School me on crimping

[LloydXmas250]

I'm just not understanding it. When do I use them and when don't I? When I reloaded 9mm with my Lee dies it didn't mention a crimp and I'm not sure my bullet seater made a crimp.

What does a crimp even look like? How do I know it it's producing a crimp or not? In Lee's book he mentions crimping a lot. When I start reloading .223, I just bought the set with the full-length sizer, bullet seater and a factory crimper. Now do I only crimp rounds with a cannelure? If so how do I make it crimp on the cannelure? The book makes it sound that if a bullet doesn't have a cannelure then the factory crimp die will make one. Also, how much of a crimp should I put on a bullet and how do I know how hard of a crimp I'm producing? Man I'm confused.

As a bonus question, for extra credit of course, why does Lee suggest full-length sizing over neck sizing if you are hunting? Why would it matter? Thanks.

[Divernhunter]

With neck sizing you could have chambering problems and at the range that matters little. But hunting you need reliable ammo. I FL size all my ammo but I do not try to get 100 reloads out of each piece of brass.

The lee crimp die will crimp anywhere on the bullet. To"me" that is not a good thing especially for hunting ammo. I do not crimp any rifle ammo. If I did I would adjust the die to crimp in the crimping grooveon bullets that had one and not crimp on all other bullets.

Your 9mm should have a taper crimp.

You need to buy the lyman reloading manual and read it. That would help answer your questions and explain the whole process better for you.

[LloydXmas250]

How do I check to see if my 9mm has a taper crimp. Is it something I can visually check? What about crimping for my AR? everything I've read says to crimp because of the violent loading.

I'll be reloading 30-06 later. Mostly for target but also hunting on occasion. So for target neck size, but for hunting full length size? And you suggest no crimp for a bolt gun?

[XDRoX]

I wouldn't crimp for a bolt gun.

For 9mm you can measure it. Take it down to .377". Any more than this can groove into plated bullets.

If you post very large pictures I can give you my opinion.

[Abenaki]

First thing....reread your reloading manuals. If you don't have any, get some.

Maybe these videos will help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1LEbcRDs70&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TJ_-ctKr4s&feature=related

I neck size my rifle rounds, most of the time. For my hunting rounds that are neck sized I just run them through the rifle action prior to hunting to make sure that they will work with no problems. Never had a problem yet.

Your 9mm dies have a crimp feature built in....they should have.
On semi auto pistols, I like to seat the bullet and then crimp using two different dies. I seem to have less problems that way.

Take care
Abenaki

[LloydXmas250]

So the crimp isn't really visible? How do I know I'm creating too much of a crimp? When doing my first load of 9mm I never really noticed a crimp but the rounds seemed seated very well and they functioned perfectly.

The way this is being described to me makes it sound like with my AR, I will seat and then crimp. With the 30-06 I would neck size and leave it without a crimp. I would also cycle rounds through the action to make sure they all seat properly. Does that sound about right? I know it's up to me but I'm looking basically for plinking ammo in my AR and very accurate rounds out of the 30-06.

[XDRoX]

So the crimp isn't really visible? How do I know I'm creating too much of a crimp? When doing my first load of 9mm I never really noticed a crimp but the rounds seemed seated very well and they functioned perfectly.

The way this is being described to me makes it sound like with my AR, I will seat and then crimp. With the 30-06 I would neck size and leave it without a crimp. I would also cycle rounds through the action to make sure they all seat properly. Does that sound about right? I know it's up to me but I'm looking basically for plinking ammo in my AR and very accurate rounds out of the 30-06.

Like I already said, you can measure the crimp on a 9mm round. You know it's too much if you pull the round and you marked the bullet.
For 223, you can see the crimp. At least I can see the crimp from my Dillon die. I can post pictures for you later if you want.

[bruceflinch]

With neck sizing you could have chambering problems and at the range that matters little. But hunting you need reliable ammo. I FL size all my ammo but I do not try to get 100 reloads out of each piece of brass.

The lee crimp die will crimp anywhere on the bullet. To"me" that is not a good thing especially for hunting ammo. I do not crimp any rifle ammo. If I did I would adjust the die to crimp in the crimping grooveon bullets that had one and not crimp on all other bullets.

Your 9mm should have a taper crimp.

You need to buy the lyman reloading manual and read it. That would help answer your questions and explain the whole process better for you.

Isn't one of the reasons to reload, to make better quality ammo? As a competitive shooter & non-hunter, I have to take exception to your remark.

The Lyman Book is a Goody!

[LloydXmas250]

Like I already said, you can measure the crimp on a 9mm round. You know it's too much if you pull the round and you marked the bullet.
For 223, you can see the crimp. At least I can see the crimp from my Dillon die. I can post pictures for you later if you want.

No pictures necessary. Just found a picture and I see it now. Although watching the youtube videos, I've not been using a taper die with my 9mm. I just seated the bullets. I need to go and buy a taper die as well now correct? I'm confused as some people say it seater die in 9mm will crimp as well but others use taper dies.

[XDRoX]

No pictures necessary. Just found a picture and I see it now. Although watching the youtube videos, I've not been using a taper die with my 9mm. I just seated the bullets. I need to go and buy a taper die as well now correct? I'm confused as some people say it seater die in 9mm will crimp as well but others use taper dies.

You should already have a crimping die in 9mm. Any 3 die set comes with it. You probably have a seating/crimping die, it does both.
There are two types of crimps, taper and roll. Roll crimps are for bullets with cannelures like revolver rounds. They protect from bullet setback.

Taper crimps are really just to take the flare out of the case.

[LloydXmas250]

This is the set I have. It doesn't mention crimps at all. I'll have to check next time I'm with my reloading stuff. I have to keep it at another house. Apartment is too small for reloading.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=140349

[XDRoX]

This is the set I have. It doesn't mention crimps at all. I'll have to check next time I'm with my reloading stuff. I have to keep it at another house. Apartment is too small for reloading.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=140349

Now you've confused me
I don't know why they don't mention crimping. I looked on Lee's site and it says the same thing.

You don't need a crimp die, the seating die that you have taper crimps, I'm 99% sure.

I have that exact set. I don't use it anymore, but I have taper crimped with it.

The nob on top adjusts the seating depth. The actual depth of the die controls the crimp.

Take an expanded case and seat a bullet in it like you always do.

Screw the seating nob all the way up.

Mess with the die depth.
You will notice how the die will remove the bell. The lower the die, the smaller it will make the top of the case.

Continue to lower the die until the bell is completely removed. The top of the case should measure .377". If you go too much, you will start to penetrate into the bullet.

Once you have the crimp adjusted to .377", put the round back in the press and turn the seating nob until it snugs up against the round.

Hope that all makes sense.

[LloydXmas250]

It's starting to. Sorry for the slow learning. Thanks again

[XDRoX]

It's starting to. Sorry for the slow learning. Thanks again

Using a 3 die set, like you have, the seating/crimping die is the most difficult to correctly set.

I believe the whole reason that Lee came out with the factory crimp die was to help people reload that couldn't figure out how to properly set the seating/crimping die.

It is best learned hands on. But with a little patience you'll figure it out. They've been reloading with those 3 die sets for a hundred years, they work great once you figure them out.

[TMC]

On the 9mm crimp issue. Set the crimp die with an empty case, no bullet. That way you can see if the die is actually crimping and how much. Measure with calipers about 1/8" down the case and then right at the next, the next should be the smaller measurement. I personally don't crimp much, just enough to take the flare out so they will feed.