45 ACP taper crimping help

[nyyankeedr]

Can someone tell a novice reloader what I am doing wrong with my 45 ACP? I have a Hornady Custom Nitride 3 die set with the standard seating die with a roll crimp. Not sure why they sell the set this way since ALL Hornady 45 ACP bullets are non-cannelure. Anyway, I know to not roll crimp 45 ACP. I am applying very little bell prior to seating the round but I cannot get it to de-bell with seating. I advance the die body just until it makes contact, then adjust slightly, checking for removal of the bell each time. Never goes away, until I eventually squash my case, and the bell is still there, unchanged!! Wtf???

Further, prior to the when I get to the point when I have over-crimped and caused the case to bulge, I am able to easily push the bullet further in by merely holding it between my thumb and index finger and applying gentle pressure. Then, next 16th of a turn of the die body, over-crimped and bulging. I have wasted a dozed cases and am giving up. I do not understand why in the F anyone would sell a handgun die for a caliber that does not get a roll crimp without a taper crimp die!

 

[Steve Blair]

It sounds almost like a .45 Long Colt set. The LC has a .480" neck diameter and .45 ACP is .473".
Dumb question follows: What are the dies marked?

 

[243winxb]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165218482?pid=218482

45 acp with taper crimp. Hornady

• Manufacturer #: 546555

 

[nyyankeedr]

It sounds almost like a .45 Long Colt set. The LC has a .480" neck diameter and .45 ACP is .473".
Dumb question follows: What are the dies marked?

Bought new from Amazon last week. Checked the part number and it seems to be the correct set. The sizing die is marked 45 Auto, the expander die 45 Cal, and the seating/crimping die has no marking.

 

[nyyankeedr]

I already ordered the Hornady 45 ACP taper crimp die soon after I placed this post. I do not feel comfortable using something not meant for the job. I am really confused why they would sell such a set.

 

[243winxb]

A roll crimp is used for 45 acp revolvers . Brass used can be 45 auto rim.

I think you ordered the wrong die set?

 

[stork]

When I first started loading the 45ACP I also tried the roll crimp. Other shooters would try to tell me to get rid of it & use a taper crimp. I'd loaded lots of revolver up to that point, but no semi auto's. LOTS and LOTS of jams and alibi's. Went with a taper crimp die, end of problems.

 

[Loudcherokee]

As others have mentioned, it sounds like it is possibly an incorrect die set. I use the Hornady 45 ACP dies that came with the taper crimp seater and haven't had any issues as of yet. I found that adjusting the die was really easy with the seating stem adjustment being separate from the crimp. I followed this video to set mine up.

LC

 

[nyyankeedr]

As others have mentioned, it sounds like it is possibly an incorrect die set. I use the Hornady 45 ACP dies that came with the taper crimp seater and haven't had any issues as of yet. I found that adjusting the die was really easy with the seating stem adjustment being separate from the crimp. I followed this video to set mine up.

LC

I searched for days before ordering. Unless you know the part number for the set with the taper crimp included, almost impossible to find. A search on amazon only brings up the set with a standard roll crimp seating die.

 

[nyyankeedr]

One thing is for sure, I have seen many videos and posts commenting that a 45 ACP semi auto does not need ANY crimp, makes no sense. There is almost no tension whatsoever with simply seating the die. I can push it all the way in easily with just two fingers. Further, if you don't crimp, you do not remove the bell caused by the expander die. I emailed Hornady with the part number and they confirmed this is the correct set.

 

[rwj]

I emailed Hornady with the part number and they confirmed this is the correct set.

Ask Hornady if the die set can be returned for them to perform a dimensional inspection and/or request they provide them so you can. Do any of your shooting friends have a die set that you can borrow/use? Have you measured bullet OD and case wall thickness?

 

[edwardware]

Take a flared 45ACP case, off press, slide a shellholder on, and insert it into your crimp die (all off press).

If the case slides in all the way, without hitting the crimp profile, you have a die problem.

 

[Twicepop]

Get a separate taper crimp die and apply that as a separate step from bullet seating. That should remove all traces of the case mouth belling if applied correctly. I don't normally recommend LEE products, but their taper crimp die does a great job applying the taper crimp when adjusted properly. Get the one with the carbide ring at the bottom, it will "iron" out any minor case bulges that appear for what ever reason

 

[DirtySteve]

Get the Lee factory crimp die and never look back....

 

[rr2030]

Taper crimp and be done with it.

 

[Outrider27]

The thing that prevented problems with 45ACP reloads for me - bought a 45 ACP die that only taper crimps (or a regular taper crimp die and took the seater stem out; can't remember which) and made it a 4 die set. Seat bullet to desired depth without crimping, then put it through the 4th die to apply the crimp.

Just my preference, but, regardless of required crimp style, all my pistol dies are 4 die sets, and all my 2 die rifle die sets became 3 die sets by getting another seater die and removing the seater plug and stem, so that I can always seat and crimp in two separate steps. Main reason? I don't like the concept of applying a crimp while the bullet is still moving down as it is being pushed by the seater. Just my personal druthers.

 

[pirate ammo]

I use Lee dies for handguns, always go with the separate crimp die. Hell, I loaded 7,000 rounds last week not a single case problem.

 

[nyyankeedr]

Considering that I won't even tolerate a 0.1 gr variation in my powder loads, I think the 4 die set is the way forward for me for sure. Thanks everyone.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Get the Lee factory crimp die and never look back....

This is the correct answer. Turn your 3 die set into a 4 die set. Just went through this with mixed brass. The Lee was the solution.

 

[hoz53]

Considering that I won't even tolerate a 0.1 gr variation in my powder loads, I think the 4 die set is the way forward for me for sure. Thanks everyone.

i loaded many 1000s of 45 acp with just a rcbs 3 die carbide set back when i started 30 some years ago. then all std die sets had a roll crimp combined with the seater die. you just screwed the seater in until it removed the bell but didnt crimp. never had a taper crimp. the die was set up that way. i do use 4 dies now with the crimp separate from seater in all my handguns. if youre able to push the bullet back in easily like you say mabie youre expander is expanding them to much. mabies its wrong size or you are running it in to far. the bell should be just barely large enough to get the bullet started..if you cant straiten the bell without crimping somethings wrong with the die. just my 2cents