Don't worry about crimping 45 Cowboy specials

[Irish Pat]

I have found when loading 45 CS with 165 bullets to Mouse Fart velocity that no crimp is needed.  I only shoot  these in my revolvers and the recoil is not enough to have any affect on the bullet being pushed back into the case if they are seated tight.  If you plan to stack them  in  a magazine tube then you better think about a tight crimp as the spring can push the bullets in to the case and jam your rifle. I have learned the hard way to put a tight crimp on cartridges going in a tubuler magazine. IRISH PAT

[Slow Poke]

I find a tight crimp even on pistol rounds gives me a better burn on the powder. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

 Crimp will give a cleaner burn and more consistent velocity. 

Especially in cold weather. 

[Sedalia Dave]

1 hour ago, Slow Poke said:

I find a tight crimp even on pistol rounds gives me a better burn on the powder. 

 

THIS ^^^^

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Normally, in my experience, recoil in a revolver does not cause the bullet to push BACK INTO the case

but rather outward.  To much forward movement of the bullet can cause a lock up of the cylinder in

rotation.

 

There are multiple reasons why a crimp is advisable, even if the case is full of powder and the

bullet can't seat further into the case.

 

..........Widder

 

[Fordyce Beals]

If the case has a flair from the powder drop die and no crimp die is used (or skipped by error) you may not be able to chamber the round in my experience.

[Griff]

3 hours ago, Slow Poke said:

I find a tight crimp even on pistol rounds gives me a better burn on the powder. 

 

2 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

 Crimp will give a cleaner burn and more consistent velocity. 

Especially in cold weather. 

 

1 hour ago, Sedalia Dave said:

THIS ^^^^

 

47 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Normally, in my experience, recoil in a revolver does not cause the bullet to push BACK INTO the case

but rather outward.  To much forward movement of the bullet can cause a lock up of the cylinder in

rotation.

There are multiple reasons why a crimp is advisable, even if the case is full of powder and the

bullet can't seat further into the case.

..........Widder

 

27 minutes ago, Fordyce Beals said:

If the case has a flair from the powder drop die and no crimp die is used (or skipped by error) you may not be able to chamber the round in my experience.

The above are all true.  

[Sheriff Dill]

1 hour ago, Griff said:

 

 

 

 

The above are all true.  

I had that happen with a few 38’s. They wouldn’t chamber into my revolvers. The crimp wasn’t as tight as the others. They got set to the side and redone at home after the shoot. 

[DukeSoprano]

2 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Normally, in my experience, recoil in a revolver does not cause the bullet to push BACK INTO the case

but rather outward.  To much forward movement of the bullet can cause a lock up of the cylinder in

rotation.

 

There are multiple reasons why a crimp is advisable, even if the case is full of powder and the

bullet can't seat further into the case.

 

..........Widder

 

 

Yep, I shoot a lot of ICORE and shooters that do not reload have had to set up a single stage press to crimp factory ammo

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

8 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

 Crimp will give a cleaner burn and more consistent velocity. 

Especially in cold weather. 

 

3 hours ago, DukeSoprano said:

 

Yep, I shoot a lot of ICORE and shooters that do not reload have had to set up a single stage press to crimp factory ammo

I suspect a more secure primer also.

Note:  I should have said to lessen chance of primer backing out due to pressure issue.

Edited August 13 by Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

2 minutes ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

 

I suspect a more secure primer also.

How so without crimping the primer? 🤔

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

6 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

How so without crimping the primer? 🤔

a pressure issue that often can be fixed with crimp.  I, of course, refer to tests in 38 special.  Perhaps 45 special with the bigger diameter bullet does not encounter that issue.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 minute ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

a pressure issue that often can be fixed with crimp.  I, of course, refer to tests in 38 special.  Perhaps 45 special with the bigger diameter bullet does not encounter that issue.

Never saw the need with reloading.

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

1 hour ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Never saw the need with reloading.

