[22] Roll Crimping or Star Crimping Shotshells Explained 

Hi, I just ordered a manual roll-crimp yesterday. Everything you showed and said made me realize I should have started roll-crimping years ago. The video was great and very informative.

It appears that you are over crimping your shot shells, that is why they are dished inward on the final crimp. If I could offer a suggestion, I think you need to adjust your shot column with a different wad or trim your shot shell cases to a length that will accommodate your shot column to get a flat crimp on the 6 or 8 fold crimps. Each case and load recipe is different, so you need to adjust your machine or case to get an acceptable crimp.

Heating and lubrication must be the key. I’ve been rolled crimping for a few years and last night, for the first time, I had some bulged and crumpled case lips. I would guess my roller wasn’t warm enough yet?

You need to fix the stock height on your fold crimps. It lol s to me you’re close to 1/4 inch short. You need to trim hills on roll crimps to be about 1/4 inch over the charge in the shell. You will be over pressure with too much roll and you run the risk of pieces of the hull breaking off and lodging in your barrel.

Thanks. You cleared up questions I had. I have just started to reload shotshells. I have been reloading rifle for quite a while. Thanks again.

Great video, where did you get the base to stop the shell from spinning? Thank you.

Are roll crimped shells able to be reloaded though? I'd seen instructions that said "About 1/4" would need to be trimmed off of pre-fired hulls". If so, and you wished to reload multiple times, while only roll crimping, your hulls would progressively need to get shorter, correct?

Great video. Thanks.

Can once roll crimped hull be reloaded again?

Great video! I am curious about the divise used to hold the shell while using the roll crimper. Did you make it or buy it. If the latter where did you get it. Thanks, Frank

I roll crimp new shells and ones I've trimmed down to a smaller size, which are basically new shells as well. And now there are custom personalized O/S cards! Oooooo...

Great video! What roll crimp do you use? ATB

What is the brand name of the roll crimp you are using - thanks

What roll crimp are you using and does it have pins in it.

what happens if you just cut the crimp off and seal the shell with scotch tape lol?

5:29 depriming pin falls out.

Problem with the roll crimp is the are one and done. Star crimps can get used a half dozen times before they fail if you have done it right.

What? No 16 gauge?

JESUS CHRIST! Fix that drill press! When a piece of equipment starts making noises like that it's time for some maintenance!

What is the holder on your press and where do I get one?

And Bad star crimped shells you can fix by roll crimper :D just slight touch. Before that use sponge with some oil, just made end of shell little bit oiled, just slick it ;)

Which crimp style allows for the most reloads per hull?

Have you pattern tested these crimps styles. Which patterns better, star crimp or roll crimp???

How many times can a typical plastic roll-crimped shotshell be reloaded and roll-crimped when compared to star crimping?

Thank you, you answered all of my questions

Hi, I roll-crimp as I like the flexibility of crimp depth for black powder loads and have made my own reloading station from a block of wood so can't star anyway but I loved your shotshell base to hold the shell, where did you get it? or how can it be made? and how do you fix it to the base of your press? Thanks in anticipation, Gordon

One more point to take: It looks like the top disk on the roll crimp could interfere birdshots, making them dissipate faster, on shorter ranges. Maybe that's the answer why the star crimp is much more popular for birdshots.

Where can I get a rollcrimper like you use?

From what I've seen, the advantages of a star crimp are that most shotshell reloading presses have star crimping built in (even my US$69 Lee Load All II); they're also easier to reload (no need to pretreat the hull to take out the old roll crimp). Yes, they're picky about column height, but it only took me two shells to get the height right on my first session loading shotshells ever. They're the industry standard for a reason: loading speed. The automated machinery that produces modern commercial shells crimps (over a 100% consistent, machine-assembled powder/wad/payload column) with two quick strokes, last thing before going into the orienter/stacker to be boxed. Roll crimping on a commercial basis is significantly less efficient.

You should make up and shoot some stubby shells with maximum crimp, like .22 short but for shotguns

Nicely done. A video worth a thousand words. Does roll crimp slowly shrink hull’s length per reloading?

how does crimping help performance of the shell . or is it just to keep the projectile from falling out. ?

Great video. Very informative and to the point. Best one I've watched so far. Looking forward to more of your vids.

2:39 awesome roll crimp ;)

Your star crimps look horrible You need to watch some mec adjustments

Yes it was very interesting, thanks for your time and expertise

How I can buy roll crimping tool in indiya

Well done!

Хороший пресс. Жаль у меня нету

Great video, thanks

Regarding the roll crimp; how much shell length is above the load before you roll it?

Does either crimp allow reusing spent cases?

For star crimp - 11mm from bottom of shell should be free. So take caliper, measure it, if there is free space under 11mm level from top, then add overshot paper wad. Wad can be cut from any 1mm paper by 19mm or 18mm cutter. 19mm diameter is for over powder wad, can be used as overshot wad as well.

I like the roll crimp. I think i like it better than star crimp. Good video.

I’m a fan of roll crimping but it to can be fussy if you use once fired hulls. A perfect roll crimp can be easily achieved if you stack your load over an inexpensive nitro card. Both are fine.

The crimp should be flat across. Yours was diving in. Shell is not loaded correctly.