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It is currently Tue Apr 23, 2024 4:58 pm
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To crimp, or not to crimp? Reloading 223 ammo for AR15's.
To crimp, or not to crimp? Reloading 223 ammo for AR15's.
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old11bravo
Site Supporter
Location: Everett Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013 Posts: 3421
Real Name: Ron
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To crimp, or not to crimp, that is the question.
I just started loading my own 223 tonight and it is intended for use with my semi-auto AR rifles. I have 100 rounds ready to go. I have not crimped any of them.
Is crimping my 223 really necessary?
I've been loading 224 Valkyrie and 308 for a few months now and have sent hundreds of these rounds down range successfully without any crimping. If it works for the 224 Valkyrie and 308 in semi-auto rifles, why wouldn't I achieve the same results with my non crimped 223?
What philosophy do you subscribe to and why?
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 2:55 am |
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mustangfreek
Site Supporter
Location: Lk stevens area Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 Posts: 1919
Real Name: Jason
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If it has a cannelure , I’m putting a. Crimp on it. How much. You will have to test.
To me after testing I would put a small crimp on all my 55/62 gr range fodder/556 loads.
My more precision like rds I did not usually. Although I did with some Nosler 77’s that had no cannelure.
Of course I’m talking ARs, no way would I on a bolt gun.
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 3:33 am |
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jackass
Site Supporter
Location: Burien Joined: Sun Sep 22, 2013 Posts: 5882
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I've never had to crimp, but that's me. I've tried it using the Lee crimping die as a last step but it has not seemed to have made a difference. I've read the literature to where crimping is supposed to make a more consistent load, but my loads seem to be consistent anyway using a single stage.
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 4:43 am |
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mash man
Site Supporter
Location: Airway heights Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 Posts: 12246
Real Name: Michael
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I always crimp.
_________________ANZAC wrote: That one that says "From my cold dead hands..... will require a background check" He who does not punish evil commands it to be done. --- Leonardo DaVinci When its time to go in: That place of steel and stone. I pray that you will keep me safe, so I will not walk alone. Help me to do my duty, please watch me on my rounds. Amongst those perilous places and slamming steel door sounds. God, keep my fellow Officers well and free from harm. Let them know I'll be there too, whenever there's alarm. Above all when I walk my beat, no matter where I roam. Let me go back whence I came, to family and homeAuthor unknown.
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 6:17 am |
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MadPick
Site Admin
Location: Renton, WA Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 Posts: 52067
Real Name: Steve
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No crimp here, unless in extenuating circumstances ... like those Nosler bullets that were just slightly smaller than my other bullets, and required a crimp to keep them tight.
But in general, no crimp for .223 for me.
_________________SteveBenefactor Life Member, National Rifle AssociationLife Member, Second Amendment FoundationPatriot & Life Member, Gun Owners of AmericaLife Member, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear ArmsLegal Action Supporter, Firearms Policy CoalitionMember, NAGR/NFGRPlease support the organizations that support all of us.Leave it cleaner than you found it.
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 8:15 am |
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Duke EB
Site Supporter
Location: maple valley Joined: Mon May 6, 2013 Posts: 2575
Real Name: Earl
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I always crimp.
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 8:16 am |
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jukk0u
Site Supporter
Location: Lynnwood and at large Joined: Wed May 1, 2013 Posts: 21290
Real Name: Vick Lagina
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On a semi-gun auto. I would crimp.
_________________ “Finding ‘common ground’ with the thinking of evil men is a fool’s errand” ~ Herschel Smith
"The said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." ~ Samuel Adams
“A return to First Principles in a Republic is sometimes caused by simple virtues of a single man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example. Before all else, be armed!” ~ Niccolo Machiavelli
Láodòng zhèng zhūwèi zìyóu
FJB
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 8:22 am |
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hartcreek
Location: Union Gap Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 Posts: 1722
Real Name: Randall Knapp
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I was loading 5.56 last night with bullets I just cast and powder coated. I always crimp but these are so slick they have to be crimped or major problems will ensue.
