Roll crimping/hull trimming question

[John in WI]

I've been test driving my roll crimper from BP on some beat up empties. It's working ok, and tomorrow I want to try it on some live shells.

The hulls I bought are new 2.75" Cheddites.

I'm wondering how far below the open end of the hull does the overshot card need to be before crimping? I thought I read on one of the threads that to load a 2.75" shell, to trim 1/4" off it first.

Just curious, because to load my buckshot, it would probably be easier to use a cork, fiber or felt spacer to bring the shot level up to the right height.

Is there any rule of thumb about this?

thanks!

[woody1]

As BP says in the advisory sheet that should have come with your crimper, 1/4" is needed above the card. If your question is should you trim new hulls. You could, but why? No, pick a load that fills to the level needed to crimp. Regards, Woody

[Newtire]

It varies from 1/8" to 1/4" with either the BPI or the Precision one in my experience. I have crimped a whole ton of shells using the roll crimper. I even put a little roll on the .410 shells that I load with a star crimp to keep the crimps from opening up.