to crimp or not to crimp (cast lead bullets)

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basicbill

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Hi all....I've been reloading my own 9mm ammo for over a year and I've turned into a reloading machine using the advice from this forum. Lee turret press.
I just got back from a gun show with a great deal on some cast lead bullets.
Up to now I've been using plated Berry's bullets and I've been crimping them as per advice from a year ago.

What about when I use these lead bullets? To crimp or not to crimp....that is the (new) question. What's your advice and your experience?
 
A little off topic, but after you crimp a round, lets say 45acp, how much force should it take to push the bullet further into the case with your hand pushing against a table??
 
To answer the above question, I cant give you an exact unit of measurement, but it should not be easy that's for sure. To address the OP, I wont pretend to know all there is about reloading, but I load for 7 different pistol calibers with various different projectiles, I crimp everything, end of story. I find it helps even out ballistics and keep the bullet where its supposed to be.
 
Based on what I read in the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition, if you are building target loads, it is best to not crimp, and even some cases, leave the OAL of the round a bit longer with a lube ring exposed (potentially), but this is only for target loads being loaded one at a time. In repeating firearms, without a crimp, the bullets can potentially change their seating in the casing because of recoil from the previous shot. This can make shooting inconsistent. This issue can be made to be even worse with tube magazines as the recoil can cause the bullets in the magazine to seat further into the casing. This can cause the potential of pressure issues if the bullet gets seated to far due to recoil and the round ahead pushing the bullet back into the casing.

In general, I would recommend crimping, but for precision target loading, it isn't necessary as long as you take proper precautions (loading one round at a time.
 
basicbill said:
Hi all....I've been reloading my own 9mm ammo for over a year and I've turned into a reloading machine using the advice from this forum. Lee turret press.
I just got back from a gun show with a great deal on some cast lead bullets.
Up to now I've been using plated Berry's bullets and I've been crimping them as per advice from a year ago.

What about when I use these lead bullets? To crimp or not to crimp....that is the (new) question. What's your advice and your experience?
Click to expand...

If it is a 3 die Set --example (Pistol) --deprime / flair / seat -----> you have to Crimp using the seating die to remove the flair you put in the middle operation
if you have a heavy recoil yes you have to crimp

2 die set example Rifle might or might not have a roll crimp //// if it has a roll crimp ie 30-30 yes crimp for a tube type mag

and if you can push a bullet back in to a case using only your hands --> you don't have enough crimp
If you have a jam and it pushes a bullet back in to a case-->you don't have enough crimp
 
Auggie Doggie said:
I just crimp enough to remove the flare from the case mouth, but not bite into the bullet itself.

Auggie D.
Click to expand...

Thats what I was doing, then I checked a couple of rounds and could push the bullet in with moderate force. I increased the amount of crimp, now it's very hard to push the bullet in, but leaves a ring around the bullet. BTW I'm using a Lee factory crimp die.
 
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