The Lee die set doesn't have a crimp die as part of the set. Using a medium load of BL-C2 and just case mouth tension on the bullet. Any one else load 223 without a crimp?
.223
- Thread starter jimbo1096
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contender
Ruger Guru
My Dillon & RCBS dies for .223 have a crimp die. And since all but one of my .223 guns are semi-auto's,, I'll always use a roll crimp.
I know some folks who shoot bolt guns who use neck tension to hold the bullet,, but the aren't needing the same type of feeding as I do.
I know some folks who shoot bolt guns who use neck tension to hold the bullet,, but the aren't needing the same type of feeding as I do.
warnerwh1
Bearcat
I never use a crimp on .223. My AR works fine. I think you'll find the neck pressure will hold the bullet fine even in a semi auto. I believe most people with bottle neck cases don't crimp. Go over to The High Road reloading section and you'll get lots of feedback. Something else to remember is a .223 has very little recoil. Crimping can affect accuracy too.
Finishing up a test batch so we will see.
I think I enjoy loading pistol cartridges a lot better than this.
I think I enjoy loading pistol cartridges a lot better than this.
Loading for what type rifle?
All the .223 ammo I load has an expectation of running through an AR so I generally use bullets with cannelure and crimp in place. That said, I've not had any problems with factory (non-crimped) ammo suffering bullet set back.
If/when crimping, I prefer the LEE factory collet crimp die vs some of the others that can swell the neck below the crimp if not adjusted correctly or if a case is a bit too long.
All the .223 ammo I load has an expectation of running through an AR so I generally use bullets with cannelure and crimp in place. That said, I've not had any problems with factory (non-crimped) ammo suffering bullet set back.
If/when crimping, I prefer the LEE factory collet crimp die vs some of the others that can swell the neck below the crimp if not adjusted correctly or if a case is a bit too long.
justshootin
Bearcat
I've ran a bunch of 223 thru AR and Mini-14 rifles without crimping. 1000's of rounds over the years. The only thing I've ran into, is occassionally, and I mean not very often, you'll come across an odd case that when chambered will shove a bullet into the case. I attribute that to a faulty case.
After all these years I purchased a Lee factory crimp die and everything for bottom feeding brass pukers gets a good crimp now.
After all these years I purchased a Lee factory crimp die and everything for bottom feeding brass pukers gets a good crimp now.
"I never crimp bottleneck cartridges."
How many rounds do you run through semi-auto rifles? Just yesterday I watched Grand daughter try to 'force feed' a round into the chamber after she'd fumbled the charge handle. Couldn't happen since the fumble had popped a round out of the mag and already in the chamber. The crimped bullet in the second round didn't budge. Would it have been forced back into the case if not crimped? Maybe. In a different scenario, if she'd fumbled, pushed the bullet back into the case for some other reason, and then managed to chamber and fire the damaged round--what's the chances that round with the deep seated bullet would/could have generated higher pressures?
Always/never are dangerous words.
How many rounds do you run through semi-auto rifles? Just yesterday I watched Grand daughter try to 'force feed' a round into the chamber after she'd fumbled the charge handle. Couldn't happen since the fumble had popped a round out of the mag and already in the chamber. The crimped bullet in the second round didn't budge. Would it have been forced back into the case if not crimped? Maybe. In a different scenario, if she'd fumbled, pushed the bullet back into the case for some other reason, and then managed to chamber and fire the damaged round--what's the chances that round with the deep seated bullet would/could have generated higher pressures?
Always/never are dangerous words.
gunman42782
Hunter
I know people that don't crimp .223 and use them in their ARs, but I am not one of those people. I have always crimped any round that will be fed through a semi auto or lever action.
contender
Ruger Guru
I also know folks who don't crimp their .223 rounds, or any other such rounds.
But as a RO, Match Director, Safety officer at many matches,, (for over 25 years,) I have seen plenty of bullets that didn't feed properly, jammed, or have pushed a bullet back into the case. Just had a 9mm that a guy on my squad have the bullet shoved back into the case just a bit over a week ago. He was gonna just throw it away,, and I snagged it to put with several other rounds I've put in a shelf for others to see.
