243 Cannelure dept?

[berettaprofessor]

After success on pistol reloads, I'm on my first rifle reloads and started with 243 and a Hornady 100gn BTSP. In loading for a Remington 700, I measured the distance to the lands (using a straight OAL gauge) as 2.761. Published sources say to load the bullet I'm loading to an OAL of 2.640 or so, which puts the crimp right on the bullet cannelure. If I load for a 0.040 jump to the lands at an OAL of 2.721, for potential better accuracy, the bullet is crimped behind the cannelure quite some distance (i.e. 0.079). Is having the bullet crimped that far out an issue? I realize there may be some slight drop in pressure due to the larger "cartridge space" to expand into.

Thanks.

 

[jaguarxk120]

You do not need to crimp 243 loads.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!

No reason at all to crimp them.

rc

 

[berettaprofessor]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Is it okay to have the bullet seated that shallowly if there is a cannelure above the seat point? I won't crimp but it's a ways out.

 

[rcmodel]

The old rule of thumb is one bullet diameter seated inside the case.
So if you have .240" of the base in the case, and the bullet is not hitting the rifling, they should be fine.

rc

 

[berettaprofessor]

Thanks RC. That's a guideline I can understand.

 

[Sunray]

You can forget the cannelure altogether. It's only there for lever action loads. 2.721" seems very long to me. Max OAL is 2.710". Might be just the M700 chamber though. Nothing will explode. Either way don't get wrapped up in the whole off the lands thing. It's a load tweaking technique.

 

[AABEN]

It is best if you have a semi auto to use the cannelure bullets also.

 

[david bachelder]

I have a Remington 788 chambered in .243. I seat my bullets .030 off the lands. This leaves the cannelure exposed by about as much as you are describing. The gun is extremely accurate. The rounds chamber well, never a problem.

I also think RC Model hit the nail on the head.

 

[41 Mag]

The cannalure can also be to help control expansion especially with the Hornady lineup.

Like mentioned the .243 doesn't really need to be crimped unless you have issues when loading for a semi-auto.

 

[AABEN]

If I am target shoot agents my friends I will use my LEE factory crimp die. I will put a little crimp so the pull is the same. I do this on all rifle bullets 223 243 25.06 270 30.06. It does help me.

 

[Sport45]

If I am target shoot agents my friends I will use my LEE factory crimp die.

If I was shooting agents I don't think I'd mention it here...

 

[jaguarxk120]

"It does help me"

If you shoot better believing that then keep up mashing bullets with that "trick die"