bullet crimping

[milo]

I have obtained some 330 grain jacketed bullets in 50 cal and they don't have a cannelure, I plan to load them for 500 s&w and for 50 action express.

Am I likely to run into problems if I don't crimp them?

Am I likely to be able to crimp them a little bit to hold them even without a cannelure?



I just don't really feel like collapsing the sides of any of this expensive brass and I want to use these bullets.

thanks

milo

 

[acrashb]

You have to crimp them. The .50AE uses a taper crimp, so no cannelure. I can't advise you on the .500S&W.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I don't have any experience with the 50 Action Express but I see acrashb has suggested using a taper crimp and rightfully so. I agree and think some sort of a crimp is a must. I've acquired some Speer 50 cal, 325gr HP's that I've had modified so I can use them and crimp them in the .500 S&W. I had a cannelure added up 0.310" from the base of the bullet and that seems to work really well. I haven't shot and tested that many yet but seeing as they were designed for the 50 Action Express, I contacted the technical people at Speer and they cautioned against velocities over 1500 f/sec.