spark plug wire resistance very inconsistent

[VIRGIN MIKE]

Bought a new set of MSD plug wires, with finished plug ends; need to cut to length and install distributer terminals. Problem: with ends installed, found resistance to vary from a few hundred Ohms to over 10k Ohms and coil wire measured as open crimps all look the same to me what am I missing?174504 174505
5.85k Ohms 414 Ohms
My first thought was; the crimps are not tight, so I bought a $30.00 plug wire crimper to tighten the crimp - the #6 wire measured 640 Ohms before re crimping and measured over 10k after recrimping

Measured resistance on trimmed wires, both about 1 foot
174507. 174508

1068 Ohms and 414 Ohms

(meter has fresh battery)

Do the ends of the wires need to dressed in some way to make solid connection or am I damaging the wire when I strip/ crimp?

[VIRGIN MIKE]

Got a new set of connectors and crimped with a purpose-built ratcheting crimp tool - everything good; seems that my soon-to-be 80 year old hands cannot squeeze needle nose pliers as tight as they did the last time I built a hot rod (fifty years ago).

[CaptB]

Interesting discussion, probably most of us don't ever check resistance in a spark plug. It's a big deal (or should be) in general aviation. You can have a plug that looks like it is working well and not know it's needing replacement when you check resistence.