May 18, 2008, 03:58 PM | #1 |
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.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 |
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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.
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May 18, 2008, 08:19 PM | #3 |
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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 |
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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.
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May 19, 2008, 06:53 AM | #5 |
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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...).
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May 19, 2008, 07:15 AM | #6 | |
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Weshoot2
Quote:
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May 19, 2008, 07:21 AM | #7 |
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I have met a few
That would not allow rds to fully chamber when crimped to .472" (bastards).
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May 19, 2008, 07:25 PM | #8 |
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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. |
May 20, 2008, 06:27 AM | #9 |
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I also taper crimp my .38 Special 148 HBWCs, since they're going through an autoloader.
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