I loaded 3 batches of 44-40 on my Dillon 550b, batch size was 1500. I used Bear Creek moly coated on the first batch and Patriot cast bullets on #2 & #3. All sized to .427 for Ruger Vaquero 4". The adjustment of the seating and crimp die was critical! Case length was a factor in crushed cases! I hate to admit the only way I could get consistent good ammo was to seat and crimp separately and use a Lee FCD, then production was back up to 500 per hour and 100% wrinkle free!

Ivan

BTW Midway puts the Lee Factory Crimp dies on sale a few times a year. One year on a whim, I bought 12 of them in old cartridges, just to have them. I usually don't need or like them, but when you really need one, YOU REALLY NEED ONE.

More modern cases are .015" of neck wall thickness, but 44-40, 38-40, 25-20, 32-20 and 22 Hornet are only .010" Thick. (they learned their lesson and 218 Bee is .015"!)