Quick Rifle Crimp Question

[codefour]

I have loaded for rifle and handgun for a little over a year now. But, I have never loaded a rifle round that had a cannelure. What kind of crimp do you put into the cannelure of a rifle bullet? I am going to load some .223 and have never used bullets with a cannelure. Do you roll crimp them like a revolver round? Or do you apply a light taper crimp just to get the cannelure slightly filled with said crimp.? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[paperpuncher49]

Typically, if you are going to crimp a bullet with a cannelure, you would use a slight roll crimp. Reloading manufacturers generally provide seating dies with the proper crimp for the caliber being loaded. For example, a .45 ACP seating die would provide a taper crimp, while a .223/5.56 a roll crimp. For rifle rounds, even .223 used in a semi-auto like an AR I do not normally crimp the round. If loading something for a revolver or a lever action, I do.

 

[Grumulkin]

I only crimp for rifle rounds to be shot in heavy recoiling rifles like 375 H&H Magnum, 458 Lott, etc. and for revolver loads. You definitely don't need to crimp 223 loads.

 

[Walkalong]

You can roll crimp them if your cases are trimmed to the same length and the cannelures on the bullets you are using are uniformly placed on the bullet. If not, roll crimping can be problematic. A taper crimp is much more forgiving. But as posted, for most applications there is really no need to crimp .223.

 

[cfullgraf]

I do not shoot any shoulder bruisers like 375 H&H. Top rifle round for me is the 30-06 for the Garand. and smaller. I do not crimp any of them even if the bullet has a cannelure or the rifle is a semi-auto action.

 

[codefour]

Thanks for the info. I am going to try and skip the crimp all together and see how they shoot. Thanks again..

 

[FROGO207]

As far as my reloading experience I do not crimp 223 as the neck tension if proper will hold the bullet in and provide good ignition. Any time that you do crimp when unneeded you are introducing a possible problem if things are not set up perfectly with each bullet. Also it takes extra time to length size all of them the exact same when doing this for no appreciable gains IMHO. I mostly ignore a cannalure these days unless heavy recoil will move the bullet or it is a tube feed firearm.