Rifle round crimping question.

PitBull · February 28, 2008, 08:43 PM

Most of my reloading has been for handgun rounds and to a lesser degree for bolt action rifles . Now that I have a progressive

I want to do more for the semi-auto .223 and .308's. Is it neccessary to crimp these?
A lot of the bullets I've seen in these calibers had no crimp groove. I've read were a lot of others crimp theirs and I was going to get Lee crimp dies to use in my Hornady Lock-n-load AP (if they'll even work in that press) but if it's not going to be neccessary I won't bother.
I guess what I need to know is what is crimping the case mouth going to do for me if I do or do to me if I don't?

Thanks,
Pitbull

Wildalaska · February 28, 2008, 08:44 PM

My rule is always crimp for semi autos.

I do however, make up my own rules

So YYMV

WildgoaheadcrimpemAlaska ™

Tim R · February 28, 2008, 09:08 PM

It depends......is there a crimp groove? If not no. Most of the bullets I shoot are slick sided SMK's, the hunting bullets I use, etc. I have never crimped any thing for my AR's and darn few for my M-1's and bolt guns. 30-30 is a whole 'nother story.

freakshow10mm · February 28, 2008, 10:34 PM

I run a FCD with my rifles.

Go Kiwi · February 28, 2008, 10:49 PM

I always use the factory crimp with my autoloader & usually use it for hunting ammo as well, crimp groove or not. I started crimping following a misfeed where the projectile got shoved right back into the case. I would not like to have fired this round and the projectile to have jammed up in the throat or something similar?

I saw a test somewhere on the net where after a few shots the projectiles left in the magazine were measurably shorter (or longer - I forget!) than when loaded

4sarge · February 29, 2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

I was going to get Lee crimp dies to use in my Hornady Lock-n-load AP (if they'll even work in that press)

I use them in my LNL. I've pretty much tossed the ejection wire aside though.
I like the FCD's as they are not as sensitive to case length and you can attain a more uniform tension.

30Cal · February 29, 2008, 04:22 PM

You don't need to crimp. The bulk of competitive service rifle shooters (M1, M14, AR15) don't crimp.

PitBull · February 29, 2008, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the replies.
I crimp all of my handgun rounds to mostly smooth out the belled portion of the case mouth from the expander die. Rifles I've never been sure of since I don't expand the case mouth for the bullet. If there isn't a crimp grove I have a hard time seeing any value added.

PitBull · March 2, 2008, 02:50 PM

Today I went ahead and bought one anyway for .308. Won't cost much to try.

The Tourist · March 2, 2008, 02:55 PM

If I was just going to handload a few rounds for the weekend--not subjecting them to hard use--I probably wouldn't crimp at all to save wear and tear on the brass.

If I was going to shoot for bullseyes, I would trim, measure OAL, trickle powder, etc., and find a die with a taper crimp just to bump the brass a bit.

If I thought my handloads were going to be used for defense, survival conditions, rough handling, etc. I might even collett crimp.

I haven't gone to South Dakota for prairie dog shooting in a few years. Most of the stuff that is ready in my gunroom is totally without a crimp.

CrustyFN · March 2, 2008, 03:12 PM

I do the same as freak and use the FCD. I use very little crimp for 223, I don't load for 308.
Rusty

February 28, 2008, 08:43 PM	#1
PitBull Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 124	Rifle round crimping question. Most of my reloading has been for handgun rounds and to a lesser degree for bolt action rifles . Now that I have a progressive I want to do more for the semi-auto .223 and .308's. Is it neccessary to crimp these? A lot of the bullets I've seen in these calibers had no crimp groove. I've read were a lot of others crimp theirs and I was going to get Lee crimp dies to use in my Hornady Lock-n-load AP (if they'll even work in that press) but if it's not going to be neccessary I won't bother. I guess what I need to know is what is crimping the case mouth going to do for me if I do or do to me if I don't? Thanks, Pitbull

February 28, 2008, 09:08 PM	#3
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	It depends......is there a crimp groove? If not no. Most of the bullets I shoot are slick sided SMK's, the hunting bullets I use, etc. I have never crimped any thing for my AR's and darn few for my M-1's and bolt guns. 30-30 is a whole 'nother story. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

March 2, 2008, 03:12 PM	#11
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I do the same as freak and use the FCD. I use very little crimp for 223, I don't load for 308. Rusty __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

February 28, 2008, 08:44 PM	#2
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	My rule is always crimp for semi autos. I do however, make up my own rules So YYMV WildgoaheadcrimpemAlaska ™

February 28, 2008, 10:34 PM	#4
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	I run a FCD with my rifles.

February 28, 2008, 10:49 PM	#5
Go Kiwi Member Join Date: October 11, 2007 Posts: 40	I always use the factory crimp with my autoloader & usually use it for hunting ammo as well, crimp groove or not. I started crimping following a misfeed where the projectile got shoved right back into the case. I would not like to have fired this round and the projectile to have jammed up in the throat or something similar? I saw a test somewhere on the net where after a few shots the projectiles left in the magazine were measurably shorter (or longer - I forget!) than when loaded

February 29, 2008, 04:22 PM	#7
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	You don't need to crimp. The bulk of competitive service rifle shooters (M1, M14, AR15) don't crimp.

February 29, 2008, 06:37 PM	#8
PitBull Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 124	Thanks for the replies. I crimp all of my handgun rounds to mostly smooth out the belled portion of the case mouth from the expander die. Rifles I've never been sure of since I don't expand the case mouth for the bullet. If there isn't a crimp grove I have a hard time seeing any value added.

March 2, 2008, 02:50 PM	#9
PitBull Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 124	Today I went ahead and bought one anyway for .308. Won't cost much to try.

March 2, 2008, 02:55 PM	#10
The Tourist Junior member Join Date: June 20, 2005 Posts: 2,348	If I was just going to handload a few rounds for the weekend--not subjecting them to hard use--I probably wouldn't crimp at all to save wear and tear on the brass. If I was going to shoot for bullseyes, I would trim, measure OAL, trickle powder, etc., and find a die with a taper crimp just to bump the brass a bit. If I thought my handloads were going to be used for defense, survival conditions, rough handling, etc. I might even collett crimp. I haven't gone to South Dakota for prairie dog shooting in a few years. Most of the stuff that is ready in my gunroom is totally without a crimp.