Hammer Bullet Crimp

[SteelBanger]

I apologize in advance for what might be a stupid question, but I've just started loading for a new 350 legend and am using 125gr Hammers loaded so that the case mouth is in the valley closest to the bullet nose. This is also my first experience with Hammers. I have the 4 die Hornady set which includes their taper crimp die but I'm finding practically no info anywhere on how to best use it. The best I can come up with is that it is mostly intended to remove any belling from the case mouth rather than putting a solid crimp on the bullet ... and with the Hammers boat tail you really don't need much if any belling to seat the bullets. Any advice on using this die or would I be better served ordering the Lee die? It's so cheap I don't mind scrapping the Hornady die and getting the Lee if it's that much better.

Also, is there a lee die that would work on the 7SST cartridge?

Thanks for putting all this together BB!!

 

[basinman]

I apologize in advance for what might be a stupid question, but I've just started loading for a new 350 legend and am using 125gr Hammers loaded so that the case mouth is in the valley closest to the bullet nose. This is also my first experience with Hammers. I have the 4 die Hornady set which includes their taper crimp die but I'm finding practically no info anywhere on how to best use it. The best I can come up with is that it is mostly intended to remove any belling from the case mouth rather than putting a solid crimp on the bullet ... and with the Hammers boat tail you really don't need much if any belling to seat the bullets. Any advice on using this die or would I be better served ordering the Lee die? It's so cheap I don't mind scrapping the Hornady die and getting the Lee if it's that much better.

Also, is there a lee die that would work on the 7SST cartridge?

Thanks for putting all this together BB!!

You might be better off with the taper crimp as the 350 Legend headspaces on the front of the case. I use a taper crimp on 30 carbine and it works fine.

 

[SteelBanger]

You might be better off with the taper crimp as the 350 Legend headspaces on the front of the case. I use a taper crimp on 30 carbine and it works fine.

How do you determine how much crimp you're applying? There are literally no instructions in the die set for the TC die. I slowly adjusted it down to the point where it removed the flare, but I'm not sure how far to screw it down to apply the proper crimp. I've played with it some but have never gotten it to the point that I can see or feel any amount of crimp.

The seating die is also a seating / crimp die so I could try using it to both seat and crimp in a single stroke, but again, I don't mind picking up the Lee die if it's better.

 

[ButterBean]

How do you determine how much crimp you're applying? There are literally no instructions in the die set for the TC die. I slowly adjusted it down to the point where it removed the flare, but I'm not sure how far to screw it down to apply the proper crimp. I've played with it some but have never gotten it to the point that I can see or feel any amount of crimp.

The seating die is also a seating / crimp die so I could try using it to both seat and crimp in a single stroke, but again, I don't mind picking up the Lee die if it's better.

The crimp is increased the farther you screw the die body into the press

 

[SteelBanger]

The crimp is increased the farther you screw the die body into the press

lol yeah, sorry I didn't mean how do you apply more crimp, what I meant was how do you determine how much crimp you're putting on and how much is too much? Like I said finding instructions for this die has proven difficult. I've slowly spun it down further and further but haven't gotten to a point that I can see or feel any amount of crimp. I know based on reading through this thread that you don't necessarily have to see or feel it, but I'm just shooting in the dark here so hoping for a little clarification.

And maybe even more interested in the question of if I'm better off just buying the Lee collet crimp die and scrapping the Hornady taper crimp die?

 

[ButterBean]

lol yeah, sorry I didn't mean how do you apply more crimp, what I meant was how do you determine how much crimp you're putting on and how much is too much? Like I said finding instructions for this die has proven difficult. I've slowly spun it down further and further but haven't gotten to a point that I can see or feel any amount of crimp. I know based on reading through this thread that you don't necessarily have to see or feel it, but I'm just shooting in the dark here so hoping for a little clarification.

And maybe even more interested in the question of if I'm better off just buying the Lee collet crimp die and scrapping the Hornady taper crimp die?

It's hard to judge with the taper crimp, you will just have to "feel in " to the sweet spot .The Lee will be your best bet

 

[basinman]

lol yeah, sorry I didn't mean how do you apply more crimp, what I meant was how do you determine how much crimp you're putting on and how much is too much? Like I said finding instructions for this die has proven difficult. I've slowly spun it down further and further but haven't gotten to a point that I can see or feel any amount of crimp. I know based on reading through this thread that you don't necessarily have to see or feel it, but I'm just shooting in the dark here so hoping for a little clarification.

And maybe even more interested in the question of if I'm better off just buying the Lee collet crimp die and scrapping the Hornady taper crimp die?

For my taper crimp, I usually get it down until the bell is removed and go another turn down. You can use your caliper to monitor the crimp. I wouldn't use the bullet seating die for the crimp as it is roll type crimp. You want the taper crimp to slightly squeeze in on the bullet but also leave some of the lip sticking out for headspacing.

 

[SteelBanger]

For my taper crimp, I usually get it down until the bell is removed and go another turn down. You can use your caliper to monitor the crimp. I wouldn't use the bullet seating die for the crimp as it is roll type crimp. You want the taper crimp to slightly squeeze in on the bullet but also leave some of the lip sticking out for headspacing.

Ok perfect, that's what I was looking for because I think I've only gone down maybe a half turn past removing the bell but never saw the diameter "squeeze in" on the calipers. I'll play with another half turn and see if it shows up on the calipers ... even if it doesn't show up i'll shoot some and see how things look. Thank you!

 

[SteelBanger]

Sorry @ButterBean but one last question, do you know of a Lee crimp die that would work on the 7SST cartridge, or am I stuck waiting until they take custom orders again? For what it's worth, your threads and comments on this forum have convinced me to go ahead and just order the Lee die for every cartridge I have, the 7SST is my only wildcat at this point. So thank you again!

 

[ButterBean]

Sorry @ButterBean but one last question, do you know of a Lee crimp die that would work on the 7SST cartridge, or am I stuck waiting until they take custom orders again? For what it's worth, your threads and comments on this forum have convinced me to go ahead and just order the Lee die for every cartridge I have, the 7SST is my only wildcat at this point. So thank you again!

I can make you one, I charge $60 for this service but ask @GLTaylor first, he may have found one that will work

 

[GLTaylor]

I can make you one, I charge $60 for this service but ask @GLTaylor first, he may have found one that will work

Not sure how much adjustment is available. But I use a 6.5 PRC FCD For my 6.5 Sherman Max

 

[snox801]

Ok for your 350 legend. I seat mine 2.215"
Seems to be best in multi 350's
I run starline brass lil gun and end up around 30gr in mine. And I use the Lee crimp on mine as well.

 

[snox801]

Should end up just north of 2600fps with a 16" barrel.