Shooterjimi: The dished crimps indicate payload stack height is too low (too short), to support crimping pressure. This often causes hulls to buckle.
No need to take the loads apart.....as long as the finished shells will chamber, and shot isn't leaking out. They are okay to shoot.
It bears mentioning that, many loads will fill the hull properly, without adjustment . Aside from crimp.
But, there are exceptions. Yours appears to be one of them.
Here's a tip: Ideally, you want the shot payload to sit at or even very slightly above the start of the crimp fold* in the hull, for a good, firm crimp.
*Excessive space between this and the shot payload, will cause the crimp to collapse inward. As there is nothing underneath the crimp to support it. This needs adjusting first, before going on to adjusting finish crimp.
Note: I usually like the payload to sit right about on the start of the crimp fold. Then adjust the crimp, accordingly.
There are a couple of ways to raise stack height.
First: Place a stiff felt or cork wad in the bottom of the shot cup. Then, drop in the shot payload. This often solves the problem. Then, adjust crimp.
These wads often come in either 1/8" or 1/4" thickness. In many cases, the 1/8" wad is usually enough. I prefer the 1/8" cork wads myself. Can be used singly, or stacked.
Note: These can be purchased. Or, you can make them yourself, using a wad punch.
Or: If only a little adjustment is needed, place a thin overshot card on top of the payload, as the final step before setting up, or finishing the crimp. These too, can be purchased. Or, make them yourself.
As others have already mentioned, there are better choices for hulls. Still, the AA hulls you have on hand...though tending to be a bit stiff to form crimps easily, can work. Once you have stack height and crimp adjusted. Have loaded plenty of these in the past, that worked just fine.
If you haven't already seen them, Mec offers a good set of online tutorials, including how to set up crimp height and pressure. Including pre-crimp. An important part of the overall setup. Be sure to get the pre-crimp right first though, before tackling the finish crimp.
A bit of final advice: I understand you may want to use the components on hand. But, the load you're building seems a bit heavy and unbalanced(at least in my opinion, only) for the game you plan on hunting. The load will do the job but, you will have equally good...or possibly better, success using much lighter loads....say,1 to 1 1/8 oz.
You mentioned that you have access to a manual. Here's another good, online resource for shotshell load data: Hodgdon Reloading Data Center. Plenty of useful data shown.
Hope this helps.
Al
and ducks too.
