Roll Crimp vs Fold Crimp

[Steve Hodges]

Having never reloaded using a roll crimp, what is the advantage of it vs fold? Does it lower PSI? Thanks, Steve

[Mike of the Mountain]

Roll crimps do give a lower PSI. Usually you're using a built-up wad column instead of a plastic one-piece wad, but depending on your load, you can roll crimp over a plastic wad and OSC. The built-up wad column also helps reduce pressure. Most of what I load pretty much have good pressures as I don't make snotty game loads. Even the 8g loads are technically low pressure compared to what they used to shoot in those guns.

[Double Lab]

Mike is correct. Most guys do it because they like the way it looks "vintage". All my loads are below 10k psi so to me the squeeze is not worth the juice. Besides they are not conducive to volume reloading. But they do have that cool factor.

[Rick Roemer]

In the last six months or so I’ve gotten heavily into roll crimping. Lots of good advice given from members on this site and some trial and error have yielded what I consider pretty good results. If you want advice on it, feel free to reach out. I’ve had the loads tested alongside regular crimp loads and find they do have lower pressures.

[Clark McCombe]

It’s just one of those things…
I shoot a Trojan but also a Damascus hammer
I drive a Chevy but also once in a while my ‘76 Triumph
My Mec can punch out the 12ga target loads, but there is just something about the slower process of loading a box of perfect 2” roll crimped shells.
The next step will be paper hulls

[Keith Doty]

Beware! Paper hulls may be addictive.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Some paper hulls definitely load better than others. I find Federal Gold Medal and Fiocchi paper to load the best whether they are fold crimped or rolled.

[6pt-Sika]

I’ve only roll crimped 8 and 10 gauge . And all that were rolled were for buckshot , balls or slugs . I find it a bit time consuming but then again I find single stage presses time consuming . Sorry the only pics of rolled in my phone are 10 gauge balls and slugs .