Can you crimp to hard?

[Riccur]

And if so what are the results? This is related to this thread but was hoping for a concise answer to this specific question.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...570103904/m/32010707

[Riccur]

And if so what are the results? This is related to this thread but was hoping for a concise answer to this specific question.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...570103904/m/32010707

[pownal55]

proper crimp pressure is important. too much can bulge the case mouth, or distort bullet shape. too little and the bullet may move under recoil.

[mstuhr]

Hi Riccur,
A lot of auto pistols headspace on the case mouth too. A good manual will show you where you need to be for the proper crimp.
Good luck
Mike

[MrPhil]

Having read your other thread, I'd recommend seating and crimping be done in separate steps. This is kind of a pain with single stage presses. First you seat bullets, die is adjusted for seating only. Then readjust for crimping, back seating stem out, crimp die down. This is particularly important with magnum loads. You will distort case mouths if you are attempting a hard crimp while seating.

[JD 500]

Originally posted by MrPhil:
Having read your other thread, I'd recommend seating and crimping be done in separate steps. This is kind of a pain with single stage presses. First you seat bullets, die is adjusted for seating only. Then readjust for crimping, back seating stem out, crimp die down. This is particularly important with magnum loads. You will distort case mouths if you are attempting a hard crimp while seating.

And you could pick up a LEE Factory crimp die. Crimping will still be a separate step as MrPhil suggests.
It is a collet type die that squeezes the crimp in from the side. Not likely to crush cases or bulge case mouths.

[Abflyboy]

I agree with MrPhil. I have always seated my bullets then crimped the cases separately. I have found that I can avoid bullet or case distortion this way and I can also get more consistent crimps on my cases. It may be an extra step, but consistency is always a requirement for accuracy.

[Skip Sackett]

Concise, OK, I'll give it a try..............

Yes! As mentioned, bulged cases are the results. Damaged ones are an indicator.

For critical loads, ones at the top of data for slow burning powders, having enough crimp is important to consistent ignition.

Two steps is the answer, IMO. Even before I got a progressive, I did it. Now with either the Square Deal B or the XL650 I do it by design.

At the seating step, I only close the case mouth back to straight, next step, crimp only.

[Howard B]

Dillon Precision dies while designed for a progressive also work well in a single stage as they are designed to seat and crimp as seperate stages. Since likely you already have a set of 3, adding either the seat or crimp die from Dillon to the set is relatively inexpensive since they can be purchased individually. It slows down the process a bit, but improves the end result.