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Old January 8, 2013, 10:38 PM   #1
tollys103079
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.223 FMJ / Hornady 55 grain w/c crimp or no crimp

Do you have to crimp these? I have never crimped my .223 rounds but with the cannelure I am not sure what to do. Anyone do anything different. My normal load is a 55 grain V Max, but the neighbor had some of these so I was going to load them up for some target rounds.

2.200 C.O.A.L CFE 223 powder started at 26 grains and made 10 each in .3 intervals want to get to the range, but wanted to double check on crimp first.

Thanks
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Old January 8, 2013, 10:41 PM   #2
RKG
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I never crimp slugs in 5.56 (.223 Rem).
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Old January 8, 2013, 10:44 PM   #3
lll Otto lll
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No need to crimp....just ignore the cannelure.
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Old January 8, 2013, 10:45 PM   #4
Xfire68
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No crimp or a little taper is all. Vmax get none and FMJ's get a small amount. I am not saying it is needed I just do it this way.
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Old January 8, 2013, 10:46 PM   #5
tollys103079
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So if no need to crimp should I stick to my standard 2.250 COL or should I go to the recomended 2.20 that actually puts the end of the brass right in the cannelure.
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Old January 9, 2013, 04:36 AM   #6
the led farmer
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If your going to crimp seat to the cannelure
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Old January 9, 2013, 06:16 AM   #7
overthere
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I do not crimp when making cartridges to shoot from my bolt action 223, but I do crimp when making cartridges for my AR. For the latter I seat and crimp to the cannelure.
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Old January 9, 2013, 05:54 PM   #8
tollys103079
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Ok so with my RCBS Die How do I know how much crimp? With the .45 acp I know if it fits in my shell gauge it is right and I can measure it, but not sure how to tell on the .223 with or without cannelures.

I tested a few and they look good, but I have no idea how much I put on them a half of turn past touching the case mouth.

Also do I have to trim all the cases in order to crimp the same everytime? I guess I do not know if my cases are all the same length.
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Old January 9, 2013, 07:29 PM   #9
oldpapps
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Only 'crimp' if there is a need to.
Simple and to the point.

Be safe,

OSOK
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Old January 10, 2013, 06:23 AM   #10
overthere
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Quote:
Ok so with my RCBS Die How do I know how much crimp?
For bullets with a cannelure you should be able to tell by looking at / touching a non-crimped cartridge and a crimped one. The brass should be ever so slightly 'folded in' into the cannelure area. How much depends on the level of crimp. Less is typically more, typically no need to go crazy on the crimp.

You do not have to trim your brass to the same length but if you are seating to the cannelure you will get more consistent seating depths if you do so.

Lee makes a 'factory crimp die' for 223 which is just used for crimping. You would seat the bullet without crimp with the seating die, then crimp with the factory crimp die. It has worked well for me.
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Old January 10, 2013, 11:29 AM   #11
tollys103079
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I crimped some last night with my RCBS die just because I wanted to see them and it turned the brass in just a little bit and made them look like factory. I will shoot them this Saturday and determine if I should do it to all of them for my AR or not. I have never had an issue without a cannelure but I like to make sure each round is as good as it can be and I like to tweak things. Gives me something to do on these long cold winter nights when I cannot go fishing.
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Old January 13, 2013, 01:43 AM   #12
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I crimp them for my AR. I never crimp .223 for bolt guns.
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Old January 13, 2013, 03:27 AM   #13
IMtheNRA
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Tollys, I'm curious to find out what your results were.

I use the same bullet in my non-precision plinking ammo and like you, I could not resist the urge to crimp last year, so I set up a second seating die just to crimp on the press station after seating. My 100-yard groups went from 1.5" to 2.25" from a 20" 1:7 Colt AR with A2 sights.

Too bad, because the rounds did look really nice when crimped :-)
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Old January 13, 2013, 08:53 PM   #14
tollys103079
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Results

Loaded up 20 at different powder weights using CFE Powder and for the life of me I cannot remember my numbers, but I will get them and post them later if anyone wants them. I loaded some Sierra Blitzkings 55 grain and FMJ 55 grain.

Both with the same powder loads seated the FMJs at 2.20 and the shot great. 5 shot groups better then I can shoot, I wish I could see a real difference. The lightest powder group was the worst but after that they all looked great to me, but when the range is busy I dont feel like I have the time to really sit down on the bench and measure my groups like I want at least since I started reloading.

I did notice that the crimped ones did not show any major improvement and I measured the last round before I shot it twice and it was still 2.20. So they didnt shorten up.

So I guess I am going no crimp at least until I see something different. You are right though they sure looked pretty.
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Old January 13, 2013, 09:21 PM   #15
Mobuck
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All my loads that might be used in AR's are crimped. Loads specifically for the bolt rifles are not.
I've seen pictures of a couple of AR's destroyed by uncrimped ammo that suffered bullet push back during feeding.
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