Yes,, a 9mm is SUPPOSED to use a taper crimp & not a roll crimp. But it can easily happen to any semi-auto fed firearm. And once,, when I was a RO at the Multi-gun Nationals,, TWICE we had a competitor where their rifle got jammed & pushed the bullet back in the case where I was the RO.
As Mobuck has mentioned,, it can cause issues.
I have told people with rifle rounds who don't roll crimp "Is it worth the loss of a competition, a big buck, or your life to not make the ammo the best it can be? And,, if it was so bad,, or not necessary,, why does the military REQUIRE it for their machine guns?"
If it works for others & they are happy,, who am I to criticize them. I prefer to put a good crimp on my rounds,, and that's just my opinion.
But as a RO, Match Director, Safety officer at many matches,, (for over 25 years,) I have seen plenty of bullets that didn't feed properly, jammed, or have pushed a bullet back into the case. Just had a 9mm that a guy on my squad have the bullet shoved back into the case just a bit over a week ago. He was gonna just throw it away,, and I snagged it to put with several other rounds I've put in a shelf for others to see.
Yes,, a 9mm is SUPPOSED to use a taper crimp & not a roll crimp. But it can easily happen to any semi-auto fed firearm. And once,, when I was a RO at the Multi-gun Nationals,, TWICE we had a competitor where their rifle got jammed & pushed the bullet back in the case where I was the RO.
As Mobuck has mentioned,, it can cause issues.
I have told people with rifle rounds who don't roll crimp "Is it worth the loss of a competition, a big buck, or your life to not make the ammo the best it can be? And,, if it was so bad,, or not necessary,, why does the military REQUIRE it for their machine guns?"
If it works for others & they are happy,, who am I to criticize them. I prefer to put a good crimp on my rounds,, and that's just my opinion.
All I shoot 223 in, are AR's. Never had a problem. Neck tension trumps crimp all day long and twice on Sunday.
What's the chances that round with the deep seated bullet would/could have generated higher pressures?
Rifle cartridges aren't as susceptible to pressure spikes from deep seated bullets as pistol cartridges. You would have to push that bullet pretty deep to see any effect. I will continue to not crimp bottleneck rifle cartridges, always.
Sr556
Hylander
Single-Sixer
Semi-auto = crimp
Bolt = no crimp
Bolt = no crimp
GypsmJim
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2011
- Messages
- 563
Mine set did. If you didn't buy the 4-die set, you can always upgrade by buying a FCD.
I crimp everything. If you don;t need a crimp but do it anyway, no problem. The first time you have a bullet move in the case you will be a crimper for life.
First 50 test run done. Next weekend I'll see how they shoot
Thanks for the replies
Thanks for the replies
From another angle: is there any evidence that crimping degrades accuracy in a 'general use utility grade' semi-auto rifle?
None of my AR platform rifles have optics powerful enough to average better than 1/2MOA so I seriously doubt crimping is going to affect their overall capabilities.
None of my AR platform rifles have optics powerful enough to average better than 1/2MOA so I seriously doubt crimping is going to affect their overall capabilities.
GasGuzzler
Hunter
I use the Lee Factory Crimp Die on a turret or single stage.
Which Lee set do you have? They make four kinds so not all are without the "post neck sizer".
You can get the extra die(s) (don't know what you have already) to customize your set.
CLICK HERE
Which Lee set do you have? They make four kinds so not all are without the "post neck sizer".
You can get the extra die(s) (don't know what you have already) to customize your set.
CLICK HERE
GypsmJim
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2011
- Messages
- 563
It all depends on how much you are willing to spend, how much time you have, and what your hobby interests are. NOBODY can say it's not a cost savings. Whether the amounts is worthwhile is a personal decision.
I load .223 for 15 cents a round and 9MM for 5 cents. That is because I was proactive and stocked up on components. If I were a procrastinator and had to do it at current prices it would be 23 cents and 12 cents, respectively. In contrast, bulk ammo prices are in the range of 40 cents and about 25 cents.
But then again if you have no store close by, add hazmat and shipping.
Regardless, when the next crisis comes up and the shelves are bare, I'll be still shooting weekly while others will be scouring internet ads.
Nevertheless, spending an afternoon in the basement casting and reloading is simply priceless. BUT, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, in the past I have had bad factory ammo on MANY cases. In 53 years of reloading, I have had one single squib after pulling the press' lever over 60,000 times.
