Lead 45-70 bullet - where to crimp?

[AndyM]

I was loading some 45-70's last night, some for me and some to shoot in my father-in-laws Trapdoor. I was using 28 grains of 5744 powder and purchased Mt. Baldy blackpowder lead bullets (1:20 mix). The bullet was the Lyman 457193 mold and is their 405 g. flat point sized to .459 and lubed with SPG.

My issue came when it was time to crimp. I use the Lee Fac. crimp die and was looking to put a moderate crimp on these. This particular bullet did not have a crimping grove. All the grooves were filled up with lube.

Do I crimp in the last lube groove or do I crimp on the driving band?

I did 10 one way and 10 the other way to test. The ones done with the bullet crimped in the lube groove look more correct to me but these sure did make a mess of the crimp die, it would squeeze out lube into the inside of the die. I was thinking that crimping into or on top of the driving band would hurt the accuracy potential of this bullet. I will be using this load for plinking with my Marlin guide gun, my Italian Pederdoli Sharps, and above mentioned Trapdoor.

I also have some Cabela's bought Montana Precision lead bullets 405g FP lubed w/ SPG and sized .458 to try and these DO have a crimp groove in the bullet, but I am still puzzled by the Mt. Baldy ones.

What are your thoughts? Thanks and happy Friday...

[O.S.O.K.]

If you are shooting in trapdoor only, you do not have to crimp. Just load the bullets to contact the lands. This is a blackpowder 'trick'. It will be fine with that load and lead bullets. Do not do this in other rifles, with jacketed bullets, etc. - its for single shots, mild loads and lead bullets ONLY.

Now, having said that, I'm thinking you just filled the crimp groove with lube - it should be the last groove before the driving band - do you have pics? That would help imensly.

[Tycer]

Seat your bullet out to where it just barely touches the lands. If it cycles, crimp at that length. Don't worry about no stinkin grooves.

Do 10 like that and then seat ten .002" deeper and do ten more .002" farther.......and so on back to 2.550" . You'll find a sweet spot somewhere in OAL.

[Tycer]

If you are shooting in trapdoor only, you do not have to crimp.

Yeah, what he said. I missed the Trapdoor part. I have an 1886 and figger that's all anyone else has