Neck tension for AR load?

[Tim K]

Ray, I was kidding about the 220 or 221. It was a reference to the movie Mister Mom.

Hoser, it's really the seating die I like from Redding. I just assumed I needed a bushing die to cope with different wall thicknesses, but if a Dillon is the answer, that's what I'll do.

Jim, sounds like 0.006". Pretty close to what Hoser is seeing.

[KS63]

Get a crimp die if you're concerned.

[Hoser]

Get a crimp die if you're concerned.

Bad for accuracy if your bullets dont have a cannalure and are not trimmed to the exact same OAL.

[Jamnanc]

Am I screwing this up then? I load with just the tiniest visible crimp into the Cannelure. I take every 20th bullet and make sure I can't push it home by hand on bench. I don't seem to have any neck tension problems as the bullet shoot just fine. From my reading and studying my manual, 223 does not even necessarily need a crimp.

[Zombie Steve]

Much as I like the Redding dies, I just use a run-of-the-mill Lyman seating die. For shooting AR's, I'm just not that concerned with getting them to go from 3/4 moa to 1/2 moa. Are you just loading range blasters, or are you trying to get the same performance you get from that .260?

I did just test some Montana Golds with H4895 and they did prefer a light crimp into the cannelure. Not sure what bullet you're using.

[Zombie Steve]

Am I screwing this up then? I load with just the tiniest visible crimp into the Cannelure. I take every 20th bullet and make sure I can't push it home by hand on bench. I don't seem to have any neck tension problems as the bullet shoot just fine. From my reading and studying my manual, 223 does not even necessarily need a crimp.

Proof is in the pudding. Load some with and without a crimp. See what happens. I generally didn't crimp until I tested these MG's. It was a noticeable difference.

[Rabid]

Unless your going to be sorting your brass by neck thickness or turning your necks i think a bushing die is over kill. From what i have read about crimping, it can improve or impair accuracy with some bullets in some guns. You would have to do the testing to see what works best in your gun. A general thought is to not crimp when looking for accuracy because it is one more area an inconsistency could be added to the round but sometimes it works.

[Tim K]

Much as I like the Redding dies, I just use a run-of-the-mill Lyman seating die. For shooting AR's, I'm just not that concerned with getting them to go from 3/4 moa to 1/2 moa. Are you just loading range blasters, or are you trying to get the same performance you get from that .260?

I did just test some Montana Golds with H4895 and they did prefer a light crimp into the cannelure. Not sure what bullet you're using.

This is for my accuracy load. It shoots 1/4 moa pretty consistently, and even better on good days. I also load blaster ammo with the Hornady 55g bullet with cannelure. I cripmp those.

The bullet for my precision load is the Sierra 77g SMK, no cannelure.

[Zombie Steve]

It shoots 1/4 moa pretty consistently, and even better on good days.

Dude, you're done.


I might get there one day if I build a free float upper. It's a pretty steep curve of diminishing returns.

[Tim K]

I love the load. I'll likely be changing brass which may or may not have a different neck wall thickness. That's what got me started on the idea of a bushing die. Plus, I just love my micrometer seating dies. They are the best.