The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting .375 H&H; "To crimp or not to crimp?"Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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| one of us |
To all, We are working on our load development for the .375's and have come up with the question, should we be crimping or not? So far we have used a "light" crimp but were wondering what the 'panel' would suggest. If you wouldn't mind, please give your loads/bullet combination. Thanks for your time, | ||
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| one of us |
Richard Lee of Lee Precision claims that crimping loads increases accuracy. If you look at Saeed's reloading pages, he gives the results of tests that suggest that, at least for the larger calibers, crimping does increase accuracy by a small but measurable amount. Ooe problem with crimping, at least using the Lee Factory Crimp Dies, is that it mars the lip of cases, so that they don't look right for the next loading. If you want to load your cases repeatedly, then maybe crimping isn't the best idea. But if you don't care about that, and are going for max accuracy, then crimping may help you. I load .375 H&H -- Winchester cases, WLR primers -- with Hodgdon 4350 powder, to the max. loads given in the Hodgdon manual for 270 and 300 grain bullets, and get excellent accuracy and about 100 to 150 f.p.s. greater velocity than what is given in the Hodgdon manuals. My rifle (a Remington 700 Limited Classic) seems to have a fast barrel. Usually I haven't crimped the loads, but I have done so sometimes. I haven't done systematic tests, with the only variable being whether a cartridge is crimped or not, to see whether crimping increases accuracy. If you are loading hunting rounds, and they are going to be bumping around a lot in the magazine of a heavy-recoiling rifle, that could be a reason why crimping may be advisable. | |||
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Since your hunting with me you better crimp those loads and accuracy is of no concern, a buffalo at 20 yds and a functioning rifle are a concern... I DO NOT WANT TO LOOSE my best group hunters, you are a financial asset to this family, and mama wants you around for years to come, least she will never make it to Hawaii... The Powells, when in RSA do not have to crimp... ------------------ | |||
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If you don't want to crimp there is something else you can do....polish the expander ball in your die set just a bit and this will not only make sizing easier, it will increase the neck tension on your bullets and will be more consistent than crimping....in my experience. If you really want to produce 1st class reloads take a look at the Wilson in-line dies that come with different neck-bushings to adjust neck tension. When coupled with an in-line seater you are producing world-class ammo. | |||
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One of Us |
Big Sam: I think I'm in a pretty good position to offer some worthwhile observations on the subject. I have always been a fan of the 375. Before I went to Africa last year I really turned to and got busy with load development, accuracy AND reliability. To that end, I think it's important to crimp the 375 and I did use a Lee crimper. In my view, there is NO difference in accuracy if you crimp. However, I did have a pretty good amount of bullet movement if I didn't crimp, particularly if I left a round in the magazine and fired a few rounds(justlike you would under hunting conditions) after experimenting with IMR 4350, 4064, RL-15 and H-414, I found what at least in *MY* rifle a standard Model 70 Winchester Super Express (1992 manufacture, it was one of the first 100 to come out with claw extractor), 76gr of H-414, WW cases, Fed 215 primers using 300gr Swift A Frames, Hornady RNs AND the old fashioned Hornady solids. All were crimped at the center of cannelure. AVERAGE accuracy was 1/2"@ 100 yards with many groups as small as 3/8" Can't ask for anything better than that! I took 5 animals with it and if you want to see pictures of the animals AND some recovered bullets go to: www.kateydid.com/hunter Take care, jorge | |||
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| <Rusty> |
Crimp those cases! | ||
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On all my big bores I turn about .003 to .004 off the expander ball of my resizing die, in a lathe, but a drill press will do and then polish it....Use a powder that fills to the shoulder junction and add a very light crimp to that... I have never used a Lee taper crimp die, and have always been slightly curious how it compares to a regular crimp die from the standpoint of bullet purchase etc. ------------------ | |||
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one of us |
