Crimping .45 Auto reloads?

[justashooter]

crimp is more important to get complete ignition with slower burning powders like blue dot. fast burning powders like AA-2 don't need it.

[Bama Man]

It's important to only crimp your case enough to remove the "bell" as .45 autos (and most auto cartridges) head space on the case mouth.
It is conceiveable to crimp too much and cause the case to go too far into the chamber, causing a misfire or too high a pressure if fired.
On auto cartridges I only set my seating die enough to take out the bell from the charging die.

[cephas]

+1
Measure some factory ammo and set your crimp die to duplicate the factory case mouth OD.

I often reference the SAAMI industry standards for cartridges. A micrometer is a good investment.
handgun: http://www.saami.org/specifications_...wnload/205.pdf
rifle: http://www.saami.org/specifications_...wnload/206.pdf
Which is what the factories should follow, in this case .4730

[WVBob]

+1 for the Lee Factory Crimp die. It does not take a heavy crimp. As said, a light crimp to take out the bell.

[Farbmeister]

Ditto, Lee FCD.

[Fred762]

[QUOTE=Gunsnwater;2538323]I taper crimp to remove the bell from case mouth expanding. Are you belling cases for fmj? If so its gotta go.if you can't push you bullet deeper with your fingers your ok. Compare yours to factory in this regard.[/QUOTE;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;

I use a gentle taper crimp for my 45s in my Dillon...the rim needs to be crimped slightly after you 'bell' it to accept the bullets. Remember, the case headspaces on the case mouth so there needs to BE some rim available.

Trial and error w unloaded round (case + projectile but no primer or powder) IMHO is best..see how they fit and feed in your gun(s). Yeah..I know T&E is a pain, but the daggone cartridge has to fit the gun! IF it slides into the chamber too far the firing pin strike can be "iffy" so T&E!!

When I set mine up I miked several brands of new comm'l 45 ammo AT the case mouth just to see what the factory guys were setting them at...IMHO this is a good place to start. IF you crimp it smaller, it may be too small to keep the round from sliding IN too far..... I wish they were as easy as rimmed revolver rds to resize and load! dang.

Ain't reloading FUN???!!! LOL

[Farbmeister]

I would think you would have many other problems if you taper crimped the mouth so much that it affected head spacing... like bulging, not even coming out of the die, etc. I don't think FMJ .45ACP rounds even HAVE a crimp grove... so other than the simply removing the bell, or the Lee FCD you CAN'T crimp the case.