Crimp on 444 ???

[wisconsinteacher]

I tried using my seating die to put a crimp on my 444 rounds from last night. I put a loaded round in the shell holder and ran it up in the press. From there, I screwed the die down until it touched the round. I then lowered the ram and added 1/2 turn in on the die. I raised the seating stem up and then ran the round into the die. Here is how it came out.



I quit after the first round. I guess the 1/2 turn in was way too much.

I pulled the bullet and ran the piece of brass through the sizer and the ridge is better. I can still feel it a little on the outside but when I took a paper clip and felt for a ridge inside, I could not feel one. My question is, can that piece be loaded again?

I also rest my crimp die to 5/8 turn and that gave me a better crimp on the bullet than the 1/2 turn. I can now see where the brass is turned into the crimp grove on the bullet, but I can also feel a ring where the bottom of the bullet is inside the brass. I don't know if this is correct or not, I just hope it is enough to hold things in place while the rifle cycles through rounds but not too much where I damaged the brass.

 

[SJB358]

If your crimping with the seating die, I would seat all of the bullets first, then readjust the die for seating. I am sure others can do it all in one shot, but I have never been able too..

I use the Lee FCD. I have never liked bulging a case like that and the Lee takes that problem away.

As far as the bulge, I believe you'll be fine to use it again.

 

[Dwh7271]

Scotty is dead on with the Lee FCD. They're great and easy to set .

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I am done with trying to crimp with the seating die and will now use the Lee FCD. My next question is, is a 5/8 turn too much and why am I seeing/feeling a very slight bulge where the bottom of the bullet is? Is if from the crimping step or the seating step?

 

[DrMike]

The bulge you are feeling is from the seating die being set too low. You are likely camming over. Even a slight camming action can distort your brass.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I just made up 5 more rounds and the bulge is coming from seating. I kept rising the die and no matter how high it was still there. I really focused on not forcing anything and just let the bullet slide into the brass and it still happened.

Is this okay or not? I am hoping that it smooths out after firing. I guess my5/8 turn on crimping was not the issue and is okay.

I am reloading 22-250 tomorrow night so I don't have to worry about these straight walls for a day.

 

[truck driver]

Straight wall cases are easy to bulge just like setting the shoulder back too far on bottle neck cases. You will probably find that these bulged cases won't chamber. I'm not familiar with straight walled rifle cases but with pistol cases you need to bell the case mouth to seat the bullets and prevent this from happening. One reason why I use a tapper crimp die when reloading pistol cases. the Lee factory crimp die should solve your problem

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I just opened the action of my rifle and all the rounds slipped right into the chamber and slid right out when I tipped the rifle back over. I did put a bell on the case mouth so the bullet would just sit on the case without falling off.

 

[truck driver]

Just curious if these are new unfired cases and if you checked them for length? They may need to be trimmed and chamfered.

 

[NYDAN]

I agree with the others on using the Lee FCD.

 

[big rifle man]

Truck driver is on the money. Make sure all your cases are trimmed to the same length. Size first, find your longest case and trim it to the proper length. Then follow with the other cases. Crimping and neck tension will be the same.

 

[Dwh7271]

I realize this is a little unconventional but try backing the die out about a turn and set the seating stem deeper by the same turn to stay at the same depth. That may fix the bulge.

 

[rick smith]

The bulge on the case is from the case being sized just a little more than is necessary by your sizing die. Not something you are doing incorrectly. Your brass may be a little thick or the die sizes more than necessary. Since you mentioned earlier that the brass didn't want to trim due to tightness on the pilot. Rick.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Good point Rick. I did not think about the trimmer pilot not fitting also. I am guessing the brass was sized a touch too much.

 

[SJB358]

Don't sweat it. If it chambers I'm betting you'll be shooting groups that'll make you smile. You'll wonder why your bolt guns can be such a difficulty when you see how well a good Marlin lays bullets down.