Cannelure vs precision

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I've had a long standing suspicion that a cannelured bullet isn't as precise (group size) as the same smooth bullet. The two bullets I'm questioning are .224 55 gr. VMax and 68 gr. Hornady HPBT but wonder if the HR group has experience with others as well.

Thats an “apples to oranges” comparison. If you were really wanting to see if the cannelure itself was the difference, you would need non cannelure bullets and a cannelure tool.

This way you could test the exact same bullet with and without.

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That said, I don’t crimp loads I shoot for precision, so I have never personally side by side tested.
 
Thats an “apples to oranges” comparison. If you were really wanting to see if the cannelure itself was the difference, you would need non cannelure bullets and a cannelure tool.

This way you could test the exact same bullet with and without.

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That said, I don’t crimp loads I shoot for precision, so I have never personally side by side tested.

I don't think many rifle loaders crimp. At least that's what I read.
 
I don't think many rifle loaders crimp. At least that's what I read.
Being that the AR15 is the most common rifle in America, you may need to reconsider that position. Historically the 30-30 being the most common deer rifle also works against your proposed crimp theory.
 
Thats an “apples to oranges” comparison. If you were really wanting to see if the cannelure itself was the difference, you would need non cannelure bullets and a cannelure tool.

This way you could test the exact same bullet with and without.

True. Truth be known, I was asking a question that I already knew the answer to.

No one shoots bullets with a cannelure in any serious rifle competition.

But I didn't expect the results I got with 4 out of the 5 shots in my test group. But there was a "flyer", and that was only one group. I will find out more next summer when I shoot a few more targets in our benchrest league. If they suck, well first prize is only a 1976 AMC Pacer. My goal in life is to use up all of the miscellaneous bullets I have in my cabinet before I die.

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I contacted Hornady to get to the bottom of the difference in their 68 gr. Match bullets. With the holiday and hunting season I don't expect an answer for awhile.
 
I've had a long standing suspicion that a cannelured bullet isn't as precise (group size) as the same smooth bullet. The two bullets I'm questioning are .224 55 gr. VMax and 68 gr. Hornady HPBT but wonder if the HR group has experience with others as well.

I'm not so sure that cannalures make a lot of difference as far as precision goes - at least not with "hunting" type precision. They might with "bench rest" type precision.
My wife has an '80s Ruger 77, 7mm-08 that I guarantee won't keep 3, 139gr Hornady SPBTs inside a 4" circle at 100 yards. Yet it will keep 3, 139gr Hornady SPs (flat base) bullets inside a 1" circle at 100 yards. And BOTH bullets have cannalures.
But before anyone asks, no, I don't have pictures. Pictures over the internet don't prove anything anyway other than someone took pictures of holes in a targets.;)
 
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Being that the AR15 is the most common rifle in America, you may need to reconsider that position. Historically the 30-30 being the most common deer rifle also works against your proposed crimp theory.

Not familiar with the AR but I would think it wouldn't be much different than a Mini-14. I don't crimp my loads for that and I've never had a problem with 20 rd magazines.

When I purchased my dies for .223 I was told I didn't need a crimp die.......period, so I went that.
 
When I purchased my dies for .223 I was told I didn't need a crimp die.......period, so I went that.
I don't crimp bottlenecked rifle cartridges either, and I don't even load .223. I'm curious though - don't .223 bullet seating dies crimp too if you screw them far enough into your press? That's how bullet seating dies work for straight-walled handgun cases work anyway.
On the other hand, I actually bought a Lee "Factory Crimp Die" for 9mm. I never use it. But it's not the first thing I ever wasted money on.;)
 
I don't crimp bottlenecked rifle cartridges either, and I don't even load .223. I'm curious though - don't .223 bullet seating dies crimp too if you screw them far enough into your press? That's how bullet seating dies work for straight-walled handgun cases work anyway.
On the other hand, I actually bought a Lee "Factory Crimp Die" for 9mm. I never use it. But it's not the first thing I ever wasted money on.;)

The seating die probably does crimp. I'll have to check. I think I may have adjusted it so it doesn't crimp but that was years ago and I honestly don't remember.

I use LFC die on all my auto ammo. Never found it necessary on revolver ammo. Just makes my life easier.
 
Being that the AR15 is the most common rifle in America, you may need to reconsider that position.

I don't know about the public at large, but I do know quite a few service rifle competitors (I'm one too) and I have never met one, or even heard of one, who crimps their AR15 loads. Oh, and virtually every service rifle shooter shoots an AR. Anyway, the general consensus is that crimping is not needed and, in fact, is just another variable that can throw a shot out into seven-land when you least expect it.

Tim
 
I don't think many rifle loaders crimp. At least that's what I read.

Oh, I crimp rifle loads, just not all of them. Some, I feel needs it but I have to admit to not knowing if my 45-70, 30-30 and other tube fed rifles actually need it to prevent bullet movement. None of them are what I would consider “precision” though. 1.5 MOA if I put an optic on and find a load they like…
 
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The crimping groove is for practical use, where you might damage the cartridge (hunting, militery,etc) for just plinking, they are not really nessesary.
 
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