doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Best tools for roll crimping 16 gauge shotshells?

Joe, JDW, others who have used the BP roll crimper: thanks for sharing your experience. One other question about this tool: have you been able to use it successfully without the hull clamp/blocks that BP sells? I am kind of budget-minded and wonder if it wouldn't be a simple matter to make a pair of wooden holding blocks (rubber grips) and use these in an ordinary drill press vice??

Thanks also for mentioning the 16gauge society. I've considered but I want to see if I can shoot this Betsey before I join. Have listened to all kinds of stories from guys who, by their own admission, can't bust a hand-thrown chicken with side-by-sides. Maybe I'm one of them.

With all due respect for JDW's fabrication skills, the hull vise with the DeStaCo plunger clamp is overkill. A 250mm KMC speed wrench will do just as well for dollars less.

jack

Jack, it is overkill but I had 2 of them laying around. Made one for 16 ga and one for 20 ga. I think the load rating is 750 lbs., it is overkill but it works nice.
David

No arguing with what's laying around, David! I thought about making a version of the PR clamp when I saw yours but the clamps I have are hold downs and the other thing (wrench) which was just laying around worked so well, I opted for lazy. A plier or lever or cam clamp with the half-round jaws will also work; think Jim Legg put up a picture of his a while back. The older hand-cranked roll crimpers are self-contained and, although not designed with plastic hulls in mind, do the job every bit as good as any roll crimper head currently on the market. For those who have them or can find them, I wouldn't allow one to moulder away on the theory that it's old hat.

jack