Jim in Houston wrote:I side crimp first, then do a taper crimp to .475 +/- to remove any "belling." I do not do the first taper crimp mentioned below.
There are instructions on how to use the taper crimp elsewhere - http://450bushmaster.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=685. The video shows placement of the crimp, which was always a question and is somewhat subjective, except, of course, it needs to be on the bullet and close to the casing mouth.
For the benefit of some of the new guys here, I'm gonna make a clarification on my crimping practice so that there is no misunderstanding. Each set of dies has it's own personality, be it ever so slight.
If I'm not mistaken, Jim, you do not use the expander die to bell your cases before loading.
I do. Otherwise, I would destroy brass. I've already done several tests with various bullets and every case that I did not run through my expander die first..... It collapsed before accepting any of the bullets. My sizer die is "TIGHT". And that's why I use the expander die, (ever so slightly), but yeah. It's necessary. And that's why I apply an initial slight taper crimp before applying the LSC, then following up with a final taper crimp.
You guys who are rolling your own, you need to pay attention to your own observations on how your dies perform and adjust your routines accordingly. Lots of guys here do not use the expander die. I do. And I've not had any problems with my brass life being shortened. Every piece of brass that I started with.... I'm still using it....(Except for the handful that I accordianed due to me trying to omit the expander die).
YOUR METHODS MAY VARY and are not set in stone by myself or anyone else here.
The main thing that is set in stone here is to STAY SAFE.
And don't rush your bench work.