Missed the Crimp Groove

driller212

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Hey guys,

I just loaded up 65 rounds for my 44 magnum lever action. The first round I completed the crimp was slightly above the crimp groove. These were 300 grain hard cast lead bullets with gas checks. is it ok to shoot? Just curious.

Thanks,

J
 
How compressed is the powder? Can you hear it shaking inside? If so then they are perfectly safe to fire. If the powder is slightly compressed they are still good to go. Only if the powder is heavily compressed are you likely to see problems.

I load 240gr Hornady XTP's into .44 mag for my lever and the powder is slightly compressed. There is no way you can get even half way from starting load to max load without compressing the powder a little (H110). I'm compressing the powder around 10% in terms of loose vs. final volume and I haven't had a problem after 50 or so rounds (no flattened primers, no hard to extract cases, and good accuracy).

If you can't crimp them well then you may have problems in the tubular magazine with the bullets seating deeper.
 
If you saw that the first one was wrong,why would you continue reloading?

I read it as it was only the first round that had the issue, the rest are fine.

OP, as stated above this won't cause an issue. This type of thing happens when cases are not uniform leangths to begin with. Your seating die will seat each round to the same OAL.(If locked down tight to the press). How far or little the bullet is seated into the case is entirely dependant on case length at this point
 
Overall length of the first round is 1.655 as opposed to 1.682 inches for the others

I was using 18.3gr H110 powder, and I can hear the powder move around in the case.

I guess I should add some more background. This is my first time reloading at all, and I was adjusting my crimping/bullet seating die as per the instructions in the lee manual. The first bullet ended up seating just a little too far in when I turned in the die another 3/4 turn for a hard crimp, however I ended up adjusting and turning it in about 1 and 1/4 after adjusting the bullet seating as it didn't seem the crimp was very tight. After that they loaded fine, I should add some pics in a bit.

DSCF2371.jpg
 
What you should be worried about is the bullets pushing into the case in the tube mag. If they push in too far dangerous levels of pressure could result. Hearing powder shaking in the case does not make them perfectly safe. This means they could push into the case and cause a pressure problem. Measure your OAL, load you magazine, fire the first round, put another in the magazine and fire it, then put another round in....so you are firing only the first round each time. Then empty the magazine of the rounds that have been battered by recoil in the tube. If they are shorter or have pushed into the case you may want to consider firing them single shot only.

edit: aw ####, you mean it was only one!
 
Yes only one, and it was while adjusting the crimp/seating die. They should all have a hard crimp and should not move farther into the case, but I will keep an eye out for it since I am new to reloading etc.
 
it "should" be fine ... but if you are at all worried, then the best remedy, especially since it's only 1 bullet, is to pull it, and reload that case again.
 
The one on the right is seated a little bit too deep. The one on the left is not seated quite deep enough.
To make life easier for yourself, for the first time you set your seating die, start out by leaving the die with enough space between it and press, that it precludes any chance of crimping the case.
Now, adjust the centre screw only, for getting correct seating depth. As the bullet gets near correct position, use very tiny adjustments, until when you bottom the die handle, the bullet is correctly seated. Correct seating is just a hair more than your cartridge on the left.
Now, unscrerw the centre pin quite a distance, until the there is no danger of it touching the bullet, as you adjust the seating.
Push press handle full down.
Turn the die in until it tightens, meaning it is starting to crimp.
Release press handle, turn in die a very small amount, then bottom out the handle. Remove cartridge and check the crimp. It should be crimped in just enough that the lip of the case is seen to be behind the ridge on the front of the bullet.
With very small adjudtments, turn the die in, handle down and look at the cartridge, until it is crimped enough.
You want to crimp it as little as possible, to extend case life in multiple reloadings.
When crimping is correct, lock the die in place with the ring.
Put the cartridge you just crimped into the die and hold the handle down.
Turn in the centre screw until it firmly toches the bullet.
Lock it there.
The die is now set for loading that type bullet, with bullet seating and crimping just one, smooth operation. Be sure the die and centre screw are tightly locked.
Pay no attention, whatsoever, to anything you may read about a measurement for COAL.
 
Thanks H4831, I did everything you mention but turn out the center screw for bullet seating while adjusting crimp which clearly made things more difficult for myself. Thanks for the great advice!

J
 
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