Maybe not.  My experience has been if test bullet/powder combinations enough sometimes one runs into unsuspected issues.   

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

15 hours ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

Maybe not.  My experience has been if test bullet/powder combinations enough sometimes one runs into unsuspected issues.   

If the load is near the bottom on the powder amount. There's an easy 'fix'. 

[Irish Pat]

I must back up on my statement.  I do use some crimp on my 45CS loads in my revolvers, but not near the crimp I put in my reloads that go in my rifles..  When a loose crimped bullet in a magazine tube gets pushed back into the case by spring tension and ten cartridges in the tube you will wish you had put a lot of crimp on it.

[DukeSoprano]

Wish I'd a known that before last Saturdays shoot!

 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

I'm glad Irish Pat came back and clarified.  No crimp on any cartridge is NO BUENO.  Without a crimp to enable the "burn" the result can and probably be an incomplete burn and erratic chamber pressure and wonky velocity.  NOT a good idea. 

[Von Dutch, SASS # 7995]

On 8/13/2026 at 9:09 AM, DukeSoprano said:

Wish I'd a known that before last Saturdays shoot!

 

That's why people new at reloading should read a reloading manual before they injure them self's or the spotters or timer operator!

[DukeSoprano]

Oh excuse me, for the hundreds of thousands of rounds I have reloaded and competed with in ICORE and USPSA, in 10 different calibers including race guns running 38 Super over 160 PF, I had never had an issue. So yes apparently I had 2 rounds without enough crimp in my rifle out of the thousand I have shot this year, I spent Sunday re-crimping the 2000 that I have in stock just to make sure.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

15 minutes ago, DukeSoprano said:

Oh excuse me, for the hundreds of thousands of rounds I have reloaded and competed with in ICORE and USPSA, in 10 different calibers including race guns running 38 Super over 160 PF, I had never had an issue. So yes apparently I had 2 rounds without enough crimp in my rifle out of the thousand I have shot this year, I spent Sunday re-crimping the 2000 that I have in stock just to make sure.

No more caffeine for you today 😂😂🤣

[Ethan Cord]

On 8/12/2026 at 11:35 AM, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Normally, in my experience, recoil in a revolver does not cause the bullet to push BACK INTO the case

but rather outward.  To much forward movement of the bullet can cause a lock up of the cylinder in

rotation.

 

There are multiple reasons why a crimp is advisable, even if the case is full of powder and the

bullet can't seat further into the case.

 

..........Widder

 

I am very pleased to back up Widder on this. My story is about a loading for (a new to me) .454 Casull revolver to go on a bear hunt when I could not source factory loaded ammo in 1995 or so. I loaded up ammo for said bear hunt using the dies and components I could find at the moment. Unfortunately, the crimp was sub standard, and upon pulling the trigger on the first round, the under crimped bullets moved forward and locked up the cylinder thereby turning a Freedom Arms Model 85 into the most beautiful stainless steel brick I have ever I had the opportunity to swing at a bear....

 

Your mileage may vary. You may or may not need to change your under garments when an angry bear heads your way. Or you may simply settle for a 10th place belt buckle at a major match in a category with 10 shooters... 

[Slow Poke]

8 hours ago, Ethan Cord said:

I am very pleased to back up Widder on this. My story is about a loading for (a new to me) .454 Casull revolver to go on a bear hunt when I could not source factory loaded ammo in 1995 or so. I loaded up ammo for said bear hunt using the dies and components I could find at the moment. Unfortunately, the crimp was sub standard, and upon pulling the trigger on the first round, the under crimped bullets moved forward and locked up the cylinder thereby turning a Freedom Arms Model 85 into the most beautiful stainless steel brick I have ever I had the opportunity to swing at a bear....

 

Your mileage may vary. You may or may not need to change your under garments when an angry bear heads your way. Or you may simply settle for a 10th place belt buckle at a major match in a category with 10 shooters... 

Did you get the bear?

