[308win]

Do you crimp your bolt action rifle reloads? If so did crimping increase the accuracy?

[Quintin Likely]

I would think that crimping a match hollow point bullet may deform the bullet and hinder accuracy somewhat.

[308win]

I am under the impression from reading this and other reloading boards that most reloaders do not crimp their bolt action reloads. I tried crimping a batch last week (using a LFCD) and I couldn't tell any appreciable difference - given my generally lousy shooting technique. The loads were .308win 168gr HPBT Match

[cookiemonster]

If your firing your rounds one at a time, then there is no need for a crimp.

IF however, your using this ammo to go hunting with, and you will have the rounds in a magazine, then you might want to put a crimp on the bullet...the bullet could shift and affect your pressures greatly...especially if they are near max.




darrell

[Mark whiz]

I've tried using the Lee Factory Crimp Die on my .308 loads for my Semi-Autos and they HATE the crimp! Makes my shots string horizontally.

So far in my experience, as long as your die is sizing the necks well, the crimp is not worth the effort. MAYBE if you are stretching your OALs way out to reach the lands - but that would be about the only reason.

[The Bushmaster]

I crimp .30-30 rounds for obvious reasons, but I don't crimp my .30-06 and they are in a box magazine. I have had no problem with them moving back after a shot. I know because I have checked after a successful hunt.

[win71]

You are right and it can get worse than that. On a hunt in Montana in cold weather I fired twice from a 270, fired once more a few minutes later and put the 4th one in the chamber. Finally found the elk and went to clear the chamber. When I pulled back on the bolt I got the case and a bunch of powder flying all around. The bullet was stuck in the rifling. It had not been crimped and during those 3 fired shots apparently worked its way partially out. It was flat stuck and I had to use the radio antenna off the pick-up to knock it back into the mag. I crimp them now.

[Ross]

Aside from the bullet security issue, there is sometimes an ignition issue. With some powders a heavy bullet pull is required to get uniform ignition.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

[steve4102]

I crimp all of my loads with the Lee FCD. I have found it to increase accuracy in my autos and my bolts. Here is a link to a test using the LFCD.



http://www.accuratereloading.com/crimping.html

[ocabj]

I don't crimp rifle cartridges, even semi-autos. I'd crimp for a tube magazine lever action, though.

[Sharps Shooter]

I don't crimp rifle cartridges for bolt actions with box magazines and I've never had bullets shift even with some fairly heavy recoil - .300 Win Mag and .338 Win Mag. I have HEARD of it happening though if there is insufficient neck tension. One would think the .300 Win Mag would be likely culprit for insufficient neck tension seeing as how its short neck has been blamed for everything else. But like I say, I've never had that problem. It WILL batter the heck out of pointy bullets unless the points are plastic, like Ballistic Tips.

I'd suggest checking the diameter of the expander button in your sizing die if you're having problems with bullets shifting in the cartridges in your magazine. The problem is most likely insufficient neck tension. There are exceptions no doubt. Probably the REALLY heavy recoil jobs like the .416 Magnums and .458 Magnums do need crimps as well as a lot of neck tension. And of course, cartridges for tubular magazines need crimped.

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Even loading hot loads for my 30/338, I don't crimp. And there's plenty recoil to get bullets to move if they weren't tight enough. I do fireform then only neck size for that round. But even my warmest loads for my venerable 30-06, Which I also only neck size. No rifle bullet I shoot has a canelure except for the Hornady 190 pspbt. And I don't seat the bullet far enough to use it and crimp there. And I've never had bullets walk. As for accuracy, they both shoot ~minute of angle without crimping. I don't want to fix what ain't broke.

-Steve

[huntingnt]

I'm new to reloading but I had the same question. I called the guys at Sierra and they told me that if you take and seat a sacrificial bullet in a sized case and push it point down on a bathroom scale and the neck tension holds up to 35 lbs then you should be fine. It has worked so far for me loading some '06 with no changes so far in OAL with the ones in the magazine.

-Jim

[win71]

Now you have me thinking. I know the problem is neck pressure against the bullet. It may be an expander ball -size problem. I'd check it but I'm at a loss as to how much smaller than .277 it is suposed to be. This is the only rifle I've had this trouble with but its the only rifle I hunt with like this. Although the loaded cartridge does not allow the bullet to rest against the rifling it's not from it. The problem may only be in this particular rifle and the circumstances prior to the occurance. I don't crimp anything else for shooting at the range and that includes 300 RUM, 375 H&H and 416 Rem. Mag. But I'm not shooting any of them with a mag. full of shells either. I'm going to try it next time out.

[trickyasafox]

while we are talking bout crimping

how do i set the crimp on my lee dies?

[The Bushmaster]

What caliber. I still have the instructions for 9mm, .38Special/.357 magnum, .45 ACP, .30-30 and .30-06.

[trickyasafox]

223

[The Bushmaster]

Not sure if there would be any difference in set up .30-30, .30-06 to .223. If you want and no one else gives up the information I could send them to you by e-mail.

[Sharps Shooter]

I don't have a set of .270 dies, but I just measured the expander balls in my .30-06 die and 300 Win die - they both measured .307". Just 1/1,000" under .308". Possibly the same thing would hold true for a .270 die. If so, the expander ball would measure .276". But I'm making an assumption. You'd probably be better off asking the people who built your die set. :)

[win71]

Your assumption is probably right and it does measure .276". I've had accuracy problems with this pre-64 mod. 70 unless I load the shells long, almost touching the rifling. I think this problem is caused by the overall circumstances I have caused and conditions I've encountered. I'll just keep on crimping, or shorten the OAL. I'm almost sorry I posted in the first place!!!

Ron

[cookiemonster]

trickasafox,

The way I do it is this...

first seat your bullet to the height you want. you can do this to match the throat of the rifle/pistol you shoot, but I wouldn't do it in an auto pistol.

then after you seat the bullet, back out the seat adjustment, with the bullet in the full up position, screw the seating die down until it stops. After it stops, bring the bullet down a little and tighten the die about a 1/8th of a turn. Stroke back up and see what type of crimp you put on it. Check it with the bath-scale method if you want. and remember that if your doing loads for a rifle or single shot that has alot of freebore, then you can seat that bullet out far...and don't need to hit the cannelure. Hope this helps a little.

Darrell

[rbernie]

I get noticably lower ES and SD results for my loads when using the Lee FCD, so I use it for all calibers that I reload.