Crimping to tight.

[Raptor1Ronin]

So last night i i was working up 30RDS of 55grn V max with No Cannelure. I wanted to use them in my AR15 so I decided to crimp them using my Lees crimping die, I noticed after the crimp the rounds were a little loose. This is due to the part of operator error. Im sure i went to tight with the crimps. Is it ok to crimp a round that doesnt have a Cannelure. Also does anyone have advise on crimping I sure hate to mess up more rounds.


Thanks,

[Dark Mod]

I wouldnt bother crimping them at all, even when they have a canelure i use such a light crimp that you wouldnt even notice.

Crimping can be somewhat problematic, especially if your working up a load, it can have strange effects on your end result if your not consistant.

Either way ive never really found it necessary to crimp for an AR.

[bruceflinch]

Test some w/o the crimp. I bet you find they work fine.

[Raptor1Ronin]

I will do that, thanks for the heads up.

[gau17]

no need for crimp.

[smalltime]

The rounds were a little loose? Neck tension should hold the bullet securely and it shouldn't move at all even with no crimp. If you can push the bullet in by hand something is wrong.

[Raptor1Ronin]

So no need to crimp ... canelure or not? perfect im going to get on the bench and work up some more loads !

[r3dn3ck]

exactly.... never had to apply a crimp on rifle rounds except for the hardest recoiling magnums and stuff like .444 marlin that is known to suffer setback under recoil and then only just a little bit... no heavy crimps for me. neck tension is usually more than sufficient.

[Raptor1Ronin]

Even for AR, I guess I was worried more when the round is going into battery and it hits the feed ramps that it might push the round back into the casing?

[Raptor1Ronin]

The rounds were a little loose? Neck tension should hold the bullet securely and it shouldn't move at all even with no crimp. If you can push the bullet in by hand something is wrong.

Before the crimp they were sung as a bug couldnt move them at all.

[Southpaw45]

Check the C.O.L of one of your completed non crimped rounds and take note. Pull the firing pin out of your AR and reinstall bolt carrier. Chamber this round hard into full battery from a mag. Remeasure the col. If the bullet didn't seat any deeper, then your good to go.

[ivanimal]

I always crimp for semi autos. Period.

[chim-chim7]

Crimping is not necessary, but more importantly do not crimp without a cannelure on the bullet. The more you crimp the more you will effect the accuracy of the round, meaning you will lose accuracy. Also if your cases are not all within +/- .0015 in OAL you will have different crimp sizes, leading to very inconsistent grouping. If the neck is sized properly, that is all you need to hold the bullet it. Normal feeding will not cause bullet setback, but jamming a round could. Of couse a crimp wont help much against a hard jam anyway.

Leave the crimping for heavy magnum loads. Happy Shooting and reloading.

[rsrocket1]

If they were snug before the crimp, your crimping pushed the case mouth down and expanded the neck. You now have way less tension holding the bullet in than you had before the crimp. Watch out because the act of feeding the bullet into the chamber might push the bullet down into the case. Not good.

[brianinca]

>>>>
do not crimp without a cannelure on the bullet.
>>>

I understood the OP to say Lee crimping die, which COULD be the Lee collet style "factory crimp" die.

I collet crimp all my hunting loads except 450 Marlin and 30-30 Winchester, which take a roll crimp into a cannelured bullet. No cannelure is needed with a collet type crimping die.

Repeated movement and rechambering makes crimping an important step for CERTAIN SITUATIONS. Blanket "don't crimp" statements aren't terribly helpful for new handloaders.

Regards,
Brian in CA