.223 reloading

A

al100

Regular
Rating - 100%
5   0   0
Location
Saskatoon
when reloading for a semi, or more so a AR, is it best to full length resize or is neck sizing alright too ( is neck sizing more for bolt guns only ). It would be already fire formed brass from my gun.

Also to crimp or not to crimp?
 
I have never done anything but full length size. If you wish to be harder on your cases - there are "small base" dies designed specifically for semis.
Never needed to crimp either. Light soft points, or 62gr FMJs all stayed in place.
 
I used Dillon's carbide dies, adjusted for headspacing using thier gauge. I did lightly crimp. I was using the SS-109 bullets, and with properly trimmed brass, the case mouth was dead center in the cannelure. The crimp was light. If the bullet did try to set back, it would likely have stopped on the forward edge of the cannelure.
 
Thanks all.

I had bought the deluxe die set that came with the collet die, aswell as a full length sizer but no crimp die. I have as of this morning returned that set and and replaced it with the one that full lengh sizes and has a crimp die.
 
Crimp everthing that goes through an AR. You will eventually run into feeding issues with bullet set back if you don't. Despite popular myth, the crimping will not decrease accuracy.
 
If anything , I find crimping gives way more consistency during ignition. The same amount of pressure is exerted on the neck/bullet each time during ignition, which flattens out the spikes in pressures from varying degrees of tension from just neck sizing and no crimp. Consistency is the key , especially with specialized equipment like AR's.
 
If anything , I find crimping gives way more consistency during ignition. The same amount of pressure is exerted on the neck/bullet each time during ignition, which flattens out the spikes in pressures from varying degrees of tension from just neck sizing and no crimp.
Click to expand...

If crimping improves your accuracy,I would suspect a neck tension issue.If your neck tension is proper,crimping should not help accuracy.If crimping was normally beneficial to accuracy,all target shooters would be crimping.
 
How do reloaders know what crimp (I know what crimping is and what it does) to use on what cartridge??

For example, how do you know when you've "taper crimped" a .223 cartridge for an AR properly??

Enquiring minds - and all us FNG's to reloading for AR's - wanna know!!!
 
stubblejumper said:
If crimping improves your accuracy,I would suspect a neck tension issue.If your neck tension is proper,crimping should not help accuracy.If crimping was normally beneficial to accuracy,all target shooters would be crimping.
Click to expand...

Sure. With the type of brass maintenance an F-class shooter does, proper neck bushing will do wonders. I don't think that works well on gas guns, even those as gentle as an AR, though. I don't bench up and shoot a group very often, but I did notice an improvement out of my ARs when I started using a factory crimp.

Honestly, I am not sure what it takes to climb the next stair in AR reloading/precision.
 
I use FL dies for both my 223 & 6.8 SPC and crimp with Lee Factory crimp dies any larger case like a 30-06 I use small base dies.
 
I'm not going to re-load for my AR since I'm not looking for precision shooting. I did the numbers and the savings are just not worth the time with FL sizing, etc. I just watch for bulk stuff to go on sale and plan to focus my re-loading efforts on my bolts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom