Crimp style for wadcutter in 45 Auto Rim?

[Elric]

For a light load with 200gr wadcutter in a 45 AR, can you use a taper crimp?

 

[Charles Graff]

yep!

 

[CZ93X62]

Most of my 45 AR loads do well with a taper crimp. Even the warmer ones (#454424 @ 875 FPS) stay in place just fine if the taper crimp gets placed on a drive band.

I got to thinking about those nice, fat crimp grooves on Lymans #454424 and #452423, and it seemed like a waste of a great crimp groove to not use a roll crimp to anchor things properly. To that end, about a year ago I bought an RCBS roll-crimp die for 45 Auto Rim. I spoil my guns something awful.

 

[RicinYakima]

The Redding Profile Crimp die has been my go to for the last 10 years or so for both AR and ACP. That seems to work with #453423 at 800 f/s, most of my heavy loads these days. Before that used the taper crimp because it gave better groups for me than a roll crimp with my softer alloy.

 

[Walks]

I generally use a roll-crimp for .45AR, using a N.O.E. clone of the #452423.
In the past I have roll-crimped over the front shoulder of the #452488, #452460 & H&G #68.

Taper Crimp is easier on the bullets w/o crimp groove.
So Why Not just TaperCrimp.

 

[CZ93X62]

Interesting, Ric. Truth to tell, I would have to shoot better to discern a significant difference between the crimp results.

I use roll crimping if there is a groove to curl it in to, for the grooveless critters I use the taper crimp die. Again, I would need to shoot a lot better than I do presently to make a definitive statement about better/worse.

 

[RicinYakima]

Interesting, Ric. Truth to tell, I would have to shoot better to discern a significant difference between the crimp results.

That is why they make Ransom Rests! I can't shoot well enough either, except on my "good eye" days.

 

[Walks]

Yep, what CZ said

 

[USSR]

I got to thinking about those nice, fat crimp grooves on Lymans #454424 and #452423, and it seemed like a waste of a great crimp groove to not use a roll crimp to anchor things properly. To that end, about a year ago I bought an RCBS roll-crimp die for 45 Auto Rim.

Ditto.

Don

 

[358156 hp]

Taper crimping is probably fine for most uses. I've had bullets "pull" in revolvers with a taper crimp so I only use roll crimps, and crimp grooves in revolvers anymore. It got even easier to do after I sold my last 625/45 ACP

 

[Ian]

I roll crimped .45 ACP for autos and revolvers for many years and might go back to doing so because they fed so well in everything.

 

[garypeek]

When I ordered my dies I got .45 Auto rim dies from Lee. They were about $35.00 at the time from Midway. I knew from my prior experience that I could just back off on the crimper to load for autos.......

 

[Charles Graff]

Taper vs. Roll Crimp on the 45 Auto Rim: Either can be used, but it all depends on the bullets which tends to work better. With bullets without a crimp groove the taper crimp is the way to go. With bullets with a crimp groove a roll crimp will work just fine, with one caveat. If the roll crimp is too heavy, it will bulge the case body where the crimp starts and keep the round from fully chambering. Therefore it is best to roll crimp a little and try it in the cylinder. Then repeat until the crimp is enough, but not so heavy as to keep the round from fully chambering. There is no "one type fits all".

 

[CZ93X62]

My original RCBS 45 ACP/AR die set is dated "1980". It has a tungsten-carbide sizing die that is WAY too small for sizing 45 ACP or 45 AR brass (.467" finished dia.), an expander die with spud way too small (.4475") for .452" cast bullets, so both of those are basically useless and have been set aside. The OEM seating die, though, is an interesting critter--it has a vestigial roll-crimping shoulder that sorta can set a small roll crimp, but really is at its best just removing the case mouth flare from 45 ACP reloads as it seats the bullet.

This die's current sole purpose is to seat the bullet--it remains uninvolved in the act of "crimping". A fourth die joins the party now--a taper-crimp die to turn in the case mouth flare ONLY (that is ENOUGH) on 45 ACP loads, and the 45 AR seat die for roll-crimping 45 AR loads.

45 ACP and AR cases get sized in an RCBS T/C 45 Colt die (a fat .469" results) and expanded in a Lyman Multi-Charge Die spud #45AP that is .450" x .454" in M-die form. My 9mm, 45 Colt, and 44 Magnum brass gets sized in steel dies since about 2012, and the RCBS 9mm and 44 Mag T/C sizers have been on extended lay-off. RCBS T/C sizer dies are a great idea poorly-executed. RCBS CAN do it right, my 38/357 T/C sizer gives .379" finished diameter; they just DON'T.

The micrometer--the handloader's OTHER polygraph.