How do I Tell If a Reloading Die Is Crimping the Cartridge?
A bullet is held tightly in place within a brass cartridge (at the case mouth) by the friction between the cartridge wall and the surface of the bullet. Friction is sufficient to hold the bullet in place as long as the bullet does not come under stress, such as when it is loaded into a revolver or single-shot rifle. For high-power rifle cartridges subject to intense recoil, or for cartridges loaded into tubular or box magazines where the bullet may be subject to impact stress, rolling the edge of the brass case mouth, or crimping, is required to hold the bullet in place within the brass cartridge.
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Instructions
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Inspect the bullet extending from the brass cartridge after reloading. A crimping groove (cannelure) will be easily seen on the bullet, at the case mouth where the bullet enters the brass cartridge.
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Examine the mouth edge of the brass cartridge from which the bullet extends. If there is a slight rolling of the brass cartridge, as opposed to a sharp brass edge, the cartridge has been crimped. The crimp must be positioned over the crimp groove on the bullet for the crimp to be effective. Improperly placing a crimp on a smooth bullet, one without a crimping groove or off the crimp groove, deforms the bullet and produces poor accuracy.
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Adjust the crimping die if the crimp does not form over the crimp groove on the bullet. The crimp die is adjustable, allowing you to move it so that it contacts the brass case mouth and rolls the edge over. If the crimp is missing, the crimp die is not coming into contact with the brass case mouth.
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Lock the crimping die into place once it is adjusted properly by tightening the locking ring. A properly formed crimp will now be placed on every round when using the same type bullet.
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References
- Photo Credit case image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
