.30-06 & 180gr. SST - Crimp Testing

[lazyMlazyK]

So a friend has been helping me with some of my .30-06 loads lately, and I think i'm really starting to get somewhere. This new-ish Win 70 (made in the last 15 years or so) has never shot factory ammo well, and I had to settle on handloads that grouped around 3/4"-1" @ 100 yards. Tried various seating depths, powder charges, bullet types, primers, etc. and nothing would really make a difference. My buddy helped me replace the factory stock with a 1986 WinTuff laminate that one of his friends had for sale, and that seemed to help quite a bit, especially after bedding it. The Sierra 150gr. bullets with IMR4064 had grouped around 1"-2" in the factory stock, and now with a light roll crimp I'm able to get around 1/2"! I know some people would think this is just OK, but for my history with this rifle it's a miracle. With factory crimped handloads, it shoots even a little bit better. I'm going to experiment with the factory crimp die and more of the 150, 165, and 180gr bullets I've got sitting around. She really seems to like a factory crimp for some reason.

 

[2506]

If you bump that load up to 51.2 grs IMR 4064 with those 150 gr bullets you probably will not need the crimp to get the same accuracy. This load has shot in numerous 30-06s I have loaded for over the past 40 years. I have used Lee Factory Crimp Dies to improve accuracy in a number of old military rifles that have throats a mile long. Basically it does about the same as loading a bullet close to the lands. It retards the bullet moving out of the case until the pressure reaches a certain point and it meets this pressure consistently before the bullet starts it movement.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

If you load 68 grains of (hunter) powder . tap the case to settle it enough to seat a 110vmax on top about .120" deep. It will most likely be great. It is in my 06. Speed is only about 3300+ .

 

[SPQR70AD]

If you bump that load up to 51.2 grs IMR 4064 with those 150 gr bullets you probably will not need the crimp to get the same accuracy. This load has shot in numerous 30-06s I have loaded for over the past 40 years. I have used Lee Factory Crimp Dies to improve accuracy in a number of old military rifles that have throats a mile long. Basically it does about the same as loading a bullet close to the lands. It retards the bullet moving out of the case until the pressure reaches a certain point and it meets this pressure consistently before the bullet starts it movement.

Hallelujah! I have been saying that about the Lee factory crimp die for 20 years and no one seemed to believe me. not only does it work in old surplus rifles it works in any rifle and it does not cause premature barrel wear and raise pressure like seating to the lands. the most accurate ammo I ever loaded was with that die. I am not saying you can win an inter galactical bench rest match with it but you will have very accurate loads

 

[2506]

Hallelujah! I have been saying that about the Lee factory crimp die for 20 years and no one seemed to believe me. not only does it work in old surplus rifles it works in any rifle and it does not cause premature barrel wear and raise pressure like seating to the lands. the most accurate ammo I ever loaded was with that die. I am not saying you can win an inter galactical bench rest match with it but you will have very accurate loads

Yep I listened to the "know it all" benchrest shooters at my local shooting range talking about the Lee Factory Crimp Die like it was something that came out of the south end of horse heading north. We had started shooting some matches we called old men's military rifle matches. We could not get down into the positions any more so we shot from the bench. Carbines at 50 yards and rifles at 100 yards. These same "know it all" benchrest shooters just could not understand how I was cleaning their plow in these matches. The Lee Factory Crimp Die worked for me and I never told them what I was doing. It drove them nuts and a couple quit shooting the matches because they were so full of themselves and could not take loosing. LOL

 

[Steve Ladino]

I've had good luck with the Sierra # 2160 180 grain Game king boat tail at ten off with 49 grains of Imr 4064. No need to crimp.

 

[SPQR70AD]

Yep I listened to the "know it all" benchrest shooters at my local shooting range talking about the Lee Factory Crimp Die like it was something that came out of the south end of horse heading north. We had started shooting some matches we called old men's military rifle matches. We could not get down into the positions any more so we shot from the bench. Carbines at 50 yards and rifles at 100 yards. These same "know it all" benchrest shooters just could not understand how I was cleaning their plow in these matches. The Lee Factory Crimp Die worked for me and I never told them what I was doing. It drove them nuts and a couple quit shooting the matches because they were so full of themselves and could not take loosing. LOL

That is great and real world results. I have many rifles and never crimped and each load for a rifle shot OK .when I got the die I went back and crimped them and the all shot better. it works for my surplus and target rifles

 

[lazyMlazyK]

I've been thinking about trying a crimp on the other calibers I currently reload for now too, just to see if the same difference is noticed. If so, I'd be surprised at the groups in the .22-250 and 6.5 CM!