Bullet Crimping

[HighDesertSage]

Question for you guys that have experience reloading. I am in the process of getting set up to start reloading my own hunting ammo. The rounds in question would be a 7mm-08, 270, and 300 win. fired from bolt actions. I was looking at die sets today and noticed I have the option to by dies that can crimp the bullet (Lee), or dies that just seat the bullets without any crimp. I'm not really sure what a crimp is or does to the bullet? Is this something that is necessary for hunting ammo? I don't shoot past 400 yrds. Can a crimp affect case life? What do you guys prefer? Thanks for the help on this.

 

[marksjeep]

I don't crimp when reloading bottleneck cartridges for hunting. Proper neck tension should be sufficient to keep the bullet in place.

 

[CodyCass]

You are likely going to get a mix of responses to this question. Some guys swear by it, some like myself, don't crimp at all. Basically a crimp "clamps" down the rim of the neck around the bullet. For the cartridges you listed a crimp is not necessary. Crimps become critical for heavy recoil loads; the recoil of the rifle can jar the magazine so hard that it can shift seated bullets... As far as case life goes, anything that "works" the case more will shorten the life.

Welcome the wonderful world of reloading! It is addicting!!

 

[Rancho Loco]

I've gotten great results with lee factory crimps, on certain cartridges and loads, and no difference on others..

I wouldn't dismiss them unless you tried them.

 

[Muleyfanatic]

No crimp. The only way I could see a need for a crimp is for auto rifles, lever guns, or any pistols.

 

[Muleyfanatic]

I've gotten great results with lee factory crimps, on certain cartridges and loads, and no difference on others..

I wouldn't dismiss them unless you tried them.

I have experienced this with ruining different neck tensions. I personally am not a fan of crimping just my 2cents.

 

[mtmuley]

Not necessary to crimp. I wouldn't buy Lee. mtmuley

 

[HighDesertSage]

Thank you all for the replies. Who makes quality dies? I have only looked at Lee and RCBS. Any others?

 

[CodyCass]

All of my dies are Redding and Forster. They both make quality dies and on top of that their customer service is top notch. I messed up a Redding neck sizing die once, totally my fault, called Redding and explained what I did. They sent me the parts to fix it no questions asked. For a nominal fee Forster will custom hone their dies for your brass/bullet combination.

 

[TheSurveyor]

I crimp some rounds others I don't. Don't over look Lee. I've got several brands and Lee works just as good for less.

 

[MThuntr]

I have several sets of Lee, Hornady, and RCBS dies. I like Lee sets as they come with a shellholder and if you buy the deluxe set you can get full length and neck sizing dies and for the price is a heck of a deal. Hornady dies usually have annual rebates for 100 bullets and I'm sure 2017 will be the same.

I only crimp ammo that will be in lever actions and semiautos. The Lee Factory Crimp die is the only way to go when crimping heavy recoiling rifles like 45-70.

 

[marksjeep]

Any of them will work. I don't care for Lee, but that's my preference. I like RCBS for the price, Redding for the quality. The machining is noticeably better when you spend more money. I don't know if that makes a big difference in the final product for a run-of-the-mill hunting round reload. If you get into precision handloading, it can.

 

[MJE2083]

I have no problems with Lee dies. I do like that they come with the shellholder and are reasonably priced. I also have RCBS dies and have used Hornady in the past. I don't crimp my bolt action rifle rounds. Any seater die that I have used will also crimp if adjusted properly. The Lee factory crimp dies make a more uniform and better type of crimp like comes from factory ammo. I only crimp my 45 colt and 454 casull loads. People say that a crimp keeps the bullet from moving under recoil and also produces uniform neck tension. Ive also heard that crimping allows for "better" pressure to build behind the bullet.

 

[Flatland Crusoe]

I use the Lee factory crimp on .243 reloads for hunting and really like it. Lee makes plenty of questionable quality products but a lot of guys buy the Lee factory crimp tool to be used alongside much nicer dies.

Whether or not crimping is productive is a function of the bullet you are using. Stuff like plated bullets are really sensitive to the amount of crimp whereas copper mono's and cup and core bullets aren't as much.

 

[Curvebow]

Like others, I don't crimp the rifle cartridges you mentioned in the beginning. I do crimp all handgun cartridges.

I believe that RCBS dies (most of what I own) can do a crimp by adjusting how the die contacts the shell holder in the press. There are also special dies for semi auto rifles, like AR's. I used "Small Base Sizer Dies" by RCBS for my 223 AR's to ensure proper feeding.

 

[HSi-ESi]

I'm in the camp of no-crimp for bottle-necked cartridges, but crimp for straight cases.

I learned the hard-way on crimping straight cases when I was 18 and had trouble rotating the cylinder on my .44 mag. The bullets were sliding forward in the chamber and prevented cylinder rotation. It was my first time loading for a straight case - and learned the value of the crimp. I tend to crimp just enough to hold the bullet in the case.

 

[HighDesertSage]

Thanks all. I'll pass on the crimp for now since I am only going to load centerfire rifles for the time being.

 

[Rancho Loco]

If you actually try it, you might very well be surprised (like me..).

 

[sbhooper]

I have a set of Lee dies for my .260 that have been perfect. Forget the crimp.

 

[TimeOnTarget]

Thank you all for the replies. Who makes quality dies? I have only looked at Lee and RCBS. Any others?

Redding is my top choice. RCBS are ok as well.


And no need to crimp. I don't either crimp my AR stuff and never had an issue.