44 mag crimp

[1895m]

Do you all crimp your 44 mag lighter loads?  Say in the 1000 -1200 fps range with cast bullets?

[Graybeard]

Yup, put the same heavy crimp on ALL my .44 mag loads.

[1895m]

Thanks Graybeard. Thats the answer I was hoping to hear since that's that I've been doing.

[Tn Jim]

Same here. All my 44 mags are crimped the same. Never have to touch the crimp die setting. Don't have to worry about recoil pulling the bullet and the velocity and accuracy are more consistant.

[PlacitasSlim]

Same here, Once the dies are set up and working well, I don't touch them regardless of the load.

[dubber123]

I'll be the odd man out.  For heavy loads I use a heavy crimp, for lighter loads I use a lighter crimp, which makes my brass last longer.  I do not however reset my dies.  I simply make up a card board washer, usually out of a primer package, and slip it under my seat die.  This eases up on the crimp without readjusting.  The seater plug only takes a few seconds to readjust, no big deal to me.  I noticed my brass lasted quite abit longer in the lighter load. (More loadings before a neck split).

[Graybeard]

I don't expect to live long enough to see the difference in mine. I'm still using cases I've been loading for the .44 Magnum for at least 30 years maybe more. I'm sure some have been loaded 100 or more times. They still work fine. I suspect if you're ruining them as mentioned it's got more to do with either your belling station or your loads than your crimp.

[dubber123]

I only try to bell the absolute minimum, and crimp the least that I can get away with.  With my heavy 300+ gr. loads, I always fight with bullet pull, (expander button is probably a little big).  I don't lose a lot of cases, but until recently I didn't have that many, maybe a 300 or so.  I have no idea how many times they have been loaded, probably too many.

[millwright]

I crimp my loads with a heavy crimp.  I agree that the bell is the culprit for ruining the brass.  Been there, done that. 

[northjdr]

I hope you don't mind if I hijack this thread for some die informaiton. Have only been loading rifles for 2 months.  I will soon start loading for my 44mag (Super Redhawk). I haven't purchased 44 dies yet. I understand that carbide is the way to go for straight walled cases. Is there a particular die brand that can avoid the belling problem mentioned in this thread, or is that problem a result of an improper set up? My general rule with nearly anything that I purchase is to buy quality so i only have to buy it once. Thanks

[KN]

The "belling" or "flareing" of the case mouth is done in a separate opperaton and has nothing to do with sizing. Putting too much bell on the case mouth will shorten case life and can cause bulges at the mouth if not careful. Personally I like Hornady new demention dies but I have a mix of just about every brand out there. For 44's just about any brand will be fine.    KN

[MnMike]

One of the gun mags had a test on crimping .44 Mag loads recently. I can't find it right now (CRS), but you might look for it. It was (I think) either G&A or American Rifleman. I did not read it closely, because I am a semi-auto or Contender guy, but there was differences in accuracy between light, firm, or heavy crimp.

Sorry I can't tell you more,

mike