Crimping the 38 long Colt Heelbase Bullet

Rio Jack

Short of making a custom die, what is the best way to Crimp the 38 Long Colt Cartridge with a .375 Heel Base Bullet.

Saguaro Kid

Just happens to be a post on the SASS Wire about the same thing.<br />
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<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':good:' /> <br />
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SK

Rio Jack

Saguaro Kid wrote on Sep 28 2006, 09&#58;33 PM:

<br />
Just happens to be a post on the SASS Wire about the same thing.<br />
<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':good:' /> <br />
<br />
SK<br />

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I looked it up and coppied the instructions. I bought a 38-55 Crimp Die From Midway, worked on it and it did the job.<br />
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Rio Jack

dd

Devereaux wrote on Sep 29 2006, 07&#58;27 AM:

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?So what's the answer. I don't see just how you can manage to crimp a bullet that is larger than the case; I would expect that it is press fit, rather like the .22's that we shoot.<br />

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Collet crimper.

Rio Jack

dd wrote on Oct 11 2006, 06&#58;00 PM:

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Collet crimper.<br />

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Yes a Collet Crimper. It is not that hard to modify. You make a spacer to rase the cartridge through the collet so that the bullet is past the collet before you crimp it.

dd

Rio Jack wrote on Oct 11 2006, 06&#58;57 PM:

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Yes a Collet Crimper. It is not that hard to modify. You make a spacer to rase the cartridge through the collet so that the bullet is past the collet before you crimp it.<br />

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<br />
Jack,<br />
<br />
Lee makes collet crimpers - called "factory crimp dies" - for tapered/bottle-necked cases like the 44-40 (I use one). The ones they make for straight sided cases like the .357 mag. are a different design. Perhaps you could find one of their collet crimpers that would work or could be modified to work for your needs if you haven't already worked up something.