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

14 hours ago, Ethan Cord said:

I am very pleased to back up Widder on this. My story is about a loading for (a new to me) .454 Casull revolver to go on a bear hunt when I could not source factory loaded ammo in 1995 or so. I loaded up ammo for said bear hunt using the dies and components I could find at the moment. Unfortunately, the crimp was sub standard, and upon pulling the trigger on the first round, the under crimped bullets moved forward and locked up the cylinder thereby turning a Freedom Arms Model 85 into the most beautiful stainless steel brick I have ever I had the opportunity to swing at a bear....

 

Your mileage may vary. You may or may not need to change your under garments when an angry bear heads your way. Or you may simply settle for a 10th place belt buckle at a major match in a category with 10 shooters... 

I have seen bullet jump in .357's & .44's because of weak crimping. 

A firm crimp is vital! 

Love my FA .454! 👍

[Von Dutch, SASS # 7995]

17 hours ago, DukeSoprano said:

Oh excuse me, for the hundreds of thousands of rounds I have reloaded and competed with in ICORE and USPSA, in 10 different calibers including race guns running 38 Super over 160 PF, I had never had an issue. So yes apparently I had 2 rounds without enough crimp in my rifle out of the thousand I have shot this year, I spent Sunday re-crimping the 2000 that I have in stock just to make sure.

Well excuse the hell out of me! from your post the way its worded I took it that you didn't crip your loads!!!!

[DukeSoprano]

I apologize, yesterday was a very bad day for me.

I have been a Range Officer in ICORE and USPSA for many years. If anything, I am overly safe (if that is possible)  

 

Lets shake hands and have a Sarsaparilla! 

[Von Dutch, SASS # 7995]

2 hours ago, DukeSoprano said:

I apologize, yesterday was a very bad day for me.

I have been a Range Officer in ICORE and USPSA for many years. If anything, I am overly safe (if that is possible)  

 

Lets shake hands and have a Sarsaparilla! 

No apologize needed, like I said the way it was written took me in the wrong direction, and no such thing as being overly safe! Take care and good shooting to you! And I think I will have that Sarsaparilly Take Care V.D.

[Eyesa Horg]

A toast to Sarsaparilla 🥂

[Ethan Cord]

10 hours ago, Slow Poke said:

Did you get the bear?

No, but he didn’t get me either… 😉

[Widder, SASS #59054]

.454 Casull says:    BOOM!

 

A heat sensation and gush of wind whiz by the bears head.

 

Bear says:  "OOPS, I think I'm in the wrong part of the woods"......... and leaves a cloud of dust behind him.

 

P.S. - just a guess, but I would guess one of your components was either H110 or LilGun powder.

 

 

..........Widder

 

[Ethan Cord]

2 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

.454 Casull says:    BOOM!

 

A heat sensation and gush of wind whiz by the bears head.

 

Bear says:  "OOPS, I think I'm in the wrong part of the woods"......... and leaves a cloud of dust behind him.

 

P.S. - just a guess, but I would guess one of your components was either H110 or LilGun powder.

 

 

..........Widder

 

Widder you are not only a Marlin Magician you are also a long distance mind reader! 😂 H110 is the powder I use for my .454!

 

I also use it for my .410 shot shells. I cannot recommend .410 shot shells for bear however. 😂

[Widder, SASS #59054]

One of the main reasons I trust my experience with proper crimping is because I reload and often shoot

my .44 mag, 460 S&W and 500 S&W revolvers.   And sometimes, I shoot .454 Casull in my 460 S&W.

 

I also shoot some hot reloads in my Ruger Super Blackhawk 'Hunter' in .45 Colt.

 

I set my crimps to where I can shoot 4 and 5 rounds, not firing the last round in the cylinder, and checking the OAL

to ensure my bullet movement hasn't exceeded approx .006

The MOST movement I will accept in those big magnums is .008 whether the bullet is a hard cast lead or a JHP.

 

P.S. - the only discernible movement in OAL is usually my wrist.............  

 

..........Widder