Loading 6.5x55 with Lee Dies. I have a seperate Lee Factory Crimp Die, but not sure how much to crimp. If I don't crimp at all, the bullet slides in the neck.

Are ther any basic rules to follow when crimping?

Appreciate any help

Something's not right. Attempting to crimp your cases to hold the bullets in a loose neck won't get you very far. If the case has been properly resized (either full length or neck) the bullet should not drop into the resized case, it should be a "press fit". Are the Lee dies conventional or the collet type? Collet dies are adjusted differently than conventional dies.

quote:

Something's not right. Attempting to crimp your cases to hold the bullets in a loose neck won't get you very far.

I agree.

I've had the loose bullet phenomenen in the past with Barnes Triple Shock X-Bullets. I believe what happens is that when the expander ball comes back out the neck in resizing, it pulls on the neck causing the neck diameter near the shoulder to be slightly larger than near the mouth. I would presume you're using Lee full length sizing dies.

Lee Collet dies, resize just the neck concentrically and, if adjusted properly, this probably won't happen when using them. Also, when full length resizing, generous lubrication of the inside of the neck might help.

Lee Factor Crimp dies are good in that you can crimp with or without a cannelure. Crimping isn't necessary if reloading for a single shot weapon or one without heavy recoil. I don't crimp even for a 300 Weatherby Magnum and the bullets seem to stay in place.

Another thing of some interest. I was getting loose bullets when reloading some 30/06 Barnes TSX bullets. Out of curiosity, I shot a 100 yard 3 shot group with cartridges with loose bullets (so loose I could easily turn them by hand) and a group with the bullets firmly in place. The group size with loose bullets was significantly smaller than the one with tight bullets. It would appear, therefore, that crimping probably doesn't do a whole lot for accuracy.

How is your seating die set up? does it also crimp?
Some seaters have a built in crimp and setting them too low in the press will cause them to overcrimp the case when seating your bullet. This causes the case neck behind the mouth to bulge out and acually loosen its grip on the bullet shank. Try removeing the seating stem and screwing the die down on a empty case. If the die contacts the case back it off a turn and lock it in place then replace the seater and adjust the bullet depth with the stem only, leaving the die body alone.

You need to measure the expander, or the decapping rod if it is a collet die. It should be at between .262 and .263. I noticed that with the Lee full length resizers, their expander diameter varies quite a bit from the .001 standard. Just use a drill and fine grade emery or sandpaper and polish until you get the diameter that works right for you. As far as the crimp pressure, the directions say "25 lbs" I think, but you should only use a very light push on the handle, especially if you rotate and crimp the case every 33 degrees like you should. Just my .02.

Grumulkin has found the same thing I have! You need tight case tension to hold under recoil and crimp alone will not help much. You need tight case tension with say, a .44 mag and up with slow powders to get a good burn.
Most rifles with proper tension do not need a crimp until you get into the real heavy kickers with a magazine or tube.
BUT, it does not effect accuracy a great deal. The secret for accuracy is to have all necks provide the same tension from case to case whether they are all a little light or heavy, you just can't mix case tensions because the point of impact will be different for each and blow groups.
You do not want any bullet so loose that it can be pushed down farther in the case under recoil because pressures can go through the roof. I would never depend on crimp to hold a bullet when tension is missing. If shot single shot, they are OK but never load a magazine with loose bullets, crimped or not.

To All, thanks for advice.

I am using Lee full length dies. The bullets do press fit, just not tightly. I am able to spin and slide bullet if not crimped.

My seating die does have a crimp, but I was getting frustrated with trying to get the setting correct.

I have started using the factory crimp. My directions state to start with a "light" crimp and then go "heavier".

I am finding out that this is an art, not a science !!!!

You should not be able to "spin and slide the bullet if not crimped."

Try depriming a few cases in the regular manner. Then remove the expander ball and decapping pin/rod from the die and run the cases back in and see what kind of neck tension you get. If it's tight I'm gonna guess your expanding ball is oversize. As previously mentioned, you can polish it down or order a smaller one from Lee.

Take your calipers and measure the outside neck dia. of a few pieces of sized brass . Then seat a few bullets and measure again. This should give you a good idea as to how much(if any) neck tension you have.

Again, You should not be able to move the bullet in a properly sized case even without a crimp.

My expander ball was too large. I reduced it with sandpaper and got it down to .2625

Bullets are now held tight !!!

Thanks for all your help

I have to caution against loose bullets if you are shooting a Swedish Mauser AND using slow powders. You are setting yourself up for an SEE event!
Do whatever is needed to get tight case tension and also crimp them. The safest thing with the Swede is to use a faster powder to start with.