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View Full Version : Reloading Short 10 help


Eldon Goddard
06-17-2021, 09:52 AM
I am seeking advice on an issue I continue to get while reloading my short tens. Occasionally I will get crimps where the end of the hull goes around the final crimp tool(the internal one). This does not happen with everyone and I can not determine why it occurs on some and not others as I see no difference between them. I am attaching a picture of the problem. Please let me know if you have encountered this before or know what the problem is.
Reloading Information:
Reloader: Mec 600jr
Hull: Federal 10ga 3 1/2 paper base wad(Trimed to 2 7/8)
Charge: 19 grs RedDot
Load: 1 1/8 oz lead 7.5
Wad: Rem SP10 with 1 16 ga fiber wad
Overshot card

Craig Larter
06-17-2021, 02:01 PM
I use the brass crimp starter it believe from Precision it put a better more defined fold line in the thick Federal hulls. Are you hull new or used?

Pete Lester
06-17-2021, 04:18 PM
You have a hole in the center of the crimp of all three loaded shells. I would try two things, adjust the cam to help get a better crimp and close the hole (see attached link). You can also lower the crimp starter with washer between it and the plate that holds it. That will make a more well defined pre crimp prior to closing it.

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/bpi/articleindex/articles/mecadjust/mecadj.htm

Eldon Goddard
06-17-2021, 10:40 PM
Thanks guys. I will try both as soon as I can find some more hulls.
These are all once fired hulls.

Paul Harm
06-21-2021, 01:16 PM
Ten gauge hulls, at least to me, have always seemed to have a thinner wall than smaller gauges. What I'm trying to say is that the bigger diameter shell should have a thicker wall. I load all the 10ga hulls I have, Fed, Win, and Rem, all the same with the same data because they're all a straight walled hull that's being loaded at moderate pressures. The Fed to me seem to be the weakest for side wall support when crimping. Your crimps look pretty good to me and I wouldn't worry about a opening that small in the end. I've never used a special crimp starter for new or cut down shells. The one on a Mec, metal or plastic, works just fine. As suggested, lower the start crimp die just a touch with a washer on the older Mecs with metal dies or adjust it down with the newer start crimp plastic die to close the hole. When you do that you're getting more of the shell presented to the final crimp, so more is folded in the center. Really, I would be happy with what you got.