Crimping plated bullets?

SWThomas · September 5, 2013, 07:31 PM

I just got my first batch of plated bullets from the UPS man. They're Berry's 9MM 115g RN. Naturally, I went straight to the press to load a few and see how they compare to FMJs. I left all my dies set the way they are to load FMJs and created a few dummy rounds. I didn't have to adjust the flare at all as it is set to give me a 0.01 flare on the mouth and that was just right. Seating was fine and none of the plating was shaved off. Then I crimped it. Let me give you the measurements.

After sizing, the case measures 0.375 near the mouth.
After flaring, the mouth is expanded to 0.385.
After crimping, the mouth measures 0.378-0.379.

I pulled the bullets to inspect them and noticed a slight indentation on the plating. It was definitely created from the crimping, as I pulled one after seating and it wasn't there. It's not deep enough to cut through the plating, just enough to leave a slight ring around the bullet.

Is this fine or do I need to back off the crimp die some?

spacecoast · September 5, 2013, 07:45 PM

Sounds fine to me. You might want to drop them into the chamber(s) to make sure they will chamber alright in your gun(s).

LarryFlew · September 5, 2013, 08:01 PM

+1. Should be fine.

Boomer58cal · September 5, 2013, 10:05 PM

As long as the bullet doesn't look deformed you'll be fine.

Boomer

jepp2 · September 5, 2013, 11:14 PM

Minor point but I really consider it closing the flare, rather than crimping.

Any reason why you flare so much? I only flare a couple of thousandths, and it works for me. For my 357 Sig I don't flare at all.

SWThomas · September 7, 2013, 11:28 AM

Do you load plated bullets?

gun-nut · September 7, 2013, 07:13 PM

I,too just started loading plated 38 cal berrys for 357 mag light/med loads. When i pulled my first dummy rounds i also got what you describe as "the ring around the bullet, but NOT cut thru". It's been fine for me. I did have to back off the crimp die a little bit as I was loading jacketed previously.

zxcvbob · September 7, 2013, 07:44 PM

Quote:

I pulled the bullets to inspect them and noticed a slight indentation on the plating. It was definitely created from the crimping, as I pulled one after seating and it wasn't there. It's not deep enough to cut through the plating, just enough to leave a slight ring around the bullet.

That's what you want. And with revolver cartridges, you roll crimp just enough to bite into the plating a little but not cut through it. (I've tried using a taper crimp, and they looked better but were less accurate)

SWThomas · September 7, 2013, 09:05 PM

I backed off the crimp a little and the ring is barely visible now. I did the same thing with the 165g 40S&W Berrys too. I'm gonna shoot them from a rest tomorrow and see how they do.

NWPilgrim · September 8, 2013, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jepp2

Minor point but I really consider it closing the flare, rather than crimping.

Any reason why you flare so much? I only flare a couple of thousandths, and it works for me. For my 357 Sig I don't flare at all.

Ditto for me. Whether for jacketed or plated or lead pistol bullets I taper crimp just enough to remove the slight flare for seating. Magnum revolver bullets I have not loaded plated, but on jacketed or lead I put a firm roll crimp.

Brutus · September 8, 2013, 07:58 AM

I don't see any problem when using a taper crimp die.
I bought some Rainiers in .44 and .357. When I got them oops no crimp groove. All I have for .44 .357 and .45 Colt are roll crimp dies. Now that poses a problem. I've never used them and probably won't unless I can find some taper crimp dies.

gun-nut · September 8, 2013, 02:46 PM

Brutus: you will be fine backing off your crimp die a little.

skizzums · September 8, 2013, 03:26 PM

how much do those plated bullets run? for 9mm i pay about 62$ for lead 125gr. i was thinking about switching to plated if they are under 90$ for 1k.

September 5, 2013, 07:31 PM	#1
SWThomas Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Fort Lee, VA Posts: 73	Crimping plated bullets? I just got my first batch of plated bullets from the UPS man. They're Berry's 9MM 115g RN. Naturally, I went straight to the press to load a few and see how they compare to FMJs. I left all my dies set the way they are to load FMJs and created a few dummy rounds. I didn't have to adjust the flare at all as it is set to give me a 0.01 flare on the mouth and that was just right. Seating was fine and none of the plating was shaved off. Then I crimped it. Let me give you the measurements. After sizing, the case measures 0.375 near the mouth. After flaring, the mouth is expanded to 0.385. After crimping, the mouth measures 0.378-0.379. I pulled the bullets to inspect them and noticed a slight indentation on the plating. It was definitely created from the crimping, as I pulled one after seating and it wasn't there. It's not deep enough to cut through the plating, just enough to leave a slight ring around the bullet. Is this fine or do I need to back off the crimp die some?

September 5, 2013, 10:05 PM	#4
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	As long as the bullet doesn't look deformed you'll be fine. Boomer __________________ The number one cause of death in the 20th century. 290,000,000 citizens were first disarmed and then murdered by their own governments. This number does not include those killed in war. We're from the government, we're here to help

September 5, 2013, 11:14 PM	#5
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	Minor point but I really consider it closing the flare, rather than crimping. Any reason why you flare so much? I only flare a couple of thousandths, and it works for me. For my 357 Sig I don't flare at all. __________________ NRA Benefactor Life member

September 8, 2013, 07:58 AM	#11
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	I don't see any problem when using a taper crimp die. I bought some Rainiers in .44 and .357. When I got them oops no crimp groove. All I have for .44 .357 and .45 Colt are roll crimp dies. Now that poses a problem. I've never used them and probably won't unless I can find some taper crimp dies. __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

September 8, 2013, 03:26 PM	#13
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	how much do those plated bullets run? for 9mm i pay about 62$ for lead 125gr. i was thinking about switching to plated if they are under 90$ for 1k. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

September 5, 2013, 07:45 PM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Sounds fine to me. You might want to drop them into the chamber(s) to make sure they will chamber alright in your gun(s).

September 5, 2013, 08:01 PM	#3
LarryFlew Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2009 Location: Minnesota CZ fan Posts: 902	+1. Should be fine.

September 7, 2013, 11:28 AM	#6
SWThomas Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Fort Lee, VA Posts: 73	Do you load plated bullets?

September 7, 2013, 07:13 PM	#7
gun-nut Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Location: new hampshire Posts: 31	I,too just started loading plated 38 cal berrys for 357 mag light/med loads. When i pulled my first dummy rounds i also got what you describe as "the ring around the bullet, but NOT cut thru". It's been fine for me. I did have to back off the crimp die a little bit as I was loading jacketed previously.

September 7, 2013, 09:05 PM	#9
SWThomas Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Fort Lee, VA Posts: 73	I backed off the crimp a little and the ring is barely visible now. I did the same thing with the 165g 40S&W Berrys too. I'm gonna shoot them from a rest tomorrow and see how they do.

September 8, 2013, 02:46 PM	#12
gun-nut Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Location: new hampshire Posts: 31	Brutus: you will be fine backing off your crimp die a little.