How much Crimp is enough?

[Onyx Z]

Seating and crimping in one step is counterproductive. You are seating a bullet and crimping the neck at the same time... these should definitely be two different steps. The LEE die is what, $14? Well worth it IMO.

[bfoosh006]

Deleted

[Averageman]

What about bullets without a cannelure, are you still using the Lee crimp die on those?

[Bret]

Bullets with a cannelure are the only ones that I'd use the Lee Factory Crimp die (or any other crimp die) on. A crimp is just security against inadequate neck tension. By doing the push test that bfoosh006 outlined above, you should be able to determine if you have enough neck tension to begin with. If not, then first solve that problem.

[ww2farmer]

Little to no crimp for me with rifle rounds............if I do crimp, my seating dies are taper crimp capable, and after I load, I just back the seating stem out, and run the die down a little more and put a light crimp on them.

Pistol rounds all get taper crimped after seating, but just enough to take the bell out of the mouth, prevent excessive set back when chambering a round, and ensure reliable feeding.

[jbdesigns]

Rifle rounds, no crimp. Only 300blk because the heavy bullet and not a lot of neck surface area so I crimp to make sure billet doesn't move out during clambering.

Pistol gets crimp, separate from seating. I've been using the lee dies with success.


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[markm]

What about bullets without a cannelure, are you still using the Lee crimp die on those?

I damn sure am. Note that Pappabear and I bought a bunch of 175 gr SMK Mk118 lr pull down bullets that had the crimp dent in the bullet jacket. You could see it with the naked eye. They looked a little rough, but shot every bit as good as bright and shiney, brand new 175 SMKs.

Crimping a "match" round and hurting the bullet/load accuracy is just another example of handloading dogma that I've just found to be flat wrong.

[HKGuns]

I crimp separately and very lightly, using the LFCD with or without a cannelure.

[B52U]

I damn sure am. Note that Pappabear and I bought a bunch of 175 gr SMK Mk118 lr pull down bullets that had the crimp dent in the bullet jacket. You could see it with the naked eye. They looked a little rough, but shot every bit as good as bright and shiney, brand new 175 SMKs.

Crimping a "match" round and hurting the bullet/load accuracy is just another example of handloading dogma that I've just found to be flat wrong.

I agree, whats a crimp mark going to do to a bullet jacket that rifling won't do as the bullet gets engraved on the way out!

[markm]

I agree, whats a crimp mark going to do to a bullet jacket that rifling won't do as the bullet gets engraved on the way out!

Same with cannalures. The Nosler CC bullets with a fairly deep cannalure shoot just fine. Sierra didn't want to put a cannalure on their 77 SMK, and the one they do have... Ha. I like to joke that it's painted on because it's so thin.