to crimp or not to crimp
- Thread starter dnkosh
- Start date
Depends. Neck tension plays into this, as does accuracy. I did a 500 load test in 308 some years back, and the loads that I crimped with a Lee factory crimp die were more accurate in all cases but one (in that particular rifle). All I can say is try it both ways and see. FWIW - dan
Crimping?????
IN MOST BOLT ACTION RIFLES CRIMPING IS NOT REQUIRED. In a 270 there is no reason to crimp.
Lee claims crimping helps accuracy, other reloading manuals say crimping is detrimental to accuracy.
Most reloaders do NOT crimp.
Bill
IN MOST BOLT ACTION RIFLES CRIMPING IS NOT REQUIRED. In a 270 there is no reason to crimp.
Lee claims crimping helps accuracy, other reloading manuals say crimping is detrimental to accuracy.
Most reloaders do NOT crimp.
Bill
I guess I'm not part of "most"!
Crimping is needed in heavily recoiling guns where the bullet in the magazine may move in the case creating either overpressure (when backing in) or feeding problems (when backing out).
More so when only neck sizing.
From a different point of view, most bullet seating dies also crimp.
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- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I have come to the point that I crimp all of my game loads and I believe it makes my ammo just a little better. When I intend to crimp I take care to choose cannelured bullets. Crimping when done properly tends to enhance accuracy as the bullet pull weight is uniformed in a similar fashion as does seating the bullet out to the lands. Crimping should be done as a separate step from seating, and when care is taken to crimp each case uniformly, accuracy is never diminished. But it may not make a difference for you in your rifle, so try it to see if the extra time required to crimp is worthwhile. If you wish to rush through your loading procedure, I would skip crimping.
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While on the surface this may be a true statement, IMHO it is always a good idea to crimp ammo intended for hunting use. Just look at any factory ammo & you will see the crimp.
I respectfully disagree. There are reasons to crimp, otherwise reloaders wouldn't bother.
Crimping does help accuracy in most cases. Over-crimping & distorting the bullet will negatively affect accuracy.
IMHO this is NOT a true statement. All the reloaders I know crimp most of there reloads. Anyone who reloads for semi-auto rifles should crimp their ammo.
George
This is a true statement as most seating dies offer a roll crimp option if you screw the die further into the press. I causion newbie's to be very careful when trying this feature. It only works with bullets that have a cannelure, & it is very easy to deform the case while using the feature. It is much easier to just get a Lee factory crimp die. Almost impossible to misuse
.George
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
A method I use to get good uniform results when crimping with a seating die is to simply thread the seater plug to the top of the die, run the ram to the top of its travel, then thread the die with the finger tips of one hand until refusal. The crimp will not be excessive and will produce good round to round uniformity. Back the die out a bit, then proceed with the subsequent cartridge.
