45-70 crimp

[M-61]

Having some difficulties with Hornady 325 FTX bullets. Is there someone that could tell me how they are getting a properly placed roll crimp with these 'rubber' tipped bullets?
Loaded primed case. Seat the bullet to desired COAL. Then turn the die 1/8th turn down which requires raising the bullet seating stem. Crimp is where I want it. But that is ONE cartridge. Next one requires turning the stem DOWN and the die UP an 1/8th. When you try to return the bullet seating stem to its prior position you do not get any feel at all due to the rubber tip.
I hope this makes sense. Maybe just a bad day to be trying these bullets for the first time.
Thanks.

 

[watercam]

Perhaps seat all your bullets first then adjust the die and crimp them all. Alternatively try a Lee crimp die. Inexpensive and bumps any bulges of the brass tight enough to chamber easily.

 

[Outrider27]

What watercam said. And you will find that it goes a bunch faster if you seat all your bullets in one pass then make the necessary die adjustments and go back and crimp them all in a second pass.

 

[navyrad8r]

m-61
I agree with watercam and that's what I do. I seat the batch then go back for a light crimp. this is for a marlin Guide gun. I know its a PITA but it works well and I don't load 100 rounds at a time so its not a big deal to me. I am sure there are lots of folks that can recommend a better way and I will be watching the thread closely.
Cheers,
Doc

 

[toothman]

+1...I load for my Wild West Co-Pilot by seating all the bullets first to desired COL. Then go back with the Lee collet die for crimping. The crimping actually goes pretty fast. Good luck!

 

[toothman]

Sorry...meant Lee CRIMP die.

 

[savagedasher]

To get the same crimp all the cases must be trimmed to the same length. Larry

 

[2506]

If you will be using these rounds in a leaver action you may want to try one to see if it will work through the action before you load a bunch. If you are not using cases that were not once Hornady that used those flex tip bullets your COAL may be too long. Those Hornady cases used with the flex tip ammo are trimmed a bit shorter than normal trim to length and those bullets have a crimp groove placed to use in that length case.

 

[yenak]

+1 on the Lee Crimp Die. It's the only way to go. A lot less messing around.

 

[M-61]

If you will be using these rounds in a leaver action you may want to try one to see if it will work through the action before you load a bunch. If you are not using cases that were not once Hornady that used those flex tip bullets your COAL may be too long. Those Hornady cases used with the flex tip ammo are trimmed a bit shorter than normal trim to length and those bullets have a crimp groove placed to use in that length case.

Thanks to all for the help. I am not using Hornady brass and since I now know it is shorter one thing is now clear. My crimp on the W-W and R-P brass is at the very edge of the bullet cannelure. It is for a new 1895 Marlin. The bullets MUST go a bit deeper in the case for the rubber nose bullets to feed properly and any deeper and I will miss the cannelure....just. I will trim the brass enough to make this happen. Interesting that either trimmed brass or Hornady brass is required for these bullets, and those rubber bullet noses 'just' snag enough not to feed.
Thanks to the above answers .....shorter brass and for the $14.00 a Lee crimp die is now ordered. Having a lever action is odd for me but I would like to feed from the magazine. It is an enjoyable venture from BR rifles.