Crumpled Cases?

Bullet Size, Neck Retention and Crimping 

Seldom will anyone crush a case when using .427 bullets...Winchester JSP's are actually smaller...about .425. I use the Lee resize die with these. It resizes the case neck back down to the smallest size. When expanding the case neck, I use a Lee powder thru die. The die expands the case mouth just enough for snug shoulder retention with the small diameter bullets. I can use Lee's roll crimp and then run the cartridges through a 44-40 Redding profile crimp that mimic's the Winchester factory crimp and smooths out the neck or just use the Redding Profile crimp alone. Caution should still be used when filling the mag tub...continue reading...

When using .429 bullets, I use the RCBS "Cowboy" dies. They are designed for the larger .429 diameter bullets. The cowboy resizing die does not resize as much as the Lee. The cowboy expander die expands a little bit more then the Lee helping to prevent crumpled brass when seating a large diameter bullet. I roll crimp with the Cowboy seating/crimp die as it does a great job when the bullet has a nice roll crimp groove. I can still use the Redding profile crimp as long as the bullet has the same "profile" as the 44-40 bullets; i.e. Winchester JSP's, Lyman 427098 type O'gives. Caution should still be used when filling the mag tub...continue reading...

I can use .430 bullets if I use the thinner Starline and Winchester brass, but not the thicker Remington brass. If I use .430 bullets, I use the Cowboy dies BUT I may substitute the expander die with the Lyman "M" die for the 44 magnum (.430). I can also use Lyman's 44-40 "M" die if using .429 bullets but the die works better with .427's....another "ya gotta get use to it" methods!! Caution should still be used when filling the mag tub...continue reading...

The trick to preventing crumpled and or crushed cases is a two part step. First, using the correct expander plugs for the different size bullets and second...being careful of the seating depth when roll crimping. If you seat a bullet with a roll crimp groove too far (in the one step method)...if the case rim touches the bottom side of the driving band as it is worked into the crimp groove...the case is too thin, weak....and will crush rather than force it's way into the thin case. The 44-40's roll crimp is shallow unlike a 44 Magnum, 357 Magnum case roll crimps...and even less shallow than the 45 Colt crimp. 

If the case mouth is not expanded properly, the case mouth can bind on the driving bands as the bullet is seated crushing the side of the case mouth. The thin case mouth will "catch" one side of the hard lead bullet, cutting into it and crushing the case mouth side wall. The 44-40 case neck walls are thin. They stretch with ease BUT they also are more elastic. They will expand as the bullet is seated but when the case mouth reaches the lube groove, it will shrink down into it and catch the bottom of the next band...sometimes the case mouth will shave the lead if the lead is soft rather than crushing the case wall.

Some people use the Lee Factory Crimp Die rather than roll crimping. I dislike the FCD because it permanently imprints the case mouth. Not enough to harm the case use but enough to where it bothers my OCD....especially when using larger diameter bullets as the collet does not completely close before the brass is "squeezed" into the collet splits leaving "bumps" on the case mouth.  

If any splits/crushes accrue, IMHO...I think this is what causes them. Constant resizing with the Lee (small diameter) dies, expanding with Lee dies and trying to cram in .429/.430 bullets. 

If that isn't confusing enough...I don't resize my brass when using black powder or a case load of the correct smokeless powder to where the bullet sits snug on the powder with a mild crimp. With this load, I use the Lyman 310 handtool. No lube necessary. Not to forget, I do use case lube when resizing BUT I use black powder bullet lube to do so. I use very little as not to let it accumulate up inside the resize die. It will puddle and "crater" the side of your case.  

Caution should still be used when filling the mag tub...continue reading...

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Telescoping

Do not forget the crimp design on the bullet. Lead bullets designed with a deep crimp, but not as deep as a 44 magnum or 357 magnum, groove won't have this problem. Typically a crimp can be formed from roll crimping the case mouth into soft lead bullets that do not have a roll crimp groove like the Lyman 427098 and Hornady's lead Cowboy bullets. The Reeding Profile Crimp actually somewhat crimps and "squeezes" the case to form with the bullet, forming desired tight neck retention. The case mouth is forced into the lead preventing telescoping of the bullet back down into the case. The mild roll crimps don't work well with Winchester and Remington 44-40 jacketed bullets. This is why manufactures put a canular on the case at the bottom of the bullet to keep the bullet from telescoping down into the case from the magtube spring retention. This is where the Redding Profile Crimp works magic mimicking Winchester's concave crimp and not "damaging" it with the LFCD. Roll crimps work well with lead bullet crimp grooves BUT don't forget what I sad above about seating the bullet too deep and crushing the mouth or shaving your lead which is what causes 98% of case crushing. Always load a magtube full and check to make sure your crimp is adjusted correctly.

Case Neck Bulge

Last but not least, case neck bulge. If you are having problems chambering.......

Aside from some bullets seating at an angle, this particular bulge happens, but not limited too, when crimping thin Starline or Winchester brass into a hard lead cast bullet with a deep roll crimp grove. The case is thin thus rather than the brass just "bending" into the crimp grove, the brass below the crimp grove with bulge out aiding in a cartridge not chambering. One thing that prevents this is to use 44-40 profile bullets and a Redding 44-40 Prifile Crimp die. The die crimps and smooths out the bulge. The Redding Profile Die can not be used with these Magma bullets with the exposed forward driving band.

The Redding Profile Die smooths out the bulge that can be produced when using bullets with crimp groves. Lead bullets without crimp grooves like the Lyman 427098 and the Accurate Molds cross-breads (43-214A shown, left) are ideal for this type crimp application. This crimp is also superior for the smaller diameter Winchester and Remington jacketed soft points. One other jacketed bullet with a 44-40 profile is the Speer SJHP #4425. If you look closely at the JSP loads, you can see the marks just below the case mouth were the Redding Profile Crimp die resized the bulge when crimping.

The thin neck walls are also a bit elastic, an undersized resize and an oversized bullet can cause problems. This example shows the bullet seated past the first driving band and the case mouth closed over the first driving band and then cut into the lead.