.223 Crimp questions both ends

[dtalley]

I finally got enough componets to reload my first .223 rounds. I trimmed all brass and decrimped the military primers pockets, primmed, powdered and seated bullets..

First Question. I was using a RCBS Chamfering tool chucked in a cordless drill to take out the crimp on the military brass. Can you take out too much in the primer pocket, when doing it this way? I had a couple that the new primer seemed to fall in.

Second Question. Do you need to crimp the bullet in for an AR or will neck tension be enough to hold the bullet to not allow set back in Magazine?

I loaded 150 rounds of plinking ammo last night before I thought I might want to seek opinions:banghead:

thanks

 

[GRIZ22]

Yes, it is very easy to too far on crimp removal especially with a power tool. Comapre some of those "primer just fell in" pieces of brass and you'll easily see the difference. I always use a handtool. Slower but I never overdo it.

Neck tension will usually hold the bullet in place but I use a seating die with a crimp to be sure.

 

[Walkalong]

Swage those primer pockets instead.

 

[g56]

Those shells that the primers kind of "fell in" will fall out just as easy, in an AR when a primer falls out it often falls into the fire control group, and jams it up! The jarring that the loaded cartridge gets as it's loaded into the chamber will often dislodge a loose primer, so you end up with a shell in the chamber with no primer in it, so loose primer pockets get you coming and going.

Don't get carried away with it, when you find a case that the primer seats too easy, throw it out, you don't need that kind of trouble.

I've shot thousands of rounds of my reloads in my AR, there isn't any need to crimp the rounds if the cases are being sized correctly to hold the bullet.

 

[layusn1]

When I am trimming out the primer pockets I take a pocket uniform tool and try to pop it in the primmer pocket every couple of turns to see if it fits yet. I am considering getting the RCBS primer swagging die...$26 is well worth the piece of mind if it works. I may combine that with an RCBS lube die #1 and the resize die all in an extra turret so that I have everything to prep a case in a separate turret...just a thought. I'm using a Lee pro 1000 so I only have three die positions anyway and the second turret can hold the powder through die, bullet seating die and Factory crimp die.

***THREAD HIJACKING WARNING***

I put a TIGHT crimp on some Win 55gr FMJ bullets. I did not realize how tight the crimp was and they were difficult to pull out afterwards with an RCBS bullet pulling die. I pulled them because the accuracy and grouping sucked. I put a light crimp on some 52gr Speer BTHP Match bullets and they grouped very well. Did the excessive crimp cause the bullets to to fly around into 2 inch groups?

 

[cheygriz]

If you plan on using much military brass, invest in a Dillon swaging tool.

I've done 5,000 9MM cases in an afternoon and evening.

http://dillonprecision.com

 

[mc223]

I use a Dillon taper crimp for my AR loads. VERY LIGHT. about .003 to .005 of crimp. Trim length MUST be very uniform or crimping will not be.