Crimping and Cannelures

[grant22]

I'm starting out my endeavor on reloading .223 on my 550b. I'm using LC brass, Montana Gold and Goldenwest Brass 55 gr FMJBT bullets and going with the 2.215" OAL from my Speer manual. I'm also doing a very light and minimal crimp in the last stage.

This OAL puts the cannelure about 1/32" below the case mouth......you can't see any of the cannelure. Is there anything wrong with this? I don't think my cartridges will fit in the Magpul mags if I extend my OAL to crimp AT the cannelure.

Thx boys!

[gau17]

did you trim your brass? What's the length? You want your crimp to be somewhat in the middle of the cannelure

I believe mag length is 2.260. you can seat them a little longer. I seat mine around 2.250.

[grant22]

I've gauged the brass and it's all within normal limits. I just did a couple rounds @ 2.260" and it puts the crimp right in the middle of the cannelure, so that'll work. I guess what I'm learning here is when following a handbook's recipe, you don't have to necessarily follow the OAL since the projectile may not be the exact same projectile as in the book.

Thx for the tip!

[gau17]

You should be fine. If you want to use your original COL of 2.215, I bet if you trim your brass to 2.175 it will put the edge near the middle of the cannelure.

Remember Max length is 2.176 which is not that much more.

Be safe!