Noticed that Nosler provides a significant cannilure for 338 partition bullets. Do any of you guys crimp your 338 WM handloads?

If the bullet has a cannelure, I crimp it with a Lee Factory Crimper.

I've been shooting 338's in various cartridges for quite a while. I've never ever crimped one single one. I've NEVER had a problem even in light rifles with a magazine full of cartridges. I've seen bullets deformed at the tips in the magazine box but not one has ever altered seating depth. I typically seat with a .002" grip but if you're concerned, size your neck a bit more and give it a .003" grip. That's the difference between the neck measurement BEFORE seating, and after a bullet is seated.

I have shot and owned a 338 since the day it hit the streets, never crimped a round, just use a bulk powder like RL-19, RL-22 or 4831...I may turn a couple of thousands off my resizer button...

I bought a couple of boxes of 275-grain A-Frame bullets last year, and crimped a few with my Redding dies, just to see how they would work. I haven't noticed any significant difference between the crimped one and the rest with not crimp. The 275 grainer has a deep cannelure, or more like a channel or groove.

I imagine a light crimp should not hurt, but the problem with crimping bullets is making sure that each case is exactly the same length.

Thanks for the replies - I agree - I have never crimped one reload in a 338 either but I sorted wanted to hear other opinions since Nosler went to great lengths to provide quite a noticeable groove in their 338 partition bullets. Maybe the potential for dangerous game encounters is why they do it - as they do in their other large caliber partition bullets.

Maybe its just me but i heard that you WERE SUPPOSED to crimp!! i have a ruger mark 2 model 77 stainless laminate in .338 win mag and i put a good stiff crimp on the 250 grain Hornady Interlock. I feel that i am better safe that sorry and my one inch three shot groups at 100 yards are plenty small enough for hunting big game
I feel it would be stupid not to crimp such a heavy kicking caliber. Just an honest, free opinion.

good luck hope you never have any problems with your ammo!!!

I'm not positive but I don't think new production Partitions have the cannelure. I have some older ones (250 grain) that have it, but the last several boxes I've bought didn't have it.

Didn't matter since the groove never matched up with my seating deapth anyways.

Joe.