Heavy or light crimp?

[PvtGreg]

Ok - I have a question for the group.

I have always followed the light load, light crimp and heavy load, heavy crimp rule on reloading pistol ammo.  I also follow the same rule on my Armisport 56-50 loads.

What is you opinion/experience?  What effect do you believe your crimp choice has on accuracy?

Thanks - Pvt Greg

[Trailrider]

Based on pressure/veloity tests using an Oehler M43, with other straight-taper or straight-sided BP cartridges, whether you are using smokeless or BP, I strongly recommend a firm crimp which tends to retard the bullet from moving ("shot start") until the powder can get fully ignited.  I did NOT test any of the Spencer rounds because i did not want to mess up the surface of the barrel by cementing a strain gage to it. However, I have done tests on .45 LC, and .45-70 with this equipment.  Overpressure blowups with .45 LC revolvers appears to be due to premature shotstart when medium-burning smokeless loads were used.  I have not seen or heard of such overpressures when a firm crimp and tight neck tension was employed.

[SGT John Chapman]

Personally I crimp everything good when feeding from magazines,.... I don't want any kind of setback issues which might cause pressure changes which leads to issues with rounds not being uniform,..........

[PvtGreg]

I should have mentioned, I'm loading through the top one at a time