Do you use the lee FCD to crimp target bullets?

[Kryogen]

Do you use the lee FCD to crimp target bullets?

I am reloading some match 308 and I wonder if I should use the lee FCD to give the bullets a uniform crimp, to compensate the slight case stretching that could occur when seating a bullet that is slightly canted(most of the time).

Opinions?

 

[bigedp51]

If you would visit accurateshooter.com and read the reloading articles and go to the forums you will see the competitive shooters do not crimp their ammo. If you have "canted" bullets meaning excessive bullet runout it is caused by your die setup or brass with unequal case wall thickness.

NOTE: More ammunition is reloaded with excessive neck runout due to the decapping rod/expander button being locked down off center than any other cause. A cheap and simple Lee collet die produces the least amount of case neck runout as long as you have good brass.

A well known competitive shooter full length resizes his cases to give the case some "wiggle room" in the chamber and allow the bullet to be self centering as it entered the bore. This helps eliminate the effects of case misalignment, and this shooter jokingly said the following.

"I get my accuracy when the cartridge case fits the chamber like a rat turd in a violin case".

Many of the competitive shooters FL resize and seat their bullets long and jam the bullet into the rifling. This in effect reduces any alignment errors caused by the cartridge case because the cartridge is only touching the bolt face and the bullet is already centered in the bore.

 

[Kryogen]

I already use the lee collet die, just wondered if I should use the FCD or not also.

 

[fred0000]

I've never crimped a target load and never plan to do so (also use a lee collet die), I do crimp all my semi auto rifle rounds with a FCD though.

 

[Kryogen]

why not crimp target loads?

 

[ffgats]

adding to much variables

 

[Viper26]

why not crimp target loads?

One of the major variables is how the bullet releases from the case. The least amount of neck tension that still holds the bullet in place is generally best.

 

[cosmic]

Rather than canvas the internet, do a simple experiment at the range and report back to us. The answer will be definitive for you, at least....

 

[Trinimon]

I don't crimp target loads. They're usually all hand fed in my bolt gun anyway.

 

[Kryogen]

I will range and report as soon as I get my damn scope... in the mail

I have made some rounds with TAC

42, 43, 43.5, 43.8, 44

6 non crimped, 3 crimped of each.

Will try and report.

 

[maynard]

I have never crimped a match bullet. I use a Redding bushing die that gives me .002" press fit.

 

[beltfed]

I crimp everything. .223, .308 and 6PPC.
I find generally after extensive testing from 100 - 900m known distance shooting:
- They shoot just as good as non-crimped rounds.
- less standard deviation.
- good for bolt guns and autos.
- all of my rounds are mag fed regardless if they are a bolt gun or an auto.