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Ole 5 hole group · February 6, 2012, 06:21 PM

you use a taper crimp for the 45 ACP - like some have mentioned it's to take out the flare/bell and add a bit of case tension to the bullet. Your bullets should be either 0.451 or 0.452 in diameter. It's helpful to seat and taper crimp in seperate operations, so back off your seating die a little. Measure the case mouth after seating the bullet - will probably measure 0.472 to 0.475 - then set your taper crimp die so your finished loaded round measures 0.469 to 0.470 at the case mouth (that's measuring at the very end of the case where you see the bullet), not a 1/16" below the bullet. Some go a little heavier at 0.468, which is fine, while others like 0.471".

You might notice different powders like more or less case tension. I find VV350 with 230 grain likes 0.469 while VV310/VV320 will shoot anything well (0.468 to 0.471) in lighter bullets (185 or 200).

Applying to much crimp may effect your accuracy but I seriously doubt you could make that cartridge unsafe in a modern firearm.

February 6, 2012, 06:21 PM	#19
Ole 5 hole group Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2002 Location: Red River Valley of the North Posts: 203	you use a taper crimp for the 45 ACP - like some have mentioned it's to take out the flare/bell and add a bit of case tension to the bullet. Your bullets should be either 0.451 or 0.452 in diameter. It's helpful to seat and taper crimp in seperate operations, so back off your seating die a little. Measure the case mouth after seating the bullet - will probably measure 0.472 to 0.475 - then set your taper crimp die so your finished loaded round measures 0.469 to 0.470 at the case mouth (that's measuring at the very end of the case where you see the bullet), not a 1/16" below the bullet. Some go a little heavier at 0.468, which is fine, while others like 0.471". You might notice different powders like more or less case tension. I find VV350 with 230 grain likes 0.469 while VV310/VV320 will shoot anything well (0.468 to 0.471) in lighter bullets (185 or 200). Applying to much crimp may effect your accuracy but I seriously doubt you could make that cartridge unsafe in a modern firearm.