crimp or not to crimp

[Doug Bowser]

My Sharps likes a crimp in the 457124 or 457125 cast bullets with BP loads. I tried it both ways.

I crimp the Model 1894 .30-30 and the 1892 Rossi .44 Mag (I shoot nothing but BP loads in the .44 mag rifle)

I never crimp for Bolt action, M1 Garand or AR-15, bottleneck ctgs don't seem to need it.

Always crimp revolver loads, especially if they are heavy loads. You will end up with a bullet backing out of the ctg and tie up the cylinder.

[TCPSTLSHTR]

Hodgdon's guide states that taper crimp may be sufficient to hold the bullet, and that a role crimp my increase the pressure to dangerous levels... it all depends on all the other variables that come into play when reloading your own stuff.