Crimping

[Stein]

I crimp both handun and rifle cartridges.  I have no real evidence it is necessary, but it seems to work and it is only one more pull on the lever.

[yorketransport]

Lever guns and auto loaders get crimped. So do heavy caliber magazine fed rifles shooting bullets over 250 grains. Bullet weight plays a big part in the need for a crimp.

All revolver and semi auto pistol ammo gets a crimp. I've had plenty of magnum revolver loads jump crimp by the time you get to the last round in the cylinder. It helps give a more consistent burn with slow pistol powders as well.

Andrew

[magnumb]

All revolver and semi auto pistol ammo gets a crimp. I've had plenty of magnum revolver loads jump crimp by the time you get to the last round in the cylinder. It helps give a more consistent burn with slow pistol powders as well.

Andrew

 ..........................my .44 Mag load is rather warm.  I load Beartooth 300gr. WFNHCGC bullets and I use a heavy crimp....nothing out of the ordinary.  No creep, at all, but I did pay special attention to setting this crimp perfectly and securely as it is my day packin' woods gun and needs to be as foolproof as possible.

I always check the last round in my revolvers handloads and factory loads, as well, after I shoot the rest of the cylinder to see if there's been any bullet creep.  Factory or home grown..........makes no difference, they both get the same quality control once over.

[Bill W]

I crimp revolver ammo and also shotgun shells.

[magnumb]

I crimp revolver ammo and also shotgun shells.

Never a bad idea.........

[C-Money]

I crimp .357 ammo, and like said above shotgun shells 

[aorams]

Hello all, I am an inexperienced reloader. I have been reloading 300 wnm using 180 gr accubonds, 77gr of H1000 and WRMP, OAL is 3.34", I do crimp them using a Lee Factory Crimp die screwed down 1/2 turn. I have been getting signs of high pressure as shown by the flattened primers in the attached picture. The load I am using came from Nossler so I am confident it is good. I wonder if the crimp is the cause of the high pressure, when I lower the reloader lever I try to excerpt a uniform preassure but sometimes I wonder.... Your thought or comments about the flattened primers would be welcomed.
Thank you in advance

[aorams]

This might be a better picture.
Thanks angain.

[Curly]

The primers don't look flattened to me. 77 gr doesn't seem all that hot either.

[aorams]

Thanks for the response. It is the lightest of three loads suggested by nosler, it is a good load for my rifle I am glad to hear (read) the primers are fine.

[JJD]

I agree with Curly, your cases look fine.
When they speak of primer flattening, the primer face fills in the beveled edges around the primer pocket as the primer backs out and is pushed up against the bolt face.
Something that will often accompany that condition is the pocket in the fired primer, where the pin struck the primer, will have raised edges where the primer metal tries to back into the firing pin hole in the bolt face.
Sure hope that made sense.
Can someone post a photo of a flattened primer?  I'll look around if no one has one handy.

[magnumb]

Great pictures that were very useful.  Secondly, IMHO, they show no cause whatsoever for concern.  Flattened primers are much more pronounced than that.

If excessive pressure's were occuring, every bit of space visible around the outside of the primer in the primer pocket itself, would be covered by the flattened primer.  Excessive pressure would actually make the base of the primer 'flow' and take up almost, if not all, of the primer pocket area.

That load and your pictures would give me no reason for concern.

Smart to ask the questions and offer the pictures that you did.  As a newer handloader, you've taken the most prudent approach possible....good for you.. .

[JJD]

Hope this comes out so you can see it

[C-Money]

Those look pretty good Aorams, any cracks in the side of the case? H1000 is a great powder for the 300win. Its what my Father uses in his, with great success.

[stevemiller]

By looking at your pics (nice pics by the way) I cant see any problems,Another sign of over pressure to me would be the cases fitting tighter or not fitting at all in your shell holder.Rare yes but it has happened to me a couple times and I do believe it was from crimping cases that were just a little longer than the set up case.Giving it a tighter crimp than the others.