reloading .44 magnum

[44 shooter]

Hello, I'm new to reloading and wonder if I should crimp the case when seating the bullet. I also am wondering why I can barely get some cases into & out of the shell holder. I have an RCBS Rock Chucker press & I am using Lee carbide dies. I have some Federal brass that is no problem, but just got a bunch of R-P brass that unless I tap it with a tac hammer it won't go in the shell holder. Should I get an RCBS shell holder? Or could there be that much difference in the brass?

   Thanks

[mtnbkr]

I use the Lee dies and haven't run into any brass that won't fit easily into the holders.  This goes for all calibers I reload.

Whether or not you crimp depends on the load, but all of my 44mags are heavy loads, so I end up crimping them all with a heavy roll crimp.  I crimp as a separate stage, not when seating.

Chris

[atomd]

Check that there isn't a tiny burr or any crap stuck in your shell holder before buying another one. Mine get pretty dirty after a while. Brass can certainly be different too though.

[Standing Wolf]

Pistol cartridge cases always need to be crimped for two reasons: to keep bullets from being walked forward by recoil, and keep their resistance to being pushed forward by powder ignition uniform.

If cartridge cases fail to go into and come out of clean shell holders the right size, there's most probably something wrong with the brass. That's what micrometers are for.

[Bogie]

Right - something tells me the chamber it was fired in may be a little oversize.
 
You wanna crimp 'em, because otherwise those bullets will wanna move with recoil.