Any way to crimp part way down the case

[rommelrommel]

Like on some factory loads? I have some factory 38-55 that are crimped about 3/4 of an inch down the case... if I could do that with 45-70 it would really open up what bullets I can use.

 

[Boomer]

If you ran the first inch of the .45/70 case into a .45Auto/.45 Colt carbide die, then bell the mouth to accept your bullet it might give you the result you're looking for.

 

[sunray]

"...down the case..." Not likely with regular home use dies and presses.
The .45-70 is really only limited by the rifle used. In a modern rifle, like the Ruger single shots, it can be loaded very close to .458 Win velocities using the same bullets.
If you're thinking you must use a crimp groove in a particular bullet, you don't.

 

[rommelrommel]

So, you're saying to just crimp at the mouth as per normal regardless of crimp groove position?

Right now I'm playing with the Speer hot-cor 350's and the crimp groove is too low on the bullet to line up with the mouth of the case and still feed in a Marlin.

 

[Gatehouse]

Use a LEE factory crimp die. doesn't matter if you have a cannelure or not.

 

[Bishopus]

Or buy a cannelure cutter that lets you cannelure bullets AND cases: http://www.corbins.com/hct-1.htm

I found one (not the Corbin version) on ebay, have not used it for cases yet but it would be easy to do. It works beautifully on bullets w/o cannelures that really need them (like .40 pistol bullets for the .400 Cor-Bon).

 

[Boomer]

Bishopus,
Now that is cool.