Question on reloading for 357mag and 44mag handi

[spikehorn]

I'm just delving into the world of reloading and wanted to start with my pistol calibers, I was looking back through post and saw people talking about crimping when using slower burning powders. I'm in the process of looking for dies and see that there are 2 kinds of crimps. roll crimp and tapper crimp. I am going to start by using H110, which would be better suited for my purpose the roll crimp or the tapper crimp?

[whiteoper]

I rarely crimp my 45 colts but when I do I use a LEE carbide factory crimp die.

[petemi]

I rarely crimp my 45 colts but when I do I use a LEE carbide factory crimp die.

That's exactly what I do.  My .44 has grown up to be a .445 thanks to Tim, but it is overbored and requires larger bullets for better accuracy.  The Lee Factory Crimp Die makes them chamber easily.  I don't crimp ammo at all for my .357 Maxi.  The .38s, .357s and Maxis all shoot well uncrimped.

Oh, and yeah, I'm burning quite a bit of H110 in them.

Pete

[bikerbeans]

The roll crimp die for these 2 calibers would be appropriate if loading for a revolver to keep the unfired bullets in the cylinder from moving.  There is usually a groove or grooves on the 357 & 44 pistol bullets for the roll crimp to fold the mouth of the case into.  The taper crimp dies for handguns are usually for autoloader pistols that have bullets w/o a crimp groove.

The Lee Factory Crimp die has many fans but it is easy to put a "waist" on a bullet with it if you are not carefull.

For the single shot rifles I don't crimp any of my cartridges, mostly because I think it will extend the life of the brass.  There is data to support increased velocity on rounds that are crimped over those that are not crimped.  Also with some of the slower rifle powders a heavy crimp is sometimes reccomended for consistent ignition, 5744 comes to mind.  

I load H110 for my 357 Max w/o a crimp and it shots accurately enough for me to take fox squirrels with the gun.  Like any reload project play with it and see what works.  

BB

[cwlongshot]

Both the roll and taper have their uses, while the lee FCD is useless.    Frankly, it fixes a problem that's non existant and creates one if used incorrectly.

Some powders do not require a crimp, others its near mandatory. Same can be said for some calibers. Personally, I crimp the magnum pistol rounds. Proper and complete ignition are the result. Unburned powder and inconsistent velocities can result if you do not. Accuracy, well that's another story. Sometimes it makes a difference other times not so much. Semi auto pistol calibers require a taper crimp as they need to have the case mouth hit the end of the chamber and not allow bullet to move during the auto feed.

As a general rule, I roll crimp magnum pistol rounds, lever action rounds when there is a cannelure and taper crimp other times or for auto pistol calibers and those that heads-pace off the case mouth. CF bolt action rifle rounds generally receive nothing.

CW