new to 308 win reloading crimp or not help please.

[grahamfarmer]

hi all starting to reload for my 308 now ihave prefected my 223 rem loads. will be using magtech cases with cci br2 primers and hodgdon varget or h4895 as their is a shortage of varget in my area of the uk . using hornaday 150 grain soft points on anything from fox to wild boar using redding dies in a rockchucker press should i crimp or not as bullets have crimp ring advice please.

 

[JoePellegrene]

Crimping is generally done when you use a tubular magazine. If you’re shooting a single shot rifle you don't need to crimp the cases. You could crimp the cases for a bolt action rifle, but it's usually not necessary.

 

[grahamfarmer]

thanks for the guidance all i need now is for the shell holders to arrive and i can run a few off and find the sweet spot for my gun

 

[Loupeznik]

I have also understood that a crimp on semi's is necessary. I shoot an AR-10 and do not crimp. I can not perceive of a detriment to not crimping.

 

[Rust]

Crimping is generally employed for military ammunition which may be stored, shipped, carried, beaten and dropped before being fired in full automatic. Also why most military ammunition has a cannelure to crimp into. It ain't for accuracy.

That said, a mild crimp won't hurt much if at all for hunting ammo, especially in the really big magnums. I crimp all of my .416 Rigby ammo for instance as the recoil can be described as brisk.

But for target shooting with a semi usually just a decent amount of neck tension will work.

 

[30378]

I crimp select calibers of handgun ammo only.

 

[SooStan]

Some factory chambers shoot better with a Lee factory crimp. For the small cost of the die it is worth trying. There was a good article at accurate reloading at one time about the Lee factory crimp die.