How's this look?

[jscwerve]

So, if you have noticed, I ask a lot of questions in this section. I haven't reloaded since I was a teenager, and then never loaded for a semi auto rifle. So... lo and behold!! ANOTHER QUESTION!!!!!

Anyways, how does this crimp look? I'm not getting into the debate on the whole crimp thing, or bullets moving, or accuracy, Just figured that since all of my cases are within .001 and this is plinking ammo, why the hell not.

Like I said, I've not reloaded in years, I am anal about something that could potentially end badly, and I have no pride against asking those more knowledgable if I have questions. So, here it is:

(pay no attention to the rings on the bullet, these were my dummy setup rounds for depth, so they saw the die a couple of times)

[gnihcraes]

"looks" like too much crimp to me. I just looked at one of my 223 reloads, my bullet is not seated nearly as deep as yours looks. It looks too deep unless this is just a test round?

Who's dies are you using? The marks on the bullet even after several tries at seating should show that many marks?

(this is all just my opinion obviously)

[jscwerve]

Bullet is seated to correct depth, brass is trimmed to 1.748, COL is 2.2025. I thought it might be too much crimp, but was not sure. Thats why I ask!!

I'm using regular ol RCBS small base die set for .223.

[Hannu]

I do not know what rifle you load for, but that crimp is waaaay too tight no matter what.
If you are not otherwise interested, crimp will reduce brass life alot.

Why you use small base die ?

[jscwerve]

I do not know what rifle you load for, but that crimp is waaaay too tight no matter what.
If you are not otherwise interested, crimp will reduce brass life alot.

Why you use small base die ?

Small base dies are for semi auto rifles. Full length sizing ensures proper chambering. When the case is hot and being extracted there is the possibility that it could still be expanding, causing the case not to be able to load into the same chamber (easily) again. That is my understanding of it anyways. As always, I may be wrong.

Thanks for the thoughts on the crimp. I ask because I was not sure and didn't want to find out after loading up a ton of rounds. I will adjust my crimp accordingly and probably post an updated pic with adjusted crimp tomorrow night.

[Hannu]

Small base dies are for semi auto rifles. Full length sizing ensures proper chambering. When the case is hot and being extracted there is the possibility that it could still be expanding, causing the case not to be able to load into the same chamber (easily) again. That is my understanding of it anyways. As always, I may be wrong.

If you rifle is acting like that, you have some serious problems...
I have only tried small base die, just to find out it creates some problems, like excessive case stretching and head separation problems lot sooner than with regular full sizing die.

Used regular full length sizing die after that, have not had any problems and I mainly shoot AR-15 rifle.

[coop68]

If you rifle is acting like that, you have some serious problems...
I have only tried small base die, just to find out it creates some problems, like excessive case stretching and head separation problems lot sooner than with regular full sizing die.

Used regular full length sizing die after that, have not had any problems and I mainly shoot AR-15 rifle.

FL size die! what i use for high power and pretty much all my Hand loads!

[jscwerve]

Maybe I explained my reasoning a little wrong. From what I've read, the reasoning to use small base dies is if you are reloading military brass that may have been used in fully automatic rifles. Also chamber dimentions vary from manufacture to manufacture in semi auto rifles. Small base dies (the RCBS anyways) sizes the case closer to the miminimum spec, .002 less than their regular full length dies. Also from what I've read is that there are very few people that have problems using regular old full length dies, but I have seen a couple of instances with chambering problems that were remidied by changing to full length dies. I use them because it is what I bought and even if regular sizing caused no problems in my rifles, why even take the chance, the dies were the same price when I bought them and I don't have a bolt .223.

I don't know anyone that reloads, so all I have to go by is the research I do on a product or process.


Back on track, I will definitely adjust to make less crimp when I get home. I appreciate all of the responses! Thanks!

P.S. the shells in the pictures are dummy loads, no powder or primer, just used for setup. Didn't want to screw up the crimp and waste an entire bullet.

[low drag]

Try loading some dummy rounds, just the case and bullet.

Pull the bullet, if you have a ring on the bullet where you cripped it you are using too much crimp. As alway, just my .02.

[SA Friday]

Crimping ammo is for three reasons; machine gun use, tubular magazine, and strong recoiling revolvers. I've been shooting reloads for over 20 years now and I have never crimped any of my semi or bolt cartridges. Even my mags don't move the bullets in the box magazines. Seat the bullet and move on. Crimp causes more problems than it cures for this cartridge short of shooting it fully auto.

SB dies will cut your brass life in half. Once again, unless you are shooting full auto, SB dies are just not necessary for the modern day AR. the SB probably won't cause any major issues, but it just harder to resize during reloading and will shorten how many reloads the cartridges will last.