View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
|
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
Aloysius, I only anneal my cases when I feel the need. I only partially size the necks so they fit the chamber well and center both at the front and rear. Except for the semi-autos, I do full length size those cases.
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
|
Back to top |
|
|
hunterjoe21 Super Member
Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Posts: 1486 Location: Miles City, Montana
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
Dies have been received.Now I need to clean off the bench...
The Lee instructions for setting the dies are vague at best. Anyone have suggestions or tips/tricks on set-up and what to do/not do with them?
Oh yeah... GO ARMY
_________________ My 1911 is more effective than your 911. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8316 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
slimjim wrote: |
Good you got the dedicated Lee FCD. No need to be in the cannelure. In my .270 Win, crimping did not increase neck tension but did reduce variation in tension by 50% - measured with a force gauge pulling bullets. I use a medium crimp, e.g., 0.003" indent in the brass (collet pedals not touching).
It wouldn't be wrong to reduce your powder charge but you are already 1.5 grains below max. I would crimp and go. |
I run the blades of the caliber into the groove left by the crimp and compare it to the neck diameter. Mine is about 0.003" less. I even do it for monolithic bullets but it takes a bit more pressure on the lever. You really can't do to much with a lead-core bullet. Maybe start by screwing down the barrel of the collet so the gap in the collet is about half what it is when open and turn down from there.
Or ... run your ram full up, screw down the die until it touches the ram, they continue to turn as your watch the collet petals close.
I don't remember following the directions.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
hunterjoe21 Super Member
Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Posts: 1486 Location: Miles City, Montana
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
Thanks Slim.
I don't always FOLLOW the directions, but I do always READ them.
I watched a few on-line videos, so I at least have a better understanding of the die function. I didn't realize that the shell holder is what actually forces the collet up in to the die body, forming the crimp. Makes sense if you think about it.
I have plenty of unfired .300 Win Mag loads. I'm gonna crimp 10 of them and see if my accuracy is affected.
Prolly try the same for the .270, just cause...
_________________ My 1911 is more effective than your 911. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8316 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
Your loads will be affected because you likely tuned them for no crimp. They may get better or they could get worse. Start with light-medium crimp initially. If they groups get worse, decide if you want to retune or wait until you develop your next load and use right out of the box.
To get more neck tension on my 6.8mm, I went down 0.001" on my bushing and the groups went south. went back to original bushing and started crimping and all was well.
Hope all goes well for you.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11394 Location: Ava, Missouri
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
If the field is knee deep in mud I'll bet on the Army. But if the field is waste deep in water I'll go with the Navy.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9259 Location: south island New Zealand
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
and you wait for the air corps when??????.....or are you ALWAYS going to be waiting if you call up for air support???
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8316 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:12 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
Elvis wrote: |
are you ALWAYS going to be waiting if you call up for air support??? |
Not if you call for me!
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11394 Location: Ava, Missouri
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
If I call for air support it will be Naval Air.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8316 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:32 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
That's me! Go Navy! Beat Army (next year)!
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
hunterjoe21 Super Member
Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Posts: 1486 Location: Miles City, Montana
|
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
I made some room on the bench this afternoon. I segregated 20 rounds from the remaining ammo I had assembled for the .300 Win Mag to use as a test and crimped 10 of them, using Lee's suggestion of 1/2 turn "down" after the collet contacted the shell holder.
My thinking is I'll fire 1 three round group of non-crimped followed by a three round group of crimped and compare the initial results. Repeat if warranted. I want to keep the same 3 rounds in the magazine during each test, ultimately leaving me with 3 crimped and 3 non-crimped that have had 6 rounds fired "above" them. In my simple mind, the real test will be comparing the final groups which will determine whether mashed tips and crimps make a difference in the original loads. None of it will matter though if there is a significant negative impact to group size during while performing the first part of the test. In that case, I'll need to go back and "tune" my load development using the crimp.
Make sense?
_________________ My 1911 is more effective than your 911. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9259 Location: south island New Zealand
|
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 12:00 am Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
sure does Mate...for what its worth one of the longest shots Ive ever pulled off was at a chammy/chamious who was standing on a rocky point,first shot clipped her toenails giving me correct Kentucky windage,2nd shot struck true so about 24" projectile drop for .270 winchester 130grn factory load with the big soft lead tip nipped off with sissors!!!! it didnt effect accuracy at all,at least on a horizontal plane anyway.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
hunterjoe21 Super Member
Joined: Mar 30, 2007 Posts: 1486 Location: Miles City, Montana
|
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2018 11:12 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
I'd say that my initial test was inconclusive, mainly due to me having a "bad" day behind the rifles again. The groups fired without the crimp (control group) were worse than normal, so I gotta take the blame.
The .270 crimped groups were slightly worse, while the .300 Win Mag were about the same as the control, except for one. I don't know if I found the "zone" suddenly or it was a fluke, but I fired the best group ever from this rifle.
I have more bullets, plenty of primers and powder, and cleaned brass, so I'll try it again. I might increase the round count though.
_________________ My 1911 is more effective than your 911. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8316 Location: Fort Worth TX
|
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 7:50 am Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
hunterjoe, you are getting some good recoil therapy. I don't look for any differences in accuracy. I just make crimping part of the process and develop loads from there.
_________________ "To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Theodore Roosevelt
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein |
|
Back to top |
|
|
English Mike Super Member
Joined: Jan 08, 2007 Posts: 1709 Location: Whitehaven, Cumbria, UK
|
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Crimping Rifle Bullets |
|
slimjim wrote: |
hunterjoe, you are getting some good recoil therapy. I don't look for any differences in accuracy. I just make crimping part of the process and develop loads from there. |
If nowt else, it removes one variable from the process & that can only be a good thing.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|