[Alan]

I was loading up some VERY wide meplate 300 gr. 45 colt bullets last night and I had several of the cases buckle on me when crimping with the Redding Profile Crimp die.  These are heavy loads, so I needed a good crimp.  Anywho, I wound up with 25 "normal" cartridges and 10 that are buckled.  The buckled rounds drop into the cylinder no problem.  Are these safe to shoot?  I would assume the brass would stretch out and fill the cylinder thus ironing out the problem.

God Bless,

Alan

 

[Jack Monteith]

Hi, Alan:
   I can't say if the cases will iron out or not.  Oil dents on case shoulders do, but your cases might split on the wrinkles ??

   Why did some of your cases buckle? Were they trimmed to the same length? If they weren't, then you likely were adjusted for the short ones and you over crimped the long ones.  Since the Profile Crimp die doesn't seat a bullet, we can rule out trying to seat & crimp in the same operation.  That practise isn't the best when you're applying a heavy crimp.

   Were some of  your wide meplat bullets too wide for the die?  I don't have a Profile Crimp die, so I don't know if it could force a bullet deeper into the case.  Marshall uses them and he will know.  If your bullets weren't out of a single cavity mould, you might have a dimensional difference in your lot.

Bye
Jack

 

[Alan]

Thanks Jack.

I haven't had a problem with LFN's and WFN's (.320 and .340 meplats).  The cases used were once fired and uniformly trimmed Starline.  The only thing I can figure is that the Redding profile die can not accommodate the wide meplat of this bullet.  But, I see no evidence of swaging on the nose of the bullet.  I can back the die off to reduce the amount of crimp and lessen the chance of buckling but these cartridges are loaded with 23.5 grs. H-110 and I need a good crimp on em'.

I'm not going to drop the hammer on these rounds until someone here says it is safe to do so.

 

[Contender]

hmmmmmm. I used to know a guy named Alan. He used to post here not long ago. <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

Actually, I'm inclined to go with Jack on this one. Sounds like you set the die too deep and actually crushed the case after it reached the end of it's crimp radius. Possible that the meplat hit inside the die also.

The profile crimp doesn't need to be cranked down so much and will hold very firm with just a moderate setting.

The only concern I have with firing your crushed cases is that in effect they are now "shorter" and may lead to higher pressures. Are they top end loads?

Regards

 

[Rich Jake]

Alan
This is just an opinion but I would even think about shooting those crush cases. Is it really worth your sight or fingers if it doesn't work right? How much does a couple of pieces of brass & powder & bullets cost. I bet less than a short stay at the hospital. if you really have to try to salvage something out of it why not just pull the bullets & go from there?
Just my 2cents worth.
Rich Jake

 

[Alan]

Rich - I have no problem just pulling the bullets and dumping the cases.  That is what I'm going to do.  The cases themselves are not crushed but buckled.  I figure if I don't ask, I don't know <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

MOA Ray!  How ya been?  Yup, its been awhile since I posted...I'm mostly a lurker these days.  You boys got me straightened out last year...ran out of questions to ask!  I consider the load I listed to be maximum...it is also the max listed in Hodgdon's #26.  It shoots wonderfully in my Bisley.  What's interesting about the die setting is that I don't have the buckling problem with 325 gr. LFN's, which have a longer nose to crimp measurement than the bullet in question.  Must be the meplat <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

 

[Rich Jake]

Alan
Please don't get me wrong I just don't want to see anyone get hurt for the cost of a coule of cases.Take care.
Rich Jake <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

 

[Alan]

I hear you Rich...and that is exactly how I took your first response.

God Bless,

Alan