Crimp Question

[IndianCent]

Using Starlime 45 Special brass in a 45 Colt chamber that has a diameter of .480" / .486" with .452" to .454" diameter bullets cant help accuracy.
The .480" dia allows the undersize bullet to rattle, bounce around.
The bullet jump to throat is .390" +


Looks like the main requirement is, the bullet clears the muzzle on firing, with little recoil. Accuracy not that important.

https://gunsmagazine.com/ammo/the-cowboy-45-special/

The throat is in the cylinder. If you look in a chamber you will see that there is a step in the place were if loaded the brass ends. The throat is typically about .001" larger in diameter than the bullets fired. It is a more important dimension when firing cast lead bullets.
The begining of a barrel on a revolver is called the forcing cone. It directs the incoming bullet into the rifling.


There is no way 45 Special accuracy at 50 yards will be in the 3" group area, like Precision Pistol/Bullseye from a 1911.

I think you are spot on. The SASS targets are usually very close and large. Speed is key (time+misses). A low recoil allows faster return to POA on the next target. There is no 50 yard accuracy requirement for handguns in Cowboy Action. I think I will return to my standard 45LC.

 

[K22]

@K22 I fully agree with your procedure, my problem just seems to be that the case mouth will not lay into the crimp groove without causing the case mouth damage shown.
I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Do you have access to a fellow shooter who has a standard set of RCBS pistol dies in that caliber?

If so, you might want to try the procedure I outlined. I have loaded literally thousands of 38 and 357 magnums, and for short while, 44 magnums, over the years using all different brands of cases, including Starline and never had a problem producing an ideal roll crimp.

When I shot competition years ago, I used an RCBS taper crimp die for 148 grain hollow base swaged wadcutters in a light target load with 231 and never had a problem with any taper crimps at this light recoil level.

 

[IndianCent]

Do you have access to a fellow shooter who has a standard set of RCBS pistol dies in that caliber?

If so, you might want to try the procedure I outlined. I have loaded literally thousands of 38 and 357 magnums, and for short while, 44 magnums, over the years using all different brands of cases, including Starline and never had a problem producing an ideal roll crimp.

When I shot competition years ago, I used an RCBS taper crimp die for 148 grain hollow base swaged wadcutters in a light target load with 231 and never had a problem with any taper crimps at this light recoil level.

I am using my crimp die, stopping right before the pressure ring emerges. I will check SD/ES and accuracy, giving priority to accuracy. If that load works I'll be fine. I also asked Redding for feedback on my crimp concerns, I will see what they say.
I do as you described in 1 and 2, but I only use the seating die for seating the bullet to the center of the crimp groove. The crimp is a separate step for me, I adjust the die down as you describe and stop before I deform the case mouth of the cartridge, but I go as far as I can. Unfortunately, that does not move the case mouth into the crimp groove. I will see what the next 12 rounds tell me.

 

[IndianCent]

I shot ten rounds each:
Light crimp, Avg 701 fps, ES 139 fps, SD 47 fps. 15 yd group 4"
Strong crimp, AVG 801 fps, ES 29 fps, SD 10 fps.15 yd group 2"
Now I just have to figure out how not to damage the cartridge mouth when crimping into the groove.