does this operation give excess pressure?
and does the fact that it leaves 4 little crimps on the neck cause the case to split?
and does it improve accurracy.
many thanks.

griff

I only crimp for my tube feed and semi-auto rifles and my revolvers. I haven't noticed any excessive pressure in any of them. I do not use any max loads in the cartridges I crimp. It isin't planned that way ist just that all the cartridges I crimp are more accurate with below max loads. The only cartridge I can compare with as far as case life is .223 rem I use the same load but only crimp for my AR-15. I have noticed that the brass I use in my bolt rifle lasts 1 to 2 reloadings longer. I do not know if it has to do with the differen't chambers, actions, or the crimp. I would think they all have something to do with it.
As far as accuracy the two loads have differen't seating depths and yes the uncrimped longer load is more accurate in my bolt rifle than the shorter crimped one but again, there is another factor besides the crimp in play.
The bottom line is I only crimp when I think their might be a better chance of a bullet getting pushed back into the case. Just remember your health is more imprtant than .5 MOA or a piece of brass.

Good luck and good shoothig...JD

I load over 30 calibers and none are crimped. Yes it damages the brass. Yes it damages the bullet, especially thin wall varmit bullets. If you do not neck turn your brass there is defiantly a thick and thin side to the necks. This makes the crimp much stronger on one side than the other. All of these factors affect accuracy. The primary reason that factory ammo is sometimes crimped is for shipping. If they crimp the ammo that is shipped in bulk with no special packaging, the gorillas can throw a case of it off a 5-foot loading dock and if it happens to hit bullet down the case of ammo is not ruined.

If you want your bullets tight in your case necks for whatever reason, there are three ways to do it much more uniformly.
1. reduce the size of the neck expander ball.
2. remove the neck expander ball.
3. use collet style sizer dies.

I personally use standard neck dies with no expander balls and neck turn my brass.

Shoot safe,
Mike

I use the Lee crimp die on these reloads: .22-250, 6mm, 30-06, .338win, .450 AK. I have found that I get more consistant velocity from the .22-250 & 6mm. Accuracy with all cartridges is very good and have had no problems with brass life.
If you want to eliminate the "4 little crimps", after you apply the crimp, rotate the case 1/8th turn and crimp again. It will then be a perfect smooth circle.

In loading the .45/70 and .45 colt I have not experienced any problems with the lee crimp dies.

------------------
Endeavor to Persevere

thanks for the info guys,
Dave tried what you said about turning the case! spot on!
thanks to all

Griff