Jorge- Very nice photos and great animals, but why didn't you have your PH put some clothes on for the pics?  | |||
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Thanks to all. We have already turned all of our neck sizers down as a matter of course. We are now considering the Lee factory crimp die. Do I understand correctly that we have to send them a dunny round or something? I was using RL15 and working on 2450 fps. (Robertson's recommendation) in a Winchester MOD. 70. This is my 'small'rifle, to be a B/U for the .416 Rigby and to be used primarily for my plains game. I will also look at some of the other recommended powders. Any more suggestions? Very nice KUDU indeed! I didn't realize that some of the Chipendale Dancers were PH'S! Thanks for the input. SAM | |||
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| one of us |
On all my big bores I turn about .003 to .004 off the expander ball of my resizing die, in a lathe, but a drill press will do and then polish it....Use a powder that fills to the shoulder junction and add a very light crimp to that... I have never used a Lee taper crimp die, and have always been slightly curious how it compares to a regular crimp die from the standpoint of bullet purchase etc. ------------------ | |||
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| <lb404> |
Big Sam--What is a dunny round? lb404 | ||
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| one of us |
Big Sam....if your .375 is going to be a back-up for you .416 and you are going to use it mostly for plainsgame I would load it up to 2550 fps or so to flatten out the trajectory...the only reason Robertson wanted to load it down to 2400-2450 fps was to help penetration on frontal shots for buff and to help out a bit on recoil and if can take a .416 Rigby's recoil a .375 H&H shouldn't bother you. | |||
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quote: No. You don't have to send them anything. The Lee Factory Crimp die in .375 H&H will work properly on any 375 H&H case that is within specs for length, and on any bullet, whether or not it has a cannelure. | |||
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| one of us |
Again, thanks to all. Alot of good information. FYI, A "Dunny Round" is a load that will not fire due to lack of powder and primer. This is how a DUMMY spells it!! A LEE Crimper is on order. I believe that loading back up to 2550 fps. is sound advice. This may also be a help in accuracy. The recoil is not an issue. Keep the recommendations/suggestions comming. | |||
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Sounds like you got it covered. Crimp! Good choice in guns and loads. Make that 375 H&H do about 2530 fps with the best bullet in 300 grains: Barnes X, Swift, or Woodleigh softs and solids come to the mind of a reloader. BTW my 375 H&H liked 72.0 grains of Reloder 15 with the Barnes X. It gave 2528 fps from the 24" Douglas barrel, and grouped 3/4 MOA for 3 shots. Winchester brass, F215 Match primer. ------------------ | |||
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Anyone have any experience with nickle plated brass? I'm using once fired 'Federal' from factory loads. Tye dosen't have any experience with it and we're not sure if there are any problems short of neck turning with plated brass. SAM | |||
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| one of us |
Sam, I use them for solids, that way I know solids from softs in my cartridge belt for what its worth... I figure its a smart move and have nothing but theory to back that up, but it sounds like a good idea. ------------------ | |||
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| one of us |
On nickel-plated brass I've found they are more trouble than they're worth because of the plating flaking off a few reloads. Ray's idea is a good one if you limit the number of times loaded. I get around that by carrying my solids nose up in their case or on my belt. | |||
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A question for those who use a smaller expander ball, What do you consider the ideal inside diameter for the case neck before seating? | |||
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| one of us |
I know that you all have been waiting on the edges of your seats for the results of my new loads. Well, you can relax now. First of all, I want to extend my thanks to everyone that responded and their advise that I used. I received the 'LEE Factory Crimp Die' on Fri. and the loads were made up. I shot them today using different loadings and after 20 rounds, things were looking bleak, then....... BAM!! 0.80" 5 shot group at 100 yards. If I had done my part, it would have been 0.55". RL15 71 gr. Avg. 2510 fps. I will now play with the charge to possibly get a little more velocity and keep the accuracy. This gun seems to 'like'em hot. All the best, | |||
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