ROLL CRIMP-TAPER CRIMP FOR 38 357

[HAWKEYE10]

i have been reloading for years and have always roll crimped 38 357 and other revolver cal. if you buy factory ammo it's taper crimped,why don't we taper crimp like the factory. you would think i would know this!

don

 

[tmbrcruizr]

I roll crimp my 357s for my 340sc. After I shoot 2 or 3 shots with a taper crimp, the rest of the bullets try to jump out of the gun; to escape the recoil I suspect

.

 

[Calaveras Slim]

always roll crimp

 

[NFrameFred]

Stiff magnum loads can cause "case mouth jump" with 'blue pill' loads, but I've used a taper crimp for over 20 years with most of my revolver cases, as I feel it extends the life of the brass. I know it certainly does with lighter target loads, as those roll crimped exhibited splitting at the case mouth long before the taper crimped ones did.

A funny story - I attempted to phone Fred Huntington when he was alive before he sold out to RCBS at his machine shop in California years ago but got an assistant who said Fred had stepped out and wanted to know if he could help me. I told him I had wanted to discuss the possibility and costs of having Fred machine a taper crimp die for the .41 magnum ( which was unheard of at the time commercially available) and he took my name and address and said Fred would be in touch.

I thought no more of it until about two weeks later a package showed up at my door with the custom die inside from Huntington's Machine Shop with an invoice for just a couple of bucks more than what one could at the time order, say, a 45 ACP taper crimp die. That's the kind of man and the kind of service we were used to years ago - never spoke to him or met him personally, but he trusted me as a shooter who came to him with a problem and sent the merchandise with the expectation of being paid and not demanding it up front. Rest assured, anytime I could throw some business his way, his shop was my first choice and recommendation to others through the years. A real gentleman.

(BTW - even in the .41 mag, I never had a problem with the bullets jumping up in the case mouth, even with hunting loads. Just relating personal experience

)

 

[sar4937]

I recently began reloading for an M52-2, and was told to taper crimp the wadcutters. And I read that I could contact Lee and they would sell me an insert for my Lee factory crimp die. I've corresponded with Lee twice now, and they don't understand what I need saying my die will produce a nice roll crimp as is. I've asked in my last email if I could purchase a different die, and have not heard back.

 

[NFrameFred]

sar4937,
RCBS, REDDING, PACIFIC and I'm sure others sell all the taper crimp dies you want, but they are not usually listed as stocking items in my experience. Besides, you can use a 9mm taper crimp (found everywhere) for those model 52 cartridges, just go easy on adjusting it down until you get the desired results. Naturally, with a longer cartridge and a smaller total taper, you don't have to set the die down very far to achieve good results. I've done it for years, and use a 45 ACP TC die on my 45 Long Colts.

 

[H Richard]

I've used taper crimp dies on my .38 & .45 loads (for semi auto's) for years, but roll crimp the revolver loads. The heavier the load, the more crimp you need.

 

[moxie]

sar4937,

Lee makes an inexpensive "Taper Crimp Die" in .38 Spl./.357 mag/.357 Rem. Maximum. Model is LEE-38 SPL -10. But for .38 wadcutters you don't really need to taper crimp. Just crimp as lightly as possible with the crimper/seater die. About all that's needed for wadcutters is for the bullet not to fall out of the brass. Case tension is usually more than sufficient, so crimping is really moot.

 

[Jim Watson]

MY 52 needs the roll crimp to run up the feed ramp, a taper crimped wadcutter will occasionally stub out against the bottom of the ramp.

 

[Wayne M]

It's been soooo long since I've used factory ammo I guess I don't know how they crimp today. What brand ammo are you using? Don't recall every seeing taper crimped revolver ammo from the factory. For handloaders I would say use whatever you like best. Roll crimp in my case.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

everyone has been helpful and with good advice.I think i will try to taper crimp. I don't load hot loads. i don't even shoot 357's in my s&w 19. I like punching holes in paper and you don't need hot loads for that. I thank everyone who had input on this question.

DON