To crimp or not to crimp

[SteveUSA1]

When single feeding by hand a bolt action rifle and shooting from the bench, has anyone tested to crimp or not to crimp with their reloads. I am interested to hear of anyone to make claims that by crimping they had seen a decrease in their grouping size on paper target shooting. I know about the need to crimp when loading magazine for bolt action or any semi-auto action rifles. I neck size only my brass until a full length sizing is needed.

 

[The Bushmaster]

The only rifle cases that I crimp are .30-30 and then only because they have to set in a tubular magazine...No I have seen no difference in crimped or un crimped rounds. Of course I am loading for hunting and not target shooting...

 

[SteveUSA1]

Bushmaster;

I use LC brass which is a bit pricey and do not want to work brass unnecessarily. Maybe some slow burning powders would warrant crimping I guess. Thanks for your reply.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Steve...I use H4831SC in my .30-06 and no crimp and it is a slow burning powder. I get excellent results with it. I fire them in a Browning A-Bolt...

 

[30Cal]

I only crimp for leveractions and revolvers. I shoot Highpower competition and I'd say that very very few use crimp. Your bullets should stay put just fine without it (and if they're moving, then you're sizing die/expander ball is hosed up).

Sometimes crimp will improve accuracy, sometimes it will degrade it. If you think it's going to give more consistant neck tension, you'll need to make sure all your cases are the same length.

The military uses crimped bullets because they're required to stay put with 60lbs on the bullet and they also have a 30minute @ 14' submergence requirement.

Ty

 

[Lennyjoe]

Only rifle rounds that I crimp are 30-30 and .223 for the AR.

IMR 4350 for 30-06 and no crimp necessary.