How much crimp?

[Taterhead]

I wondered the same thing, so I loaded up 12 - 15.

Just to be clear, those "12-15" were at least once-fired and not resized?

Yes they had been reloaded a few times. They were, however, resized. I had loaded them with 150 grainers. Bullets could be pushed into the case with my thumb! I fiddled with crimp, but that helped not at all. I pulled those bullets, resized with the decapping pin removed, lightly flared, and then loaded them with 200 grain bullets. The longer bearing surface helped a little, but still not satisfactory neck tension. No splits upon firing.

[Taterhead]

To bad it is so hard to anneal short straight wall cases.  That is really what they need.

No doubt. But then again, I am not sure how to keep them from shrinking?

[REDLINE]

I wondered the same thing, so I loaded up 12 - 15.

Just to be clear, those "12-15" were at least once-fired and not resized?

Yes they had been reloaded a few times. They were, however, resized. I had loaded them with 150 grainers. Bullets could be pushed into the case with my thumb! I fiddled with crimp, but that helped not at all. I pulled those bullets, resized with the decapping pin removed, lightly flared, and then loaded them with 200 grain bullets. The longer bearing surface helped a little, but still not satisfactory neck tension. No splits upon firing.

I'm surprised even the foot long 200s wouldn't hold tight.  Especially in a resized case.  Even in new brass I notice the 200s bulging (loosely speaking) a fair ways down the case wall.  Seems like that brass wouldn't have held a 135 grainer at all.  BTW, thanks for the clarification!