Two crimps on factory 38spl cases?

marklyftogt · May 17, 2012, 02:31 PM

I have been loading 38 spl 148 gr HBWC for a while and have noticed that some previously fired cases (all i have are Federal) have a second crimp about where the bottom of the bullet would be.

Thinking about loading 158 gr LRN.

I am guessing the second crimp would be pretty hard for us "roll your owners" without some expensive dies.

What is the purpose for this crimp and how do reloaders compensate for that or do we need to?

mrawesome22 · May 17, 2012, 02:37 PM

It is there so the bullet doesn't push farther into the case.

Sent from MIUI using Tapatalk 2.

wncchester · May 17, 2012, 04:24 PM

"It is there so the bullet doesn't push farther into the case."

Correct, and it isn't a "crimp", it's a cannalure.

moxie · May 17, 2012, 05:46 PM

It is a case cannelure, and won't interfere with reloading. You can ignore it.

Jim Watson · May 17, 2012, 05:57 PM

It is largely for identification, a wadcutter is not very likely to suffer bullet setback, even in a M52 or Super conversion.

The brass reloads normally.

marklyftogt · May 17, 2012, 06:40 PM

I am using these in a S&W model 66 so it looks like I am fine.
Thanks for the education!

res45 · May 18, 2012, 07:51 PM

The cannalure on the HB wadcutter loads serves two purposes to secure the bullet in the case and to provide uniform ignition. Speer did test several years ago on various degrees of crimp with wadcutter loads and found that those with little to no crimp didn't group well.

Depending on the depth of the cannalure in lots of case it will almost disappear after several firings and resizing. Back in the day when I use to shoot HB wadcutters I seated them flush and used a light roll crimp.

Slamfire · May 19, 2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Speer did test several years ago on various degrees of crimp with wadcutter loads and found that those with little to no crimp didn't group well.

Very interesting. I always applied a little roll crimp on my 148's so the things would enter the chamber, never shot them without a crimp.

dahermit · May 19, 2012, 08:49 AM

I have observed .38 Special cases that had the channelier in the position to keep a bullet from being pushed too deeply in the case and some with the channelier so close to the case head that the channelier could not have been applied for the purpose of preventing bullet set-back. One would conclude that its purpose may have been cosmetic.

May 17, 2012, 02:31 PM	#1
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	Two crimps on factory 38spl cases? I have been loading 38 spl 148 gr HBWC for a while and have noticed that some previously fired cases (all i have are Federal) have a second crimp about where the bottom of the bullet would be. Thinking about loading 158 gr LRN. I am guessing the second crimp would be pretty hard for us "roll your owners" without some expensive dies. What is the purpose for this crimp and how do reloaders compensate for that or do we need to?

May 17, 2012, 05:46 PM	#4
moxie Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2006 Location: TX Posts: 513	It is a case cannelure, and won't interfere with reloading. You can ignore it. __________________ If you want to shoot...shoot...don't talk! Tuco USAF Munitions 1969-1992 RVN 1972-1973

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May 17, 2012, 02:37 PM	#2
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	It is there so the bullet doesn't push farther into the case. Sent from MIUI using Tapatalk 2.

May 17, 2012, 04:24 PM	#3
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"It is there so the bullet doesn't push farther into the case." Correct, and it isn't a "crimp", it's a cannalure.

May 17, 2012, 05:57 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,534	It is largely for identification, a wadcutter is not very likely to suffer bullet setback, even in a M52 or Super conversion. The brass reloads normally.

May 17, 2012, 06:40 PM	#6
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	I am using these in a S&W model 66 so it looks like I am fine. Thanks for the education!

May 18, 2012, 07:51 PM	#7
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	The cannalure on the HB wadcutter loads serves two purposes to secure the bullet in the case and to provide uniform ignition. Speer did test several years ago on various degrees of crimp with wadcutter loads and found that those with little to no crimp didn't group well. Depending on the depth of the cannalure in lots of case it will almost disappear after several firings and resizing. Back in the day when I use to shoot HB wadcutters I seated them flush and used a light roll crimp.

May 19, 2012, 08:49 AM	#9
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	I have observed .38 Special cases that had the channelier in the position to keep a bullet from being pushed too deeply in the case and some with the channelier so close to the case head that the channelier could not have been applied for the purpose of preventing bullet set-back. One would conclude that its purpose may have been cosmetic.