To crimp or not to crimp ...???

[opatriot]

gday friends ...just started loading 45apc ...lee die set came with four dies the last one is a  factory crimp die ...is it common practice to crimp 45 apc ..?? or is this a step not needed ..?? .....any advice would be welcome .........................thankyou kindly...davey

[Reed1911]

Well, Here is what I would do, depending on where you are at in your re-loading, try your loads with both no crimp, a little, and a good solid crimp. If you see zero difference with the crimp than omit it, but if you see improvement then add it to your loading. Most of the time the .45 ACP does not need a crimp, but some bullets, some guns, and some powder prefer it.

[crabo]

I'd load up a magazine and shoot a few.  Then I would see if any of the unshot bullets in the magazine have shifted.  I'd at least do a light taper crimp.

Craig

[KN]

Snug taper crimp most definitly. You will have to iron out the flare any way.    KN

[Reed1911]

You will have to iron out the flare any way

Depends on if you flare or not and which powder/bullet you use. Small charges of AA#2 and Red Dot don't require any crimp at all using a reduced recoil spring and FMJ bullet. I only flare with lead bullets and lightly chamfer the brass for seating jacketed bullets.

I did forget to mention there is a possibility of bullet set-back with little or no crimp and if you experience it you'll need to crimp. To check, load a few dummy rounds, measure them and cycle them through the gun several times and if no overall length change is noted then no crimp is required. This of corse goes hand in hand with the other info given.

[opatriot]

Thankyou all ...ill give your advice a try ........have a greaaaaaat day .........davey