To Crimp or not Crimp

[TackDriver284]

I have my .38 Super block set up on my Dillon 550B, I checked the dies and had them cleaned out. The crimp die has T. CR stamped on it, so its a taper crimp. The crimp die had little powdered brass flakes stuck in there from crimping the case mouths. I think little crimp is needed just to reduce the flare from expanding the case mouths and to hold the bullet in place when firing.
How much crimp do you guys use? I recall pulling some .38 Super bullets to toss and noticed some little squeezing marks around the bullet midway, from the crimp. Should I back it off some?

 

[JD338]

I use a healthy roll crimp on 44 Rem Mag (revolver) but 45 ACP doesn't get a crimp.

JD338

 

[TexasLife]

I crimp all pistol and rifle rounds for semi and ba's (don't own any rrevolvers). It's a choice as we use what works for the individual! I will say 357sig need a crimp as there's not much neck to hold the bullet very well. Probably any bottleneck pistol cartridges need it.

 

[diverdown]

With your .38 Super you're headspacing off the mouth. Enough crimp to straighten the mouth plus a bit extra to hold the bullet in place. A Lee factory crimp die would solve a lot of issues and hold the bullet in place real well.

 

[TexasLife]

With your .38 Super you're headspacing off the mouth. Enough crimp to straighten the mouth plus a bit extra to hold the bullet in place. A Lee factory crimp die would solve a lot of issues and hold the bullet in place real well.

i'm sold on the lfc dies as i use them for every cartridge i reload for

 

[truck driver]

I taper crimp all my semi auto pistol loads including .38spl but roll crimp the .38spl for revolvers.
My 38Super loads are tapper crimped also but will have to look at my loading notes to see what the crimp is.
I crimp both lead and jacketed bullets.
My 45acp loads are tapper crimped at .468" for lead and .470" for jacketed.
My loads are mild target loads so if you are loading for self-defense or IPSC major you may need a tighter crimp to keep the bullets from seating deeper in the case which will cause increased breach pressure and can be dangerous plus malfunctions failing to feed jamming the pistol.