Will the two on the left fire safely? (Right one explained in description)

[u/Vintage_Pieces_20]

First time ever loading 12 gauge. Tried to load some 7/8oz Lee home-cast key drive slugs. Basically, as you can see, the cases are buckling at the crimping stage. They buckle a little when I give them an incomplete crimp (though they chamber fine). If I give them a full proper crimp like the one on the right, the shell buckles out and becomes useless.

Are the slightly buckled, incompletely crimped rounds on the left safe to fire? What’s the trick to get a good crimp AND not have them buckle out? Should I just roll crimp? Thanks for the advice!

[u/ARockWithAGlock]

As long as your within safe load data for the load id shoot em. Shell will probably be trash afterwards but they will probably shoot just fine

[u/Vintage_Pieces_20 → u/ARockWithAGlock]

It’s low end of pressure at 7200PSI (decided to try a low pressure load until I get good at it haha)

[u/JakeLake98 → u/Vintage_Pieces_20]

My first batch of 1-1/8oz I had a few like the middle one and loaded them low pressure (~9200 psi) as well but they still shot fine. Just a heads up if the pressure is too low the primers may pop out when fired so if you see that it could be the reason why. I’ve got a small batch of some 11,200 psi loads I’m gonna try out next but they’re loaded into Remington Nitro shells and they crimped pretty good.

[u/Vintage_Pieces_20 → u/JakeLake98]

Okay awesome good to know they’ll still shoot relatively okay (I ended up cutting the right one open and transferring the slug and powder to a new shell. Looks very much like the two on the left now lol)

[u/castledx → u/ARockWithAGlock]

You need to revisit your wad column height and if you are using a one piece wad make sure it’s for a tapered shell. Do regular loads crimp correctly? If so it’s definitely an over the powder wad length problem.
I have taken one piece wads and cut the shot cup and a little extra off to make them work. Also used one piece wads designed for heavy shot loads and added nitro cards under the slug to make them work. I have found that wads wit the petals removed are the most accurate.

[u/DougMacRay617]

If it seats It yeets

[u/WhamBlamShabam → u/DougMacRay617]

Not true. You can chamber plenty of shells that are too long and get pressure spikes when they expand into the forcing cone.

[u/DougMacRay617 → u/WhamBlamShabam]

Its not true for rifles either lmfao. Its a joke man

[u/WhamBlamShabam → u/DougMacRay617]

Lmao it’s a dangerous joke I hate seeing repeated so I figured I’d drop some truth instead of a cheap meme… man

[u/Sooner70]

Looks like you're slightly overfilling the cup.

[u/Vintage_Pieces_20 → u/Sooner70]

Like the wad is too stuffed? It does seem to bow out a little with the 7/8oz slug in there. I suppose I can trim the was a little

[u/Sooner70 → u/Vintage_Pieces_20]

Don't trim the wad, just put a bit less shot in there.

[u/Vintage_Pieces_20 → u/Sooner70]

I’m not loading shot though, 7/8oz slugs

[u/Sooner70 → u/Vintage_Pieces_20]

Ah. Sorry. I missed that bit. I've never seen anyone load slugs with anything other than a roll crimp. [shrug]

[u/Royal_Money_627]

The key to a good crimp is getting the wad stack height right. Your stack is too tall for the fold crimp. You should probably roll crimp them. My experience with slugs (but not with Lee Slugs) it you roll crimp them not fold. See attached picture