.45 ACP reloading

tools · May 18, 2008, 03:58 PM

A couple questions about .45 AZCP reloading:

1. My resized cases are .70 diameter at the mouth (OD). My expander takes them to 0.74, and the crimp die takes them back (with bullet) to 0.72. The bullet seating feels a bit (slightly) tight. Are these dimensions about what you would expect?

2. I am worried about the bullet seating straight. I am guiding it in (Lee dies) by hand, and the look to be fairly straight when finished, but I know many of them start into the case crooked. Is the bell on the mouth enough to force them straight?

Scorch · May 18, 2008, 04:23 PM

1. Yes, that is about what you would expect. Tight bullets is better than loose bullets.
2. Yes, that is OK. Even if they start into the case slightly crooked, the mouth bell on the case guidesthem in straight.

bluetopper · May 18, 2008, 08:19 PM

I just expand the case mouth enough not to shave bullet lead while seating. then run them through the Lee FC die.

I guess I should measure, but I don't.

DaveInPA · May 18, 2008, 09:00 PM

I generally crimp my rounds to .469. A good way to check the crimp, and seating depth for that matter, of your rounds, is to remove the barrel from your gun, and drop the rounds into the chamber. The round should fall freely into the chamber and be flush with the end of the barrel at the chamber end. The round should then fall out when you invert the barrel, you should not have to manually remove the round from the chamber. If the round won't fall out just with gravity, crimp tighter.

WESHOOT2 · May 19, 2008, 06:53 AM

Too much crimp can actually loosen neck tension (bad).

Suggested range = .469--.471"; I split the diff and prefer (mostly) .470".

(If you must, 'bell' the mouth just wee bit more to ensure straighter seating.
But not much, just a wee bit...).

cdrt · May 19, 2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Too much crimp can actually loosen neck tension (bad).

I concur. I taper crimp my .45 ACPs to .472 and they work just fine. Too much crimp (especially a roll crimp) can be a bad thing.

WESHOOT2 · May 19, 2008, 07:21 AM

That would not allow rds to fully chamber when crimped to .472" (bastards).

Ozzieman · May 19, 2008, 07:25 PM

I'm with cdrt.
Once you use a Taper crimp die with any auto round, you’re stuck for life.
It takes all the guessing and case length issues away from your reloading.
It’s the best 30+$ I have ever spent on reloading equipment.

cdrt · May 20, 2008, 06:27 AM

I also taper crimp my .38 Special 148 HBWCs, since they're going through an autoloader.

May 18, 2008, 03:58 PM	#1
tools Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Posts: 124	.45 ACP reloading A couple questions about .45 AZCP reloading: 1. My resized cases are .70 diameter at the mouth (OD). My expander takes them to 0.74, and the crimp die takes them back (with bullet) to 0.72. The bullet seating feels a bit (slightly) tight. Are these dimensions about what you would expect? 2. I am worried about the bullet seating straight. I am guiding it in (Lee dies) by hand, and the look to be fairly straight when finished, but I know many of them start into the case crooked. Is the bell on the mouth enough to force them straight?

May 18, 2008, 04:23 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	1. Yes, that is about what you would expect. Tight bullets is better than loose bullets. 2. Yes, that is OK. Even if they start into the case slightly crooked, the mouth bell on the case guidesthem in straight. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

May 19, 2008, 06:53 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	crimp will not secure the bullet Too much crimp can actually loosen neck tension (bad). Suggested range = .469--.471"; I split the diff and prefer (mostly) .470". (If you must, 'bell' the mouth just wee bit more to ensure straighter seating. But not much, just a wee bit...). __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 19, 2008, 07:21 AM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I have met a few That would not allow rds to fully chamber when crimped to .472" (bastards). __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 20, 2008, 06:27 AM	#9
cdrt Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 255	I also taper crimp my .38 Special 148 HBWCs, since they're going through an autoloader. __________________ Navy Vet, SWIFT Boat OIC, Distinguished Pistol Shot #1399 USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-36)

May 18, 2008, 08:19 PM	#3
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	I just expand the case mouth enough not to shave bullet lead while seating. then run them through the Lee FC die. I guess I should measure, but I don't.

May 18, 2008, 09:00 PM	#4
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	I generally crimp my rounds to .469. A good way to check the crimp, and seating depth for that matter, of your rounds, is to remove the barrel from your gun, and drop the rounds into the chamber. The round should fall freely into the chamber and be flush with the end of the barrel at the chamber end. The round should then fall out when you invert the barrel, you should not have to manually remove the round from the chamber. If the round won't fall out just with gravity, crimp tighter.

May 19, 2008, 07:25 PM	#8
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	I'm with cdrt. Once you use a Taper crimp die with any auto round, you’re stuck for life. It takes all the guessing and case length issues away from your reloading. It’s the best 30+$ I have ever spent on reloading equipment.