I would agree that my experience is the same. Gotta crimp those semi auto rounds to keep projectiles in place and for consistency of rounds.For me,
semi auto-crimp
Bolt gun- no crimp
Old man Lee makes some VERY compelling arguments for crimping. You'll find this is heated topic among precision shooters.. I personally believe in a light crimp because if trimming etc are done properly, a light crimp can ensure that you are getting the same pressure build before release... I will say you can accomplish the same thing by controlling neck tension. It's art crafting the perfect round and then there is just reloading. Read Lee's logic for crimping before you decide.. I will say you can accomplish the same results either way.I am still very new to the reloading world and just got my holiday lock and load press and Lee dies. It did not come with a crimping die I am reloading 308 for hunting and more precision shooting out of bolt actions. Is crimping needed
No you don’t. At least, not in all semi-auto.I would agree that my experience is the same. Gotta crimp those semi auto rounds to keep projectiles in place and for consistency of rounds.
Old man Lee makes some VERY compelling arguments for crimping. You'll find this is heated topic among precision shooters.. I personally believe in a light crimp because if trimming etc are done properly, a light crimp can ensure that you are getting the same pressure build before release... I will say you can accomplish the same thing by controlling neck tension. It's art crafting the perfect round and then there is just reloading. Read Lee's logic for crimping before you decide.. I will say you can accomplish the same results either way.
Yeah, you definitely have to track your results. Ive got a notebook full of data that suggests you can get similar results with a light crimp that you can get with neck turning , correct bushing size etc. Not to say those things shouldn't be done.. there definitely comes a point when wall thickness of the neck has to much variation.. I think in short my opinion is you can get the same results either way (assuming you have other factors within a reasonable tolerance)Yet for BR, ELR, and F-Open—disciplines that require the most guilt-edged accuracy to win—the majority of the winners would never dream of crimping anything. They’d crimp their hair before doing something like that to their loaded rounds.
There is a whole lot more to the bullet release picture than just mechanical tension or artificially-generated tension in the form of a crimp.
I totally agree that there are multiple ways to accomplish the “perfect round”.
I’ve used most of the approaches available for rifle bottleneck rounds, and I use different approaches for different rifles, even now.
One of the best things a shooter can buy for their ammunition performance is a pencil and notebook.
168 grain sierra match king BTHP, nopt sure the tension. i know i cant pull it out with bare hands. Need bullet puller for that. Mine will mainly be recreational shooting and hunting. As long as my hunting rounds are accurate I’m happy. Once things settle down and I can find ammo and powder I’ll get more into precision shootingHow much tension do you have, what type of bullets are you loading?
Pm meI sold my K&M low force because I decided it did not equate to lower velocity spread and resultant elevation.
Want a Neil Jones .223 mic seater for your K&M? 3, 4? bushings. Make you a helluva deal.
Nothing wrong with it, I am just not interested in shooting 1,000 yard .223 anymore.
I would agree definitely crimp 44spc, 44mag, 357 mag, 38spc, 38super.. almost all semi auto handgun rounds except 9mm and 380.. probably a couple others I forgot, crimp ALL AR platform rounds.. as far as bolt goes, I won't get into those weeds lol..I've found that even 38 special rds need a crimp. I've had a few creep forward while shooting my lite weight Ruger LCRx, and my mother's Taurus 85 when I decided they shouldn't need a crimp. It showed me otherwise. 44mag definitely gets a good crimp.