CRIMPING

[antelopedundee]

How many here crimp their rifle handloads with something like a Lee FCD aka Factory Crimp Die? If so do you do all loads, just hunting ammo, other?

 

[mikehotel]

I do use the LCD on my .223 ammo. I tested crimped vs non crimped loads maybe 3-4 years ago and found that the crimped loads produced tighter groups. My thinking is that the crimping may be evening out the neck tension. I would like to think that my reloading technique has improved over the last couple years, however I still crimp my .223 loads for the AR.

 

[antelopedundee]

I do use the LCD on my .223 ammo. I tested crimped vs non crimped loads maybe 3-4 years ago and found that the crimped loads produced tighter groups. My thinking is that the crimping may be evening out the neck tension. I would like to think that my reloading technique has improved over the last couple years, however I still crimp my .223 loads for the AR.

Is that with a cannelure or without one?

 

[riverside jeep]

I also have recently tested groups shot with my .308 win. and 7mm rem mag and improved group size by using the Lee factory crimp die. The group sizes dropped about .10 to .25.

 

[2506]

Depends on the rifle. I have been using the Lee FCD on all my AR rifle loads. 223, 6.5 Grendel but I only use what I call a medium crimp, fingers of the crimping die with no round inserted set up to go about half way between fully open and fully closed when you look into the top of the die when you raise the ram fully. I also use the Lee FCD on all my old military rifles loads. It makes them more accurate. Most of these rifles have very long throats and I believe using the crimp does about what loading bullets closer to the lands does for other rifles. It retards bullet movement out of the case for that split second until pressure and burn gets going good much like the bullet hitting the lands and is slowed a split second and accomplishes the same thing. Just my theory. All I know is it makes more accurate ammo. I use the Lee FCD with all bullet style. Most of the bullets that I use that have a cannelure I usually end up seating them to a different COAL where the cannelure does not line up with the mouth of the case anyway.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I don't crimp any rifle cartridges that I load. All are for AR's or bolt guns. It is one more thing that can get screwed up.

 

[Uncle Ed]

The RCBS AR Series dies come with a taper crimp

You can also increase bullet grip by using smaller diameter expanders. Whidden offers expander kits with five expanders from bullet diameter to .004 under bullet diameter.

Below many reloaders use the Lyman type "M" expander for their AR15 rifles. This expander increases bullet grip and bumping the case mouth onto the second .226 step to aid straight inline seating And then a taper crimp is applied to streamline the case mouth for feeding. With brass spring back the case mouth is approximately .001 larger than bullet diameter.

Below is a photo of a 9mm cartridge sized with a Lee under sized die to increase bullet grip. And you can see where the base of the bullet stops inside the case, This case is wasp waisted showing how much smaller the case diameter is before seating the bullet.

Bottom line you can crimp the bullet or decrease the amount the neck is expanded to increase bullet grip.

 

[INTJ]

I crimp most all hunting rounds with the Lee Factory Crimp Die. Solves a lot of problems. It's not as big a deal for lesser recoiling cartridges like 375 H&H level and under. But with 416s, 458s, and the large capacity 338s, when loading rounds in a magazine, a crimp is important.

I haven't noticed in reduction in accuracy. In fact it seems to improve consistency for the typical 5/8 to 3/4 MOA hunting rifle accuracy.

I don't crimp BR loads, and I probably wouldn't for a long range (600 yds +) hunting rifle. Probably wouldn't crimp for a varmint rifle.

That said, if when developing your load you crimp every round from the start, you won't have any surprises with the Lee Die.

 

[antelopedundee]

I remember now looking a couple weeks ago and Lee doesn't offer one for the 6.5-06AI.

 

[antelopedundee]

I also have recently tested groups shot with my .308 win. and 7mm rem mag and improved group size by using the Lee factory crimp die. The group sizes dropped about .10 to .25.

Is the die simply set to touch the shellholder?

 

[riverside jeep]

Is the die simply set to touch the shellholder?

These dies are only for crimp, It is a collet die that only touches the neck of the cartridge. It can be adjusted to vary the amount of crimp/ tension. I would say it's not really a crimp but more of a squeeze.

 

[antelopedundee]

These dies are only for crimp, It is a collet die that only touches the neck of the cartridge. It can be adjusted to vary the amount of crimp/ tension. I would say it's not really a crimp but more of a squeeze.

Thanks. May give it a try with my .25-06.

 

[Hohn]

I don’t see much value in crimping without a cannelure on the bullet to receive it. But neither would I expect any harm from it.

 

[INTJ]

I don’t see much value in crimping without a cannelure on the bullet to receive it. But neither would I expect any harm from it.

The Lee Collet Die works well with or without a cannelure. Where squeezing a bullet scares me for a high accuracy application, it seems to help a lot of heavier recoiling hunting rifles.

 

[Rsadams]

I use the FCD on loads for an automatic like .223... For bolt guns I don't crimp....

 

[antelopedundee]

Can anyone comment about the Lee dies vs the Redding dies that are in the National Match sets? I see someone selling a Redding .300 Win mag taper crimp die which I can't find a NM set for or on the Redding site.

 

[K22]

I shoot all bolt rifles with light to modest recoil so there's no issue with the bullet moving under recoil so crimping offers no advantage to me in that regards.

All the rifle bullets I shoot don't have cannelures so I'm not sure how crimping could be effectively accomplished. I've never crimped rifle reloads so I have no data to compare crimped and non-crimped accuracy results.

I do crimp all pistol reloads.

I'm intrigued that some have reported an improvement in accuracy by crimping. I don't debate this but rather find it intriguing.

I haven't shot factory ammo in about 40 years but most of what I've examined at the range seems to have a crimp and I've seen amazing groups shot with factory ammo so I think it might possible that it doesn't degrade accuracy and may even improve it in some instances. However at this stage in my shooting life I have no plans to change since I'm entirely satisfied with my non-crimped reloads.

 

[Webster]

How many here crimp their rifle handloads with something like a Lee FCD aka Factory Crimp Die? If so do you do all loads, just hunting ammo, other?

Why do you think you need to crimp ammo?

 

[BeefyT11]

Factual information? Or marketing ploy?

 

[antelopedundee]

Why do you think you need to crimp ammo?

I don't necessarily, but I've seen it mentioned elsewhere and wondering if it has merit.