[mgrych]

simple question, i just noticed after pulling a crimped bullet out of a case that it leaves a light, non-uniform, crease around the bullet... Think that can effect accuracy?

[The Bushmaster]

Yes...Sometimes. No...Sometimes.

It's something you have to experiment with for your particular rifle. I fired non-crimped and crimped .30-06 rounds down range at 200 yards and saw no difference in accuracy. There was a bit of a difference across the chronograph, but only +/- 25 fps. The crimped rounds were +0 to 25 fps faster then the non-crimped rounds.

[USSR]

Hunting or informal target shooting, don't worry about it. Long Range or precision shooting, nobody does it, and for good reason.

Don

[R.W.Dale]

about the only part of the bullet that when damaged will significantly effect accuracy is the base where the bullet last contacts the bore. Bullet tips and shanks can be surprisingly deformed and still shoot great groups, but booger up the base and it's a total crap shoot.

Of course for absolute precision you want to help yourself as much as possible

[1858rem]

so if i started reoading .308 or 30-30(jus found its a pre '64 win 94!!!!) would i need a crimp die? or would neck tension be sufficent, recoil in 30-30 tube mag?

[USSR]

1858rem,

For the .308, no. For the .30-30, yes. The reason you do it for the .30-30 is because the tube magazine holds the cartridges end-to-end, which puts pressure on the bullet tip and can force it deeper into the cartridge case.

Don

[steve4102]

If you are going to crimp get a Lee Factory Crimp Die. They are easy to use and can be used on bullets with or without a cannelure.

I have experimented with the LFCD on several different rifles and cartidges. In most cases the rounds crimped with the LFCD were a bit more accurate then the non-crimped rounds. In all my tests I did not find any rifle that shot worse after being crimped.

[The Bushmaster]

mgrych...Do you have and have you read a reloading manual yet?

[jwr747]

years ago,when Lee brought out the Factory Crimp Die,big war over "good or no good" between Lee and some other die/bullet makers.when the dust settled,as stated above,the base of the bullet is the part that determins accuracy. crimping grove,tip damage is non-detectable. jwr