hi all

i am about to do some testing with a sierra game king in 223. it has a crannular (sp) and i was wondering if you have to crimp. if i was going hunting with this round i would probably crimp but since im gonna be shooting of a rest with these i think that i shouldnt have to.

thanks
lojack

What type of rifle are you loading for? Semi autos should probably have a crimp to prevent bullet movement during feeding, but other than that, No you don`t have to crimp.

Crimping, besides serving to disallow bullet movement under recoil, also serves to allow an initial pressure to build behind the bullet, thus in essence making the bullet "squirt" from the case mouth in those scant milliseconds after powder ignition. It tends to give more consistent, predictable, repeatable starting pressures if done consistently. I crimp everything I reload because I like to "finish" the job and a good crimp looks nice.

well it is for a remmy 700. yes a bolt.

A good crimp looks nice, but does absolutely nothing for the performance of your ammo! Show me a benchrest competitor who crimps his super-accurate loads!! It als tends to shorten the life of your cases by overworking the case mouth, causing splits to occur sooner. I never crimp any rifle ammo any more, no matter what kind of gun I'm shooting it in, relying on use of an undersize expander button to get a good grip on bullets, if necessary, and a case full of powder to keep bullets from receding into the case neck. A 100% loading density is generally more accurate, anyway. However, crimp is absolutely necessary in revolver ammo, since a slight forward movement of just one bullet can tie up the gun, and give you a helluva fit trying to clear it!!

The crimp can actually deform the bullet causing problems with accuracy. I NEVER crimp rifle cartridges unless it is going in a semiatuo. I DO crimp all the magnum revolver rounds to aide consistant start pressure.

I would not bother when using a bolt gun.

MSSmagnum,
That bolt-action pistol is intriguing. Is that stock offered in a .223 Rem and for a lefty bolt for those of us who hold our pistols and revolvers in our right hand? Who makes it? Where can I see one on el webbo? What is the eye relief on that scope?

[ 07-26-2003, 23:26: Message edited by: rootbeer ]

The answer to your question is no, you don't have to crimp, especially for loads to be used only for target shooting, but doing so may improve your accuracy. See Saeed's tests as given elsewhere in accuratereloading -- those tests suggest that there is a small but measurable increase in accuracy with at least some calibers when using the Lee Factory Crimp die. My own results tend to confirm that conclusion, and I now usually crimp all my centerfire rifle loads.

[ 07-27-2003, 22:24: Message edited by: LE270 ]

I have loaded for the 270, 20-06, 45-70, 222, 223 and 22 Hornet. I have never crimped them.
Some bullet manufacturers do not make bullets with canalures. So do not worry about crimping.

Some mamufacturers have even posted warnings that crimping their non cannelured bullets will decrease accuracy.

You can go either way with a crimp, there are two schools of thought and theory on this and no one knows who is correct...I think it depends on the gun....

Personally I do not crimp any cartridges other than some big bores to hold the bullets against recoil...

IMO one cannot crimp consistantly as our case trimmers are simply not that accurate, thus you loose consistency....an uncrimped case is more consistant as most bench resters will attest to..and my guns certainly shoot well without crimping, so I see no need, but I am primarily a hunter and my requirments are less than say a bench rest advocate..still most of my guns will shoot an inch or better or they go down the road......