44 Mag, some rounds won’t chamber

[Laelkhunter]

I have found that straight walled cases (.38 spec, 9mm, .357 mag, .44, .45 acp, etc) don't stretch all that much compared to bottle neck cartridges. I never trim these cases. I do use a taper crimp die on auto pistol cases and Lee factory crimp die on revolver cases. If the bullet does not have a cannelure, then only taper crimp or it could bulge the case.

 

[antelopedundee]

Thanks for the reply, you’re right I did seat and crimp at the same time, guess I didn’t realize that wasn’t proper. I just have a seat/crimp die, no separate crimp die. Do I just back the crimp part of the die all the way out, seat all the rounds, then adjust it back down and crimp them?
I’ll try for less of a crimp next time, thank you for pointing that out.

Get a Redding profile crimp die. Seat the bullet so the TOP of the cannelure is even with the case mouth. The die essentially presses the case mouth into the cannelure. IIRC some bullet brands have a more generous crimp groove than do others.

 

[Bhoesl]

I think I’m getting the hang of it now, still just using the seat / crimp combo die but doing it in 2 steps. Was also careful to trim all the brass to the exact length. Just did another 25 rounds and they all chamber just fine.
Thanks for the help everybody!

 

[Elktrack]

I think I’m getting the hang of it now, still just using the seat / crimp combo die but doing it in 2 steps. Was also careful to trim all the brass to the exact length. Just did another 25 rounds and they all chamber just fine.
Thanks for the help everybody!

Nice work. Like 44hunter said, if they hold, you’ve got enough crimp. If not, go a little more. You’re gonna like that 24 gr load.

 

[44hunter45]

Get a Redding profile crimp die. Seat the bullet so the TOP of the cannelure is even with the case mouth. The die essentially presses the case mouth into the cannelure. IIRC some bullet brands have a more generous crimp groove than do others.

I have not used the Redding crimp die for revolver loads. I love Redding's products though. They're expensive, but worth it.

Seating to the top of the cannelure will put you right where I described in my earlier post. When you crimp the case will shorten ever so slightly and you will just see a tiny bit of the cannelure knurl showing.

I wrote a book here and deleted it. Sometimes I have to remember if you want to write a reloading book, you should actually write the book. No doubt mine would go straight to Kindle.

 

[antelopedundee]

I used the Redding die when loading Winchester 125 gr JHPs in a .357 mag with IIRC 20 some grains of WW296. I don't recall, but I may have had the expander "stem" reduced by .001 in diameter in order to increase bullet pull. For lead or copper coated lead bullets I use just enough roll crimp to eliminate the bell and facilitate loading into revolver chambers.