crimp die

[quickdeath]

hi guys,,,been reloading for a few years now ,my wife hates it and it keeps ME outta trouble,,,however , would a crimp die improve my FPS ?? now i am reloading for a .223 REM by the book (nosler 5th edition) 60 grain spitzer with 24.5 grains of IMR 4895 in win casing with WSR primers,,,the book says 2980 FPS,,,,i get 2773 FPS average in my RUGER bolt action rifle and less in my t.c. contender.could a crimp die help me out .very much appreciated,,,JOE

 

[old #7]

Your fps will vary due to differences in barrel lenght, twist rate and some are chrome lined wich also affects velocity.
I don't think you need to crimp a 223 bolt or single action rifle.
I have a semi-auto and I will use a light crimp.
What brand of die are you using?
Most will have a crimp built into the die.

 

[SOTN]

Some claim that crimping improves accuracy, others say it don't. I suppose then, it might, and it might not.

It is my understanding, that you should only crimp if there is a cannelure/crimping groove, and it is in the right place for your seating/OAL etc. If you got all that, why not try it.

Crimping is desirable if you are using a tubular magazine, a heavy recoiling rifle, or a revolver. With auto cartridges a taper crimp. I've never seen a Factory load that wasn't crimped, and they can be accurate.

I wouldn't think that crimping would increase velocity very much, but it should effect the start pressure, and go from there.
Smitty of the North

 

[Waffen]

A light crimp on a bullet with a cannalure generally will result in a posative effect. Saeed of the Accurate Reloading forums conducted a test that seemed to prove that crimping a bullet will never result in a negative result, but does stand a chance of substancially increasing accuracy.

I am at work now or I would link the test they conducted but AR is blocked here. You can find the test results off the main page at www.accuratereloading.com

 

[Ol` Joe]

A crimp may make for a more consistant load but it won`t increase velocity measurably in my experiance.
All rifle behave differently in reguards to loads, but finding you are getting lower velocities then reported in the book isn`t suprising. The book velocities were recorded in a stable atmosphere, from a SAAMI min spec barrel and chamber and likely from a longer barrel if you check. The data in the book also was developed with a different lot of powder, primer, brass, and bullet then you are useing all of which will change the results of the load. If the load shoots accurately, and has enough punch for the intended purpose I wouldn`t sweat it. If you need more "omphhh" try another powder and see if it reacts better.