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 10:06 am |
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Nitro_Guns
Site Supporter / FFL Dealer
Location: Lynnwood Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 Posts: 2499
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jukk0u wrote: On a semi-gun auto. I would crimp. This for the most part. I have a couple of exceptions to this "rule" None of my Prairie Dog rounds are crimped however they are shoot single shot out of a bolt action.
_________________ aka Big_Daddy
Nitro Products FFL Dealer SOT Dealer
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 2:40 pm |
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BlDtyLry
Site Supporter
Location: Snohomish, WA Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 Posts: 1369
Real Name: Bo
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I crimp when the bullet has a cannelure. I also use bushing neck die or swaging die after full length sizing to get the right neck tension.
_________________ "I don't know what it's called. I just know the sound it makes, when it takes a man's life." ~ Four Leaf Tayback
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Tue Apr 30, 2019 3:23 pm |
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ViniVidivici
Location: Puyallup Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2018 Posts: 3076
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I do not crimp .223. Only shooting out of ARs. Never seen the need to.
_________________ I'm a Morlock, in a land of Eloi...
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Tue Jul 02, 2019 4:39 am |
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hartcreek
Location: Union Gap Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 Posts: 1722
Real Name: Randall Knapp
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I have been reloading 30 years I crimp everthing yes even 9mm and .40 cal with a roll crimp. I get more consistant ammunition because with the crimp my cartridges develop a consistant pressure each and every time.
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Wed Jul 03, 2019 12:08 am |
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mcyclonegt
Site Supporter
Location: West Olympia Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 Posts: 6817
Real Name: Matt
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Couple of reasons. After loading 1000s of rounds I had a few that were an oddball headstand and had very little neck tension. You could push the bullet it with your fingertip. I only separate out military brass. I load on the lower end for plinking and stockpiling so mixed commercial headstamps don’t bother me much. I load 223 on a 550 Dillon, the 4th hole usually is empty on rifle stuff, so I throw a crimp die in there I got from Marcus for 10 bucks. It’s just insurance. In your case, I probably would not worry about right now. If all your head-stamps are the same and you have consistent, good neck tension, you won’t have an issue. If you start filling up ammo cans of loose rounds, it isn’t a bad idea as things get knocked around and can push a bullet in. You would likely never notice this, but it could cause a pressure spike when the round is fired.
_________________ "I'm Hub McCann. I've fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and TANKS! I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, KILLED MANY MEN! And loved only one woman, with a passion a FLEA like you could never begin to understand. That's who I am. NOW, GO HOME, BOY!"
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones". Albert Einstein 1947
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Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:11 am |
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BlDtyLry
Site Supporter
Location: Snohomish, WA Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 Posts: 1369
Real Name: Bo
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To ensure proper neck tension of at least 0.002" I measure the OD of a sized but not seated case then subtract the OD of a loaded case. I also tend to use the same headstamp for a batch for consistency as case thickness can vary.
When I do crimp I prefer the Lee factory crimp die.
_________________ "I don't know what it's called. I just know the sound it makes, when it takes a man's life." ~ Four Leaf Tayback
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Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:34 am |
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mcyclonegt
Site Supporter
Location: West Olympia Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 Posts: 6817
Real Name: Matt
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BlDtyLry wrote: To ensure proper neck tension of at least 0.002" I measure the OD of a sized but not seated case then subtract the OD of a loaded case. I also tend to use the same headstamp for a batch for consistency as case thickness can vary.
When I do crimp I prefer the Lee factory crimp die. I do this also with most my other rifle calibers. No way this can be done for 1000s of rounds of plinking rounds though. The Lee FCD is very nice.
_________________ "I'm Hub McCann. I've fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and TANKS! I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, KILLED MANY MEN! And loved only one woman, with a passion a FLEA like you could never begin to understand. That's who I am. NOW, GO HOME, BOY!"
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones". Albert Einstein 1947
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Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:48 am |
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