Crimping AR-15 loads

I looked at RCBS's site tonight and saw they have a new must have set of dies for progressive loaders that feature a small base die and a taper crimp seater. This is nothing like my ultimate progressive setup.

My setup is an RCBS X-dies sizer and a regular seater for mag length ammo and a Forester micrometer seating die for my 600 yard rounds that are way to long to fit in the magazine. I can now take fired cases that have been previously prepared by trimming .010" under minimum as according to the X-Die instructions and run full progressive on the Dillon 550B. I've not crimped any of my match ammo and have run almost 1000 rounds with no problems.

The only way I could see running a standard full length die, much less a small base sized case through a progressive would be to trim it before sizing.

What are your experiences? Why do you do what you do?

Doh! I meant for this to be in the reloading forum... Can a mod move it?

PhillipM wrote:Doh! I meant for this to be in the reloading forum... Can a mod move it?

Moved --- Never ever have crimped one ....

Never crimped mine either.

I crimp my plinking/shtf/range rounds but it is very slight. Some of the el cheapo surplus pulled projectiles with cannelure are a little loose if I don't. I'm talking 1 out of 20 are that way so I crimp them all

The more expensive Barnes that I load don't need a crimp.

If the crimp is applied too hard, the bullet is actually looser in the case. It pushes the neck out away from the bullet. I never crimp for the .223-7,62 NATO or .30-06 in semi-auto military firearms. I have loaded and fired tens of thousands of rounds and never had any issues with bullets being pushed into athe neck.

If you are shooting a service rifle at 600 yards, never run the cartridges through the magazine. The action of the round being fed into the chamber can cause the bullet to be bent slightly in the case and accuracy may be effected. When loading an M1-a singly put the bullet end of the cartridge into the chamber and load the base of the ctg into the magazine lips. By trial and error see how far the bullet end of the cartridge can be inserted into the chamber and still have the head of the case enage the magazine lips and load the ctg when the bolt is pulled to the rear and let go.

When loading the Ar15, lay the ctg on top of the empty magazine follower and be sure the rifle is held vertically. Trip the bolt release and be sure not to tip the rifle to the side.

When loading this way use CCI primers as the bolt of the rifle will close vilolently. I have had a slam fire with Rmington and Federal primers

Doug

There is no really need to crimp on new brass. But if they´re getting older, i found it helpful to have them crimped with a tighter taper crimp.