Pistol precision reloading

[jlow]

My understanding is crimp is one of the key in precision reloading, any thoughts on how well the REDDING 38 SUPER/9MM MICRO-ADJ TAPER CRIMP DIE works? Please only give input if you have used this die - thanks!

 

[jlow]

No precision pistol reloader here?

 

[riflewoman]

Well, I’m a precision pistol shooter. But I have never used that die. So I didn’t respond.

However, all that said, the whole concept of precision reloading, as practiced by rifle reloaders, has been tried and found to be unnecessary. Do pistol reloaders fuss a bit when setting up their process? Yes, but after it’s all set, they crank out the ammo only monitoring for changes indicating an adjustment is needed. So a regular taper crimp die is ok because you don’t need a micrometer adjustment. You just don’t. Same for the other dies. Find a good bullet, buy a bunch, and load them with a load you like. And here a “bunch” is measured in thousands.

The time is better spent shooting and practicing.

 

[jlow]

My interest in the Hornady die comes from reading this article. Notice the specific talk about importance of optimizing the taper crimp.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2015/06/precision-handloading-for-pistols-tips-from-the-usamu/

 

[rwj]

No precision pistol reloader here?

I use Dillon carbide dies for pistol ammo. Regrets, no experience with Redding so I didn’t reply...

 

[Outrider27]

Well, I’m a precision pistol shooter. But I have never used that die. So I didn’t respond.

However, all that said, the whole concept of precision reloading, as practiced by rifle reloaders, has been tried and found to be unnecessary. Do pistol reloaders fuss a bit when setting up their process? Yes, but after it’s all set, they crank out the ammo only monitoring for changes indicating an adjustment is needed. So a regular taper crimp die is ok because you don’t need a micrometer adjustment. You just don’t. Same for the other dies. Find a good bullet, buy a bunch, and load them with a load you like. And here a “bunch” is measured in thousands.

The time is better spent shooting and practicing.

What riflewoman said.

The only thing I have done over the years to make sure all the pistol caliber die sets I have are capable of maximum "precision" is buy 4 die sets (or get an extra seating/crimping die to separate the bullet seating and crimping steps if it started as a 3 die set). Having the bullet still moving down as the crimping takes place is not compatible with maximum precision (it digs up the jacket a bit). Other than that, it's just been consistent application of good reloading practices with regard to case prep and loaded round production, usually several hundred at a time.

 

[Rsadams]

Well, I’m a precision pistol shooter. But I have never used that die. So I didn’t respond.

However, all that said, the whole concept of precision reloading, as practiced by rifle reloaders, has been tried and found to be unnecessary. Do pistol reloaders fuss a bit when setting up their process? Yes, but after it’s all set, they crank out the ammo only monitoring for changes indicating an adjustment is needed. So a regular taper crimp die is ok because you don’t need a micrometer adjustment. You just don’t. Same for the other dies. Find a good bullet, buy a bunch, and load them with a load you like. And here a “bunch” is measured in thousands.

The time is better spent shooting and practicing.

+1 on this , I have tried everything I have used to make my rifle loads great towards pistol , which I shoot a ton more of yearly.... In the end I did exactly as posted above and simply went with a load I like to punch paper with.... I found a few things that helped my groups a bit but it adds so much more time to reloading on a single stage , I just documented them and moved on...

Basically I found more use in mastering the fundamentals and learning to control the dreaded flinch... I know I can make the ammo better and if I was shooting off a bench etc it would help , but not free handed... Especially if combat shooting/training... As a matter of fact if everything goes good I am buying myself a Dillon for Xmas to help speed up the load time on pistol rounds... I already have a box of stuff I have bought to try or was not enough improvement to justify...

 

[jlow]

Thanks for the responses - appreciated. Would still love to hear from someone who has used this die....

 

[rwj]

Thanks for the responses - appreciated. Would still love to hear from someone who has used this die....

You may want to try the Brian Enos forum that is used by many pistol shooters... https://forums.brianenos.com/

 

[riflewoman]

Or come and join us at http://www.bullseyeforum.net/. This is where us Bullseye shooters hang out, from High Masters to beginners. All the high masters will tell you what I told you, but maybe somebody there has used that die.

 

[dellet]

It works as good or bad as any other taper crimp die, if all your brass is the same length and thickness.

What it does, is allow you to sort your brass into lots and record repeatable settings to return to without having to loosen the die body. So if you are going to sort brass and change settings for different lots, it might be worth it.

It's definitely easier to set up, since final adjustment is by dial instead of lockring.

I borrowed one and either did not sort brass enough, or don't shoot well enough to see a difference on the target, but would not consider myself a precision shooter.

I would buy it for ease of setup, not tighter groups, if I bought it at all.

 

[Jdne5b]

I dont use that crimp die, but I do use a Redding die (9mm seat/crimp die set to not seat) to crimp my pistol ammo. Even a crimp difference of .001 can make a profound impact on groups at 50 yards. Sorting brass by headstamp and having a consistent length is important to getting a consistent crimp. My pistol isnt as inherently accurate as I would like, so I try to wring every little bit out of my load.

That die would make it easy to adjust but you'll still need to measure the impact of the adjustment.

Similar to rifle loading.. you'll have to test to see what your gun likes. Hopefully you have a pistol and the ability to shoot the difference.

A reduction of .0015 in crimp halved the group size in the attached picture. (Except for the one yankee on the crankee down low).

Similar to above advice, find a die you like, make sure it doesn't come loose (like what happened to me in the picture) and load a bunch of ammo to practice with.

 

[dburkart]

Amen to Brian Enos Forum especially if using a Dillon, there is a world og good info there.

Dave

 

[DirtySteve]

I use the Lee Factory crimp and recommend it highly...

 

[Zero333]

The type of sights will affect accuracy more than the amount of crimp when shooting a pistol.

Switching to Berry's Bullets will increase accuracy more than varying the amount of crimp.