Am I looking for a Unicorn? .38 ACP/Super Roll Crimper

[sirhrmechanic]

So am loading for a Colt 1902 military. .38 ACP. Trying to do a light plinking load, which is a 100 grain lead hard cast.

But they are a PITA to get solidly in a case with a taper crimp. I am thinking that a roll crimp, however, will work perfectly.

It looks like Lee made a roll crimp die for .38 ACP/Super at one point. But some listings show it as a roll... some as a taper. Everything else I find is a taper. Which is more appropriate for most autos. But this oldie is a poser.

Anyone heard of a .38 Super/ACP Roll crimp die?

Sirhr

PS. Alternative is to make one. Or switch to 125 grain Boolits. But I'm trying not to stress the old girl... She's a hell of an historical pistol.

 

[Mike Casselton]

You want a set of RCBS 38 Special dies? I got some.
Slap the seater into your lathe and cut it to length.
Voilà, roll crimp die for the super.

Or, have you tried a regular 9mm roll crimp die?

 

[mtrmn]

I have no answer to your question other maybe look at CH4D. Are you trying to seat/crimp in the same operation? Or does the taper crimp just not hold the bullet in place well enough?

 

[ShtrRdy]

Is the bullet slipping after a taper crimp?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

You want a set of RCBS 38 Special dies? I got some.
Slap the seater into your lathe and cut it to length.
Voilà, roll crimp die for the super.

Or, have you tried a regular 9mm roll crimp die?

Hi Mike: awesome thought. In fact already tried that. I cut back my RCBS 357/38 die. But it won’t feed because the 38 super is tapered. It jams up about a third of the way down.

What I can do is custom make a roll crimper if I need to. Just start with a bolt. Just like I made these swager on Friday. But if I can buy one it would actually be easier. Much thanks for the offer!

Sirhr

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Is the bullet slipping after a taper crimp?

Yes. And part of the reason is that it’s got a very small grip area below the cannelure on the cast bullet. I should probably switch to a 125 grain. But I’m trying to keep a very light plinking load for this pistol.


What it’s actually doing is pulling the bullet up a few thousand. So that it’s tight but if you push the bullet even slightly down into the case it loosens up and spins.

A roll crimp would solve it in a second. Cheers

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I have no answer to your question other maybe look at CH4D. Are you trying to seat/crimp in the same operation? Or does the taper crimp just not hold the bullet in place well enough?

Correct I would have to do roll cramping in a separate final operation.

 

[6.5SH]

Is likely an older model die as even .38 Super headspaced off the rim originally. Lee's current page says taper so clearly geared more towards modern Super users.

Oddly enough the .32 ACP/S&W Long/H&R Mag/327 Federal crimp die they make is still listed as a roll crimp.

Not sure if it could squeeze down far enough given an extra .001 diameter but maybe using the roll crimp insert from the .38 Special crimper in the .38 Super-ACP die might work.

ETA:
Swapping parts is entirely viable or perhaps possible to make your own insert. The crimper portion is akin to S type bushing. My .38 and .44 dies both had ~0.5605" OD crimp inserts

 

[Duc]

https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!l=HN&i=546524 NOT IN STOCK


These Hornady Die Sets feature narrow tolerances and reliable workmanship. All parts are made from heat-treated select steel. The Titanium Nitride coating on the pistol case resizing ring makes case lubrification dispensable and reduces friction during the sizing operation. The bullet seating die works with a roll crimp die. Single seating die Part # HO044144

http://s3.amazonaws.com/szmanuals/33c338fe9a6f1ce1ead2375f37b0ca82

 

[ShtrRdy]

Your chamber might be cut to rely on the mouth of the case setting head space. If you roll crimp, the head space could be way off and potentially cause other problems.

 

[Texasflyer]

Just me... are you waxing the cast bullets before seating them? I would run a little harder wax and see it it helps hold them in the crimp.

 

[502Chevelle]

I was going to recommend the 9mm, but someone beat me to it.

 

[Mr Tibbs]

So am loading for a Colt 1902 military. .38 ACP. Trying to do a light plinking load, which is a 100 grain lead hard cast.

But they are a PITA to get solidly in a case with a taper crimp. I am thinking that a roll crimp, however, will work perfectly.

It looks like Lee made a roll crimp die for .38 ACP/Super at one point. But some listings show it as a roll... some as a taper. Everything else I find is a taper. Which is more appropriate for most autos. But this oldie is a poser.

Anyone heard of a .38 Super/ACP Roll crimp die?

Sirhr

PS. Alternative is to make one. Or switch to 125 grain Boolits. But I'm trying not to stress the old girl... She's a hell of an historical pistol.

Colt Super 38 Auto .38 ACP does now require a roll crimp, it always requires a tapper crimp. I’ve never see a bullet in . 355-357 lead or jacketed that is designed to be fired in a semi-auto that has a cannelure . By applying a roll crimp to semi-auto bullet will effect the pressure and accuracy