Compression and crimp

[T.J. McSuds]

How much compression is too much? Do you folks crimp your single shot loads?
 I've started crimping my loads after the bullets from one load crept out before I could shoot them.

[bumble]

I guess in all honesty I'd crimp the  load. So far the only ones that have backed out on me were the ones with a lubed felt wad. I found that if I waited a time with patience when seating the wad all the air passed out and the wad stayed put. Hope that helps.

[Capt. Call]

Let your rifle do the talking when it comes to compression. Start out with little or no compression then increase a little at a time until you get the cleanest burn possible. The brand of powder you use has as much to do with compression as any thing else involved. I have not tried any Swiss as of yet but it is the brand most seem to use in competition.  They say it likes little or no compression where Goex seems to like allot of compression to burn clean. From what I have gathered over at the Shiloh board there are those that use up to .350 compression.

But what ever amount of compression you end up using make sure you use a compression die not the bullet to do the compressing! Weigh your powder.... insert wad.... compress. Use you powder to vary your compression. In other words...add more powder for more compression. The distance from the end of your case to the wad once compressed is determined by the depth you seat your bullet...or OAL.

As far as a crimp.....nope don't use one!  Use only a tapper crimp die and only enough to remove the Bell you put on your case to start the bullet. One of the Keys in getting these guns to shoot as accurate as possible is  no variation in neck tension. Any kind of crimp wrecks this real quick!

Ain't this BP stuff FUN!

[T.J. McSuds]

I think I can back out my crimp die to just close up the bell. I'll have to try. My new load uses less powder and compression than the last one. So I may be able to get away without a crimp.

[Ray Newman]

A crimp can & will destroy the accuracy of a lead bullet by distorting the bullet when applying the crimp.

If you feel you must crimp, several Shooters have successfully utilized a form of taper crimp.

First remove the de-capping stem from the full-length sizing die & place the round in the shell holder. Move the ram to the top of the stroke. Slowly screw the die onto the loaded case & lock in place w/ the desired am‘t of taper crimp. If done w/ care, this will apply a slight taper crimp to the loaded round.

[rldarmstr]

I know shooters that ues the taper crimp and like it but I think I know more shooters that neck size or even full size the case.  It pretty much depends on the rifle, throat depth and chamber deminsions, bullet OAL and deminsions. Neck sizing removes the bell and tightens the neck just enough to hold the bullet.

GOEX Cartridge grade powder recommends that for a .45-70 you compress around 1/4 inch.  I compress straight 2FFG GOEX about 3/16 inch and seat the bullet so the first driving band just 'kisses' the rifling. The bullet is tapered ( each driving band is slightly larger than the one before it). It is seated in the case with one grease groove showing.

I tried many combinations with my rifle before I settled in on one perticular load.