crimping...

[my82cam]

i am new to reloading....i have only reloaded a couple hundred rounds and have loved it so far! the biggest thing that seems tricky to me is the crimp. how much? one of what i'm loading for is 44 mag both with lead and jhp. do i use i mic to measure the crimp? or just turn the die down to touch the brass than half a turn? how do i know that that is enough crimp? or is it really not that important? i'm reloading for bolt action, semi-auto rifles, revolvers and lever guns.

[Guest Mugster]

I use lee factory crimp dies for handgun (a post processing die) and self loader rifle, no crimp on most bolt ammo.

A crimp:

1. Prevents the bullet from moving forward from recoil.

2. Prevents the bullet from moving back on feed ramp contact.

3. May not be as important as neck tension in bottlenecked rounds.

4. Can increase or decrease pressure and effect final velocity.

5. Might increase or decrease accuracy.

You know you have enough if the bullet doesn't move on ramp contact or under recoil.

You might have too much if accuracy goes south or velocity goes sky high.