Crimp or not to Crimp ?

How many of the people that claim to see an improvement by crimping, have actually measured the neck tension in their loads?

I don't care about neck tension myself... If my load uncrimped shoots 2" and my crimped load shoots 1.5" then crimping is obviously beneficial. I have seen improvement in pretty much everything I shoot. Crimping and Magnum primers are two of the easiest changes I have made to improve my loads.
 
Just had similar discussion with a young fellow all wound up about reloading minutia - is about what he can show on targets at 100 yards or whatever - his ability, his rifle, etc. might more likely be the "issue" as opposed to some reloading "fine tuning" process that he may or may not do. No doubt some shooters and some rifles can show that his concerns make a difference for them and their gear - but I have my doubts whether he and his gear can show that. If he can not demonstrate the improvement - is waste of time for him, I think. But, is not wasted time to try it. Might be waste of his money, at this stage, to buy some gizmos that do not produce any differences on his targets, though.
 
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I just want good accurate and reliable hunting loads for the rifles I plan to reload for. I'll never go down the rabbit hole of reloading for just punching paper , chasing that perfect group. I do understand those that are in to that though so to each his/her own. I bought the lee .303 brit factory crimp die so will try the 180 gr pvri SPBT crimped and uncrimped and see what gives.
 
As with B, I simply go by my groups. But i test any rifle I'm trying to wring the best accuracy our of. Some respond well, others do not. - dan

And I have found that adjusting neck tension can improve accuracy , without resorting to crimping. From what I have experienced, crimping usually improves accuracy, when the neck tension is inadequate.
 
I think this to be true.
The crimp can also deform the bullet.

Any bullet without a cannelure will be "deformed". That isn't necessarily a negative thing as is evident by some of the responses you hopefully read. I am extremely averse to complicating anything I don't need to. If I were interested in long-range competition maybe I'd worry about neck tension. Since I don't have interest I simply crimp and enjoy the usually positive results.
 
Another crimping success story...
I crimped the Hertinberger 308 Win ammo and noticed an accuracy improvement. Not because it had insufficient neck tension but because the neck tension was inconsistent. Crimping made it consistent over the batch and it shot noticeably better.
 
Another crimping success story...
I crimped the Hertinberger 308 Win ammo and noticed an accuracy improvement. Not because it had insufficient neck tension but because the neck tension was inconsistent. Crimping made it consistent over the batch and it shot noticeably better.

My theory is that inconsistant neck tension gets evened out by crimping , just as you explaine Buckmastr!
For thoose that are a bit confuesed by the above ,If some brass seats to .003 tension and some to .008 tendion, but the crimp die seats to .010 tension, the other tension variances are inconsequenstial. It is a lot cheaper and less hassle than sorting brass, turning necks , changing bushings or shell holders .

Cat
 
I don't care about neck tension myself... If my load uncrimped shoots 2" and my crimped load shoots 1.5" then crimping is obviously beneficial. I have seen improvement in pretty much everything I shoot. Crimping and Magnum primers are two of the easiest changes I have made to improve my loads.

I would agree. I tend to try my loads and if I get unclean burn and not great accuracy I try a crimp.

I don't start with crimp though.

Scrummy
 
Any bullet without a cannelure will be "deformed". That isn't necessarily a negative thing as is evident by some of the responses you hopefully read. I am extremely averse to complicating anything I don't need to. If I were interested in long-range competition maybe I'd worry about neck tension. Since I don't have interest I simply crimp and enjoy the usually positive results.

Deforming any bullet for use at distance can not be good, and is a negative, however, if it’s just a close range hunting rifle, no problem. I crimp my 357 mag, but it certainly is not a long range tool.
 
Deforming any bullet for use at distance can not be good, and is a negative, however, if it’s just a close range hunting rifle, no problem. I crimp my 357 mag, but it certainly is not a long range tool.

I have said several times that I am not a long range shooter and I would agree with that. For the majority of my shooting and likely that of others not competing at long range, a crimp may be beneficial though. Some bullets go the other way and groups open up when crimped. It's not a perfect thing and experimentation is necessary to see if it's going to help.
 
I think a crimp besides neck tension consistency, ( partially ) actually changes ignition, and the increase in accuracy may be from that alone. In any case it is certainly is worth a try for many.
 
I crimp everything with a Lee die. Ordered special made ones for cases they normally don’t make.
I have found it has increased accuracy of every round I load for. And lowers standard devaluation.
Load everything from 22hornet to 450 3 1/4” nitro.
 
Looking at my federal premium factory rounds and they have applied a crimp with the nosler partition.
I'm trying to reproduce excellent factory ammo accuracy with my reloads with the same bullets and my once fired collection of brass from this rifle (7mm rem mag)
 
Hunting gets crimped. Might not come home with me.
Target shooting gets no crimp and then the brass lasts longer. Some expensive stuff up to 12 to 15 reloadings.
 
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