How much crimp on .223?
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when i use fmj w/c and my lee crimp die i only get a lite crimp ring with four evenly spaced 1/4 sections its small and does not appear to be a massive ring like factory. i don't crimp unless theres a "cannalure" because it seems to bulge the bullet and i assume this would increase the pressure.
my 2cents worth
my 2cents worth
All my sources that instruct on reloading for autoloaders advise a heavier crimp to counteract the recoil pushing back the bullet deeper into the case causing slightly higher pressures. Also, a heavier crimp will prevent bullets getting stuck in the chamber if you eject a case w/o firing it .. which causes quite a mess.
The accuracy lost by using a heavier crimp is usually lost to the action of the autoloader (meaning you would have been that inaccurate anyways because of all the moving parts). Thus scores should be unaffected.
If you look into the top of the factory crimp die while after you pull the lever all the way down, you will see the 4 sections squish together causing the crimp. Once these 4 pieces touch, do not adjust for a heavier crimp as this is the maximum crimp the die will allow (read the instructions regarding the factory crimp die, its all there)
using a lee factory crimp die on non-cannalure bullets is not a problem .. as stated in the lee handloading manual
ps, yes there should be a slight ring around the top of the case neck about .030 in length and anywhere around -.010 to -.015 'deep' compared to the diameter of the case neck. I hope that wasn't too confusing
The accuracy lost by using a heavier crimp is usually lost to the action of the autoloader (meaning you would have been that inaccurate anyways because of all the moving parts). Thus scores should be unaffected.
If you look into the top of the factory crimp die while after you pull the lever all the way down, you will see the 4 sections squish together causing the crimp. Once these 4 pieces touch, do not adjust for a heavier crimp as this is the maximum crimp the die will allow (read the instructions regarding the factory crimp die, its all there)
using a lee factory crimp die on non-cannalure bullets is not a problem .. as stated in the lee handloading manual
ps, yes there should be a slight ring around the top of the case neck about .030 in length and anywhere around -.010 to -.015 'deep' compared to the diameter of the case neck. I hope that wasn't too confusing
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None. Not needed in AR15. I do reload extensively for my AR15 and LR308 and never had an issue even with molly coated bullet.
Do not crimp bullet that do not have a cannelure.
If you really want to crimp and have bullets with a cannelure then use the Lee factory crimp. Brass must be trimmed to make it work properly.
Do not crimp bullet that do not have a cannelure.
If you really want to crimp and have bullets with a cannelure then use the Lee factory crimp. Brass must be trimmed to make it work properly.
I normally don't disagree publically with anyone as, to be honest, everyone has the right to their opinions. I wish I had the Lee handloader manual in front of me so I could quote it, but they do state that their factory crimp is ok to use with non-canalure bullets. I have used this die while loading .308 win using Sierra MK (non-cannalure), put the heaviest crimp the die will allow on, and then measured to see if the crimp 'buldged' the rest of the neck. It did not with every test.
Thus, I am left to agree with LEE, who coincidentally made the die.
If there are other problems crimping a non-cannalure bullet with a LEE die, do you have any reference material? Because I would love to read about the issues found!!
Again, please dont take this as a 'i know better then you', because if life has taught me anything, I dont know nearly as much as I should!
Mount Sweetness
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Yes the Lee factory crimp die's crimp well and the bullet does not require a cannelure. Yes, you should just see a very minor shiney crimp ring around the neck of the case. After crimping your over all cartridge length will lengthen by .003 to .004in, something to consider when seating your bullet.
I disagree. I've had bullets slammed back into the cases in my AR because I didnt crimp. Some of the very first reloads I did for my AR were done on a single stage press, and I figured I would skip the crimping process.
It was a stupid lazy thing to do.
i'm in agreement with 'Slushee's' comments.
I use a Lee factory crimp die on all of my AR ammo.
All things being equal, I've better velocity consistancies with rounds I've crimped.
Try crimping a match bullet without a canalure and then pull the bullet and have a look at the crease created by the crimp...It doesn't damage the bullet at all, and the effect on it's down range performance is nil.
I use a Lee factory crimp die on all of my AR ammo.
All things being equal, I've better velocity consistancies with rounds I've crimped.
Try crimping a match bullet without a canalure and then pull the bullet and have a look at the crease created by the crimp...It doesn't damage the bullet at all, and the effect on it's down range performance is nil.
