you check or clean the bullet seater?

[gemini1]

Hey guys,
I'm pretty new to reloading ammo.
My question is: Does crimping change the cartridge overall length?
My 9mm is 1.137" in CAL/OAL, but after taper crimping, the length became 1.138"

Please Help!! Thank you!

lol I too noticed this, last time I did some loads, using cast 9x18 mak. But since the difference is not significant, I didn't bother to ask. Now I know its about the crimping process.
On a side note, woundn't it be better having a tight rather than a light crimp? at least you dont need to worry about bullet set back, right?

[ScottJoshuaLin]

I think that's the variance how the seating stem engaged the bullet. Are you loading hardcast bullets that are lubed? How often do you check or clean the bullet seater?

I am reloading 9mm Luger plated bullets with a Lee single stage press and Lee 4 die set.

[ScottJoshuaLin]

lol I too noticed this, last time I did some loads, using cast 9x18 mak. But since the difference is not significant, I didn't bother to ask. Now I know its about the crimping process.
On a side note, woundn't it be better having a tight rather than a light crimp? at least you dont need to worry about bullet set back, right?

I chambered the same round multiple times and had no bullet setback, but yes you're right. It's not significant at all. Haha

[pacrat]

.001" is one quarter the thickness of a piece of writing paper.

Fuggidaboudit.

It it fits in your mag, cycles through your pistol, and doesn't bind in the chamber.

SHOOTEM, ENJOY EM