Bullets with no crimp groove.. now what?

[ShortBBL]

I heard these Hornandy bullets are pretty decent for the 44 special and 45 Colt.... http://www.hornady.com/store/44-Cal-.430-240-gr-SWC/

The thing I am curious about, there is no crimp groove! Can you just crimp into the side of the bullet since it's soft / swagged lead or whats the story with these?

I'm thinking of loading some 850-900 FPS loads for my 44 Special Ruger and for the 45 Colt SAA, using Unique.

Thanks

 

[eric conrad]

I lube with alox and roll crimp. Depending on OAL you can crimp on the shoulder. Check the weight of them.
Eric

 

[Sharp Shooter]

I always thought those things were meant to be crimped over their shoulders. At least that's how I've always done it. I don't think forcing a roll crimp into the sides of the bullets would be a very good idea, even though you COULD do it concidering how soft swagged lead bullets are.

 

[eric conrad]

Sharp Shooter, your right. :oops: I worded it wrong. The Speer book states over the shoulder with this type of bullet.
Eric

 

[ShortBBL]

Thanks!

 

[J Miller]

Choose the cartridge OAL then crimp them where ever the case mouth is on the bullet. That is the way it's done at the factory.
Factory lead bullets don't have crimp groves.

There is no damage to brass or bullet when a normal crimp is used.

Been doing this way for a very long time and my ammo as at least as good as the factories, sometimes better.

Joe

 

[Sharp Shooter]

"Factory lead bullets don't have crimp groves."

Yeah they do Joe. Lots of them do. At least Speer's .38, .44 and .45 caliber swagged lead bullets do. I've been using the crimp grooves on those caliber Speer swagged lead bullets for somewhere's around 35 years. And I'm not even talking about the crimp grooves in the tens of thousands of "factory" CAST lead bullets I've used over the years.

 

[tek4260]

"Factory lead bullets don't have crimp groves."

Yeah they do Joe. Lots of them do. At least Speer's .38, .44 and .45 caliber swagged lead bullets do. I've been using the crimp grooves on those caliber Speer swagged lead bullets for somewhere's around 35 years. And I'm not even talking about the crimp grooves in the tens of thousands of "factory" CAST lead bullets I've used over the years.

The Hornady 255 doesn't have a crimp groove. The Speer you mention does, although it is hard too defiine with all the gunk they have on them. I think they consider it lube, but it looks like it was rolled across the floor of a crayon factory :)

I have several boxes of the Hornady and I lightly crimp them with a Lee FCD in the area right before the bullet starts to taper. Have no issues with pull, but I load them light.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

All the lead bullets I have ever loaded had crimp grooves, with the exception of one box that resembled those in the link above . . . those I put a light roll crimp right at the shoulder.

I currently have lead bullets in .32 and .357 and .41 and .44 and .45 sizes in several different patterns, and they ALL have crimp grooves.

I have several boxes of factory "cowboy" ammo that has lead bullets, and these appear to not have crimp grooves and essentially a taper crimp.

 

[J Miller]

"Factory lead bullets don't have crimp groves."

Yeah they do Joe. Lots of them do. At least Speer's .38, .44 and .45 caliber swagged lead bullets do. I've been using the crimp grooves on those caliber Speer swagged lead bullets for somewhere's around 35 years. And I'm not even talking about the crimp grooves in the tens of thousands of "factory" CAST lead bullets I've used over the years.

Sharp shooter,

I'd love to argue with you, but you obviously don't know which factory bullets I was referring to. Because .... I neglected to say.
So I'll just say this; some makers of lead bullets for reloading put crimp groves on some of their bullets. Some do not.
Some cast bullets have crimp groves, some do not.

Almost every LEAD bullet I've pulled from FACTORY LOADED ammo did not have a grove to crimp in, but was heavily indented by the case mouth during the crimp process.

Joe

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Not arguing J Miller. All I'm saying is that except for the bullets I use in semi autos, all of the factory lead bullets I use have crimp grooves - swagged or cast. I take that back - somewhere around here I have a box of Hornady .38 caliber swagged lead bullets that look identical to the bullet pictured in ShortBBL's link. I can't even remember why, when or where I bought them. They must have been on sale. :lol:
Naturally the factory lead bullets I use for 9mm and .45ACP (my only two autoloaders) don't have crimp grooves. But I taper crimp them anyway, so it doesn't make any difference.

 

[btrumanj]

I've used those Hornaday swaged bullets in both .38 Sp and light .44 mag loads, just crimping into the side of the bullet with no problems :)

 

[Bucks Owin]

Crimp over the oqive with the "no crimp groove" swaged bullets...You "can" bite the crimp into the side of the bullet but I doubt it helps accuracy any....

 

[MADISON]

If a bullet has no cromping grove, I Taper Crimp it.