Shotgun Forum banner

GAEP Roll Crimping Tools

11K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  NOLANUS 
#1 ·
Hello All,

Got another GAEP (Italy http://www.gaep.net/) roll crimper. A few weeks ago I wrote a little article with pictures of roll crimps done with a GAEP 24 gauge crimper -- viewtopic.php?f=13&t=264134 The latest one I received is in 16 gauge, and this time I used it not only for closing regular top wad (B-wad) roll crimps, but also star crimps. Here are some pictures. The first one shows some regular roll crimps, the top two are paper Chedites (second reloading/roll crimping!), and the bottom pair are some old new primed unfired S&W branded plastic hulls (yeah, that's right, Smith and Wesson):


This second set is of a pair of 65mm Chedite new primed plastic hulls, again regular roll crimp closure:


Next pic is one of the same 65mm Chedite new primed unfired hulls, except this one was crimp-started on a MEC 600 and then closed up with the GAEP roll crimp tool:


Here are two more pictures of the same shell. This is a damn near factory-grade crimp on a new shell. Not bragging; just the facts. Notice how round it is, and the nice taper:



The next two pictures are of a variety of hulls with 6-point crimps closed with the GAEP roll crimper. The first photo shows the 65mm Chedite as above, a Remington Black Gameload, twice fired, and 3 old twice fired Federals. The next photo shows 5 of those old new primed unfired S&W's:



It is hard to make a nice star crimp on those Federals and especially the unfired S&W's. These hulls are very stiff, and even if you get them just right on the MEC, they eventually spring back to a sort of hexagon shape. Thin newer Chedites do it too. It is hard for the MEC, or any other crimp method that does not use a friction heated rotating crimp method to impart a good crimp memory. I didn't take much time on these shells, so they aren't the greatest, but you'll notice they are round, and they'll stay that way. I presume they will be much easier to load nicely on the MEC the next time. Here's a last picture showing all the samples from the side so you can see the nicely rounded edge - good feeding for you pump shooters.:


I also have a good steel roll crimper from Precsion Reloading (the best roll crimpers currently available from US suppliers), but it does not provide as nice an edge-round, and it will not close or improve star/fold crimps, because its slot is too narrow, and its inside face is relieved too much even if the slot was wide enough. l have a lot of old Lyman's, and they are far superior at edge rounding than anything currently available from US suppliers, but most people will never be able to find a Lyman. The GAEP tools are interesting because you can use them for both B-wad closures and star/fold crimps, and they have distinct advantages on new hulls not previously crimped.

By the way, if you go to the GAEP site and see their tools, they are different from what we are used to in a unitized multi-function shotshell reloading tool. They also are a bit more costly, but they look rugged. They are an adaptation of mass-production methods to smaller systems for the home reloader. GAEP tools would be very useful to a company making small batches of custom loads using new hulls. They give very professional results, unlike those custom loads I have seen that have been loaded on P-W's and Spolars. If you use new hulls (Chedite, Fiocchi, Federal, etc) to make your own special loads, these tools would reduce a lot of the frustration of crimping. Once set up, there would be no adjustment necessary or possible, except for case length. With tool life estimates of a few million loads, it would take a few lifetimes to wear one out. By then we'll probably be shooting pheasants with a ray-gun -- I sure hope not!

Cheers!
Tony
 
See less See more
8
#2 ·
Gaep makes a STP head (not RTO head) for star crimps. I opened a 12 ga No 2 STP head to use for 10 ga before they made a STP 10 Ga head. I can use the opened 12 ga STP head for both 10 ga and 12 ga.
Left 10 ga new hull used, shell is what the middle shell looked like before using the Gaep head. All shells were loaded on PW presses, then applied the Gaep head.
The STP head comes in No 1 through No 4. No 1 least folded and rounded, and No 4 most folded and rounded. 10Tenner


 
#3 ·
Well, I just received mine yesterday from GAEP.
They sure are great roll tools.
I did some quick experiments and find them very easy and smooth to work with.
I use the PALLA for rollcrimping slugs. Very unique design.



I even tried them on a hull which had a starcrimp before, and it rolls them perfect!




But I realy bought the PALLA to use on the Lyman and LEE slugs.
Just made some crimps on the Lyman slug, the LEE's will be tried later.





Oh, and just for kicks, I rolled a hull all the way down to base...


And BTW, their printing machine is awesome... :D

 
#4 ·
Gaep,does make a large variety of roll crimping heads,for different applications,but I bought the Precision Reloading roll crimper, because I didn't want to wait and order from Europe and I don't
belong to pay pal.The Gaep web sight is interesting especially their station to station press,with
a motorized roll crimper on it.The roll crimp makes chambering in auto's just super.
 
#5 ·
Better than the crimper,, watch the videos,, they are a scream,, can you imagine using the primer/re-sizer tool!!

Looking at these designs kinda make me wonder when the Italians stopped using using rocks and sticks for tools.. Wouldn't you like to see the CG factory now?? Whats next they are going to improve the lee hand loader..

Best Regards and Thanks for the laughs !!!
 
#6 ·
n2deep wrote
Looking at these designs kinda make me wonder when the Italians stopped using using rocks and sticks for tools.. Wouldn't you like to see the CG factory now?? Whats next they are going to improve the lee hand loader..

Best Regards and Thanks for the laughs !!!
What you are saying you have better way of making crimps on new hulls, and keeping the Federal hulls from flaring out over time?
As you can see what my crimps turn out looking like by just using the PW press, and others using MEC presses on new hulls; the left shell on the picture I posted above. 10Tenner
 
#7 ·
n2deep said:
Better than the crimper,, watch the videos,, they are a scream,, can you imagine using the primer/re-sizer tool!!

Looking at these designs kinda make me wonder when the Italians stopped using using rocks and sticks for tools.. Wouldn't you like to see the CG factory now?? Whats next they are going to improve the lee hand loader..

Best Regards and Thanks for the laughs !!!
your post does not even deserv e reply...get on education
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top