Brain-crap Over Crimps!
Quote from Reloader on November 27, 2007, 1:18 pmI've had my 550B for a couple months now, and have loaded just shy of 3,000 .38 cowboy loads. In the begining, I was pretty disappointed with the crimp that the shells were getting. I could just never get the neck of the casing to crimp in enough to not hang up in the chamber of my lever gun, no mater what depth I set the crimp die. I tried several different bullets in both .357 and .358 with an assortment of crimp groove profiles. Nothing worked.
My troubles are over, now. I have been using a Lee "Factory Crimp" die for the last 500 or so rounds, and the shells feed flawlessly.
Despite assurances from Dillon, I am still convinced that I have a taper crimp die, not a roll crimp die. I don't have enough experience with reloading to effectivly debate the issue, but more than a dozen folks at a recent cowboy shoot inspected some of my older shells and their opinions were unanimous: The shells definitly did not have a roll crimp.
Now that I've vented, I feel better. I'm likely going to send the questionable die back to Dillon and let them have a look at it. They HAVE been very communicative and helpful as I stumble my way into reloading.
I've had my 550B for a couple months now, and have loaded just shy of 3,000 .38 cowboy loads. In the begining, I was pretty disappointed with the crimp that the shells were getting. I could just never get the neck of the casing to crimp in enough to not hang up in the chamber of my lever gun, no mater what depth I set the crimp die. I tried several different bullets in both .357 and .358 with an assortment of crimp groove profiles. Nothing worked.
My troubles are over, now. I have been using a Lee "Factory Crimp" die for the last 500 or so rounds, and the shells feed flawlessly.
Despite assurances from Dillon, I am still convinced that I have a taper crimp die, not a roll crimp die. I don't have enough experience with reloading to effectivly debate the issue, but more than a dozen folks at a recent cowboy shoot inspected some of my older shells and their opinions were unanimous: The shells definitly did not have a roll crimp.
Now that I've vented, I feel better. I'm likely going to send the questionable die back to Dillon and let them have a look at it. They HAVE been very communicative and helpful as I stumble my way into reloading.
Quote from Reloader on November 28, 2007, 8:01 pmPlease contact us about sending the die and some sample projectiles in for examination. I load 38 Spl for use in a couple of cartridge conversion revolvers and an 1873 carbine, and have never had a problem. It would help if you include a sample round so we can see what your crimp looked like.
Dillon crimp die in 38/357 is a two stage crimp; starts with a taper crimp, then adds a roll crimp on top of the taper by adjusting the die down further. If the crimp die is down too far, it looks like a step at the case mouth.
Please contact us about sending the die and some sample projectiles in for examination. I load 38 Spl for use in a couple of cartridge conversion revolvers and an 1873 carbine, and have never had a problem. It would help if you include a sample round so we can see what your crimp looked like.
Dillon crimp die in 38/357 is a two stage crimp; starts with a taper crimp, then adds a roll crimp on top of the taper by adjusting the die down further. If the crimp die is down too far, it looks like a step at the case mouth.