Mark, I don't think it makes any difference. The roll crimper I have from Ballistics Products has a roll pin when you look inside the crimper. The speed of the drill (fricton of the roll pin) will make the shell end roll over. A variable speed drill I think does help the process. I think your reloading will be much faster because you have a drill press. I don't and have to use my Dewalt. Does the job but can get tiring if reloading a bunch of shells.

Paul, Congrats on the deer! I'm sure he quickly folded up like a tent after being smashed with that lead Mack truck! What did the exit wound look like??? Roundball with BP is my next endeavor but know little about. How many grains does a 715 round ball weigh? I research as much as I can before touching off any reloads. It won't be for this year since I like to work up all loads and see how they print on paper. If I have questions, I will give you a shout..

Frank

I just watched a short video on the Ballistic Products website, and it shows the roll crimping procedure. Indeed, the drill is spinning clockwise. I read numerous postings, here and there, that gave me the impression that the crimper must be rotated counter-clockwise for proper operation. Hmmmm...

My cast 715 go 531grs. That would be just under an 1 1/4. I also have some .695's - have to weigh them. My roll crimper works either way. I used a hand drill - it's quicker but I sometimes got uneven rolls. Paul

Frank, you wouldn't have to use BP. If you know the weight of the RB compare it to the same of lead shot for some load data. JMHI - Paul

One can buy a table-top drill press from Harbor Freight or Tractor Supply for less that $50. I have one in my reloading room for roll crimping.

paul, tell me about your match lock or how about a picture. thats cool one step farther back in history. ch

I friend had one he made and shot it in Trade Gun matches [ flintlock, smoothbore, no rear sight]. So I traced his on a piece of paper, I had a 12ga barrel, and got on the internet and found some drawings of matchlocks. Had some Cherry in the shop that was 20yrs. old - made the lock, trigger lever, and added a spring loaded metal butt plate to keep extra match under, and put it togeather. Shot it for a couple of years in matches and it took 2yrs. to get a deer. They're fun to shoot but don't always go off - sometimes you have to adjust or blow on the rope. Also, the trigger is a big long lever, and when pulled it lowers the cock holding the burning rope. This is comeing back down in your vision so you're waiting for it to go off - hopefully. In matches there are 4 clays thrown. My proudest day was getting 2 of the 4 with that damn thing. It now rest over the fire place. It looks kind of crude compared to the other muzzle loaders I've made, but most were just military guns, quickly made. Paul

I have used this for 12ga plastic hull roll crimping and it works well. Of course it is not very modern.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z.../CRIMPERER.jpg

some of those old crimpersmust roll crimp plastic ok..i bought me some of the old style crimpers for the paper hulls but it would not roll crimp the plastic hulls..so i bought one that you put in a drill or drill press it works fine... charlie