.45 ACP crimp

[Crimp]

An interesting comment about the .45 ACP by Ross Seyfried in Nosler's reloading book 5th Edition:

"Contrary to popular belief, a slight roll or taper crimp is beneficial, whether or not the bullet has a cannalure. The minimum crimp prevents the top round in the magazine from grabbing the fired case on its way out of the pistol and does not alter headspace."

I've never heard of doing this before and can't see it as a good idea with the round seating on the mouth of the brass, but I'm willing to learn. My routine is to use the Lee FCD to get a .470" taper crimp and I've not had problems with any of my handloads.

My question: Does anyone ever ROLL CRIMP a .45 ACP? If so, what problem were you trying to overcome and did you see any benefits?

 

[Walkalong]

A slight taper crimp, along with sufficient neck tension, is all you need. I have to use a magnifying glass to check my .45 ACP Crimp. Just a touch of crimp.

If you try the roll crimp, make it very slight, but there is no reason not to use the taper crimp capabilities of every .45 die set.

I remember the article. I was a big Ross Seyfried fan. Loved his articles in Guns and Ammo. I wanted everything he wrote about each month.

 

[rcmodel]

Ross didn't become the 1978 USA IPSC Champion, and the 1981 World IPSC champion by reloading his .45 ACP ammo all wrong, I betcha!

A slight roll or taper crimp is perfectly fine, in fact prefered, as long as you don't overdo it.


rcmodel

 

[JoeHatley]

Does anyone ever ROLL CRIMP a .45 ACP?

Yes, sort of. I use Lee dies, which are a combination of a slight taper crimp and roll crimp. I adjust them to just start to roll the case mouth into the side of the bullet.

Works very well for me.

Joe

 

[Werewolf]

My routine is to use the Lee FCD to get a .470" taper crimp

Some guys go all the way down to .469".

I wish I could get to .470". Using Winchester Brass and Remington 230 gr RN FMJ bullets .471" is all I can get with my Lee FCD. Uncrimped the case diameter is .473 and crimped .471.

My .45ACP is good stuff. Low SD, runs at 860 FPS out of a 5" barrel and is accurate so .471 works but still?????

 

[TEDDY]

Roll Crimp

I always roll crimped for target loads and so did most top shooters.the idea is to keep the wadcutter out about 1/32 in and crimp the bullet then jams in the rifling and the slide drives it home=0 headspace.my loads will put me in winners spot at 50 yds.[not now as I am 83]but I can keep in black at 50 ft.
so much for conventional wisdom Dinan was one I copied.
[a mirical my comp. let me finish aol cuts me every few minutes as they have several using the same number in my town.:banghead:

 

[Jim Watson]

Teddy is right, it can be done, it has been done.
I have an article by Alton Dinan in an old NRA handbook recommending a heavy roll crimp with the SWC seated to headspace on the shoulder. It would not work any other way, though. Taper crimp is simpler with current dies and components.

 

[evan price]

I set my Lee .45 seater/crimp die to just firmly kiss the end of the brass at the bottom of the seating cycle. When I pull down the bullets you can just see a line on the bullet where the case touched it. In a large diameter shell like .45acp with some recoil I feel it is not a bad thing to help keep the bullet in the case if the mag will be banged around some.

 

[ftierson]

I use a Lee Factory Crimp Die for .45ACP...

Theoretically, it can't overcrimp to the point of not headspacing, no matter how 'tight' it's set...

My .45ACP ammo always works in several different guns...



Forrest