Ok...so now for the Crimp, and questions...

[callahan318]

I am finally to station #4 on the Dillon, and everything is set, except for how much crimp I should have. Does a 9mm even need that much of a crimp? (I am using the Lee Crimping Dies by the way) Do I need to take the barrel out of the gun and use it to gauge the crimping of my rounds as the Speer reloading manual says or just apply a light crimp and be good to go?

My load data...
My COL is 1.130
Charge is 8 grains of Blue Dot (Book says max is 8.5)
Primer is Federal Small Pistol
Bullet is 115 grain Remington FMJ...

What do you all think?

[creophus]

Just crimp it enough to remove the bell from the case mouth.

Next drop the round into your barrel (removed from the gun) and make sure it freely drops in and out of the chamber.

Then slingshot a few rounds through the gun (manual cycle) and make sure the COL isn't shrinking on you.

[DssG19]

Just enough to take the flare out of the case. I use my 92fs barrel as a case guage. So yes light crimp and you should be good to go. You might want to consider getting some Dillon dies at some point. I'm new to the 550 world too. Dillon dies seem to produce good lookin uniform ammunition. For me alot better than the hornady dies I have in 9mm.

[soundwave]

A good trick to see how much your are crimping is to color the side with marker before crimping. You will see where the crimp has rubbed off the marker thus showing how far down your are going. Not necessary obviously, but it is reassuring to see it clearly.

[freakshow10mm]

Case diameter x2 plus actual bullet diameter is proper crimp.

[callahan318]

Freak, you serious? Surely you jest...

[DssG19]

I think he means .375 or thereabouts. If I'm not mistaken.

[soundwave]

I think he meant case thickness x 2 plus bullet diameter. I may be wrong though.

[callahan318]

oh, ok...I gets it now...

[freakshow10mm]

Yeah, measure the thickness at the case mouth, double that and add bullet diameter. You will essentially have casemouth/bullet/casemouth in your measurement, since the casemouth thickness is on both sides of the bullet.

This essentially is a measurement of "crimp just enough to remove the bell you made".

For a .45 Auto the proper crimp is .470-.471, which is .451 bullet diameter and the case mouth is .01 thick, for both sides it's .02 or 2x the thickness. .451+.02= .471 which is the proper crimp for the 45 Auto (accepted is .469-.471 though).

On a 10mm the proper crimp is .422, as the casemouth thickness is .11 and bullet diameter is .400.

[callahan318]

interesting...I will use this here after lunch and let you know how it works!

[callahan318]

It really works...I am impressed. Thanks!

You see, I am trying to prep out some rounds for use in the two Glocks I am picking up next Monday, a G19 and G26... just wanted to get an early start and get used to the press.

[Murphy's Law]

Hey Freak......what's the specs on a 40? And did you mean to substract the diameter of the bullet? My case at the top is .420 and diameter of the bullet is .400.....so what do I do now? or am I correct in thinking the result is .440? Just call me dummy! Opsss....think it just hit me like a ton of bricks.....difference was .02 so instead would be .420
:confused:

[freakshow10mm]

No, the bullet is .400. If your crimp is .420 you are measuring brass, plus bullet, plus brass. There is brass on both sides of the bullet, hence the 2x casemouth diameter.

Measure a case at the mouth (empty case). It should be .01". .01 X 2 + .400 = .420 which is the proper crimp.

[918v]

I vote for removing the bell only, and maybe a smidgeon further. I don't believe in fixed numbers. Case specs vary too much for that.

[Steve Koski]

I thought it was pi r squared.

[freakshow10mm]

I vote for removing the bell only, and maybe a smidgeon further. I don't believe in fixed numbers. Case specs vary too much for that.
Not to be taken as absolute, but gives a baseline for "removing the bell".