[ccoker]

for that is the question

so.. I have always heard crimp for semi autos and it seems like a light crimp is recommended on this forum and that is what I have been doing...

Now, I have seen a few posts where people are forgoing a crimp

I am running the TTSX 110s which are long and using SSA brass and 30g (or thereabouts) of RL10x
obviously that is a compressed load and does that propose an issue if they aren't crimped?

thoughts?

 

[Bushman_269]

You will get arguments on both sides of the issue. Many target shooters looking for the ultimate in accuracy will skip crimping evem om AR's. Personally, I crimp everything that gets run through a semi auto or revolver. For my bolt actions I generally don't crimp and will often neck size only to maximize potential accuracy. While compressed loads will resist bullet setback they will not prevent rounds from getting longer (bullets walking out) under recoil. All it takes is one long bullet stuck in the rifling when you eject the round to ruin your day.

 

[ccoker]

yeah, I usually only neck size and no crimp on bolt actions and crimp on revolvers and the 6.8 is the only semi auto I have been loading for...

 

[HTR]

I almost always apply a light crimp, because I see so much bullet setback on reloads. That cannot be a good thing, especially when we are shooting hot loads.

However, I use a very light crimp with the Lee factory crimp die. This prevents the bullets from moving in the case under recoil. Obviously, if you have the bullet moving, you will either get poor accuracy, or FTF as they can stick in the mag.

I do not like a heavy crimp, as it raises presure, decreased velocity and deforms the bullet.

On subsonic loads, recoil is not an issue, so a crimp is not necessary.

 

[jasonpeterson]

I'm not crimping at the moment. I'm using 110 pro hunters and 30 grains of 10x. Shorter bullet, so it's a little different. I just checked 5 that I had left in a loaded magazine from the other day and they still measure the same. So they didn't get any longer or shorter getting beat around. I was having some pressure issues when I was crimping. Major swipes. After I stopped crimping the swipes went away. I was probably crimping them way too much.

When yall use the Lee die. How close do the ears in the die get to each other. Do they just barely move or do you do it till they almost touch?

 

[ccoker]

thanks
I originally set my Lee FCD according to the directions that came with it and the collet was touching
after reading the info last month here I backed it off to where they just come in a tiny bit on full stroke

I need to make up some new loads to really test accuracy with the new Recon
I did 30g with RL10x and the Barnes and only shot about 10 of them after I shot 100 rounds of 27.8 (hornady brass) and prohunters to break it in

 

[Bushman_269]

I crimp just enough to prevent bullet movement. It is important to trim the brass to a consistent length for the crimp to be uniform.

 

[ccoker]

gotcha
I do trim to length

 

[EWP]

The brass doesn't have to be a uniform length with the Lee FCD, that is one of the beauties of it, unlike a tapered or roll crimp that needs uniform length brass to get the same crimp every time.

I crimp every so lightly, just enough to put a small amount of tension on the bullet to keep it from moving and thats it. You almost cant even feel it when it crimps the bullet it's so light.