.38 Special RCBS dies Roll and Taper Crimp?

[Stormin.40]

I am going to start loading .38 special and just purchased a set of RCBS Carbide dies. The are not labeled RC or TC and I was told that these dies will do both taper and roll crimp.

How to you determine if you are roll crimping or taper crimping, it is not stated in the instructions? My assumption is that a light crimp would taper and a heavier crimp would then roll.

I plan to load LSWC first and would like to roll crimp but would like to load some plated down the road and want to taper these.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't see how one die could do both. Who said so? RCBS?

 

[brickeyee]

For a die to perform both you would have to use just the start of the roll crimp to create some taper.

It is not going to work well since even a few thousandths difference in case length will turn the taper into a roll.

The dies are roll crimp.

A taper crimp die cannot roll over the front of the brass.
it is not that tight or shaped correctly.

 

[Stormin.40]

Stated by Sales associate at Cabela's. I normally don't trust their opinion but I had read it here on THR in a older post, the user just didn't explain how it worked so I thought I would ask.

Prior to this I assumed semiauto caliber dies would taper and revolver caliber dies would roll.

 

[gamestalker]

They either one or the other, not both. I think the unspecified crimp die for RCBS is a taper crimp. I use a taper crimp for all my loads and when I need more I just increase the crimp depth. Even for my magnum H110/296 wheel guns I can get the taper crimp to hold snug enough to prevent them from dislodging from the mouth, or setting back.

 

[Jim Watson]

Pretty much, yeah. Alton Dinan being deceased. (He roll crimped the dickens out of .45 SWCs for the 1911s he accurized, but that was a special situation.

Back in the PD (Pre Dillon) era, a friend loaded with the seating die loose in the press, hand on the die, so he could seat and crimp by feel. This got him some very good ammo in mixed brass.

 

[Stormin.40]

RCBS web site list 2 dies for the .38 Speical, one is not labeled RC or TC (18212) the other is labeled taper crimp (18215)

 

[steveno]

I believe the die will say on top if it is a roll or taper crimp. if it doesn't say i would assume it to be roll crimp for a 38 special. on my 45 acp dies one seating die says taper on one die and nothing on the other. the "other" is a roll crimp and I used it on 45 auto rim

 

[Stormin.40]

Since they sell a seperate setting die that is specifically labeled as taper crimp, I think I can assume it is a roll crimp, just suprised it doesn't say RC or Roll Crimp on the package or the die. My .40 dies have TC listed on the package and on top of the die itself.

 

[beatledog7]

My own set of RCBS .38SPL/.357 dies is #18215 and say TC on both the box and the die.

 

[rcmodel]

Prior to this I assumed semiauto caliber dies would taper and revolver caliber dies would roll.

That would be a pretty safe assumption.

I doubt you will find any straight wall auto pistol caliber dies that would roll crimp.
A possible exception might be special order roll-crimp dies for folks who shoot auto pistol caliber revolvers.

Rimmed revolver calibers are made in one or the other. But primarly in roll-crimp style.

For instance, .38 Spl auto pistol target loads use a taper crimp.

rc

 

[BYJO4]

A RCBS crimp die is designed to roll crimp unless it is stamped "TC" for taper crimp.

 

[Walkalong]

I doubt you will find any straight wall auto pistol caliber dies that would roll crimp

The insert in 9MM, .40, and .45 ACP Hornady dies has about a 45 degree angled crimp ledge in them that roll crimps, although not as abruptly as the standard roll crimp we are used to.

Stupid if you ask me.

A roll crimp die will not taper crimp. Adjusting the roll crimp die to just barely remove the bell is not a taper crimp. It also doesn't work for that unless all the brass is very close in length.

Reddings Profile crimp die has a taper ledge leading into a roll crimp ledge. I suppose you could get a decent taper crimp with it if adjusted just right with trimmed brass, but it is intended to roll crimp, and that is what I do with mine. I use the Redding taper crimp dies to taper crimp.

The .38 Spl/.357 seater die roll crimps, and roll crimps only. the sales guy at Cabela's is simply wrong.

 

[gofaaast]

I read in the latest speer reloading manual that starting in 1984 RCBS dies will do both. You will have much better results crimping if you seat your bullet only first without crimping, then raise your seater plug and crimp in a seperate process.

 

[USSR]

I doubt you will find any straight wall auto pistol caliber dies that would roll crimp.

My Lyman .45ACP carbide die is a roll crimp die. Found that out the hard way. It's an older one, so don't know if the current ones are as well. But I agree, just about any straight wall auto pistol die will be a taper crimp, and revolver dies will be roll crimp.

Don