Reloading Question

[ctafoya]

I'm loading up some 308 and 223. Do I need to have a crimp die or can I just load them? Both will be shot from a bolt action.

[AverageJoe]

No crimp needed.

[YoteHunter]

No crimp

[PRDATR]

You only need to crimp if the bullet has a canelure. Recoil is fairly mild with both rounds but bullets can still be pushed back into the case causing excessive pressure so make sure the case necks are tight and don't load and unload bullets as that can also cause them to be pushed back.

[jarheadhunter]

You only need to crimp if the bullet has a canelure. Recoil is fairly mild with both rounds but bullets can still be pushed back into the case causing excessive pressure so make sure the case necks are tight and don't load and unload bullets as that can also cause them to be pushed back.

You don't even "have to" crimp if it has a cannelure.

[PRDATR]

You only need to crimp if the bullet has a canelure. Recoil is fairly mild with both rounds but bullets can still be pushed back into the case causing excessive pressure so make sure the case necks are tight and don't load and unload bullets as that can also cause them to be pushed back.

You don't even "have to" crimp if it has a cannelure.

True, but some people will try to crimp any bullet the point I was trying to get across is if you want to crimp a bullet and it has a cannelure then do so, otherwise don't crimp.

[KYLES96]

I've always been taught that you crimp rounds that will be shot out of a semi auto. You risk the chance of the bullet moving back into the case as you bolt moves forward and back and to include when it's chambered.

You lose accuracy with a crimp and also builds pressure.

 

223 rounds out of a AR get crimped, no crimp for a 223 bolt action.

[nralifer]

I've tried to see if crimping affected group size, and to be honest, I did not see a consistent effect. I like to crimp using a Lee factory crimp die. It is a collet type that maintains bullet alignment during crimping.