by Warrigul » 25 Nov 2014, 10:38 am
If you read my post properly I directed the benefits at the majority of reloaders not specifically target shooting, the reloader that loads for target work normally seats in relation to the lands negating any benefit from crimping.
Neck tension for the average reloader is whatever it is when it comes out of the die, collett dies have improved the achieveable immensely but there is still a lot of variance over a batch of 12 that have been reloaded, say, five times.
I have had no issues with case mouths on the three calibres that I routinely crimp, there have been no failures that can be attributed to the crimping(ie bits of the mouth cracking or falling off. I have kept particular notice over the past three odd years as this was an initial concern of mine. I looked and could not find any sound test of the effects of case crimping so simply loaded and fired five .308 cases crimped and five uncrimped up to thirty times(all were once fired- thats how I get my cases- then full length sized before the test), all were collett sized during the test and all required a couple of goes with the body die and a trim, I didn't anneal like I normally would with .308 and the necks were as Mr Winchester made them. Most reloaders would be quite happy with the fifteen reloads that ALL cases survived quite well.
For the sake of the test I was using 150 grain PSP winchester projectiles. Accuracy was a bit of a moot point as they out of my omark and the distance varied but the crimped ones definately grouped slightly better. But accuracy wasn't the point of the test as I already knew loads shot better when crimped.
There were two of the un crimped and one crimped case going at the end, none of the failures were at the crimp site, almost all were shoulder mid neck splits, there were no discernable differences between the crimped and uncrimped failures.
So please list the testing you have done and we will compare results.
Of course-as you have said- there are many other things you can try first, but often the magazine is too short or it is simply impossible to reach the lands, one Remington hunting rifle I loaded for(after the owner gave up) at 100 virtually had the projectile falling out of the end of the cartridge- it shot but was practically un usable hence the reason I bought a .308 crimp die. The resultant 1" groups justified the expense of the die and the owner won't use anything else. I would rather buy a LEE factory crimp die than rechamber a rifle if it is able to improve hunting accuracy.
You may call a hunting rifle or military rifle low level accuracy but any improvement in accuracy is still an improvement, a 3" group at 100 for a .303 is acceptable accuracy but when that group shrinks to about 2" most people smile. I don't crimp my target rounds but it isn't neccesary as they are run .010" off the lands and neck tension is no issue, but I can't do that with my enforcer so I use the crimp die to gain maximum accuracy, it works for me.
It is definately a tool in the cupboard for the majority of reloaders who are not target shooters or who want life as simple as possible.
And lets face it, if the projectile already has a cannelure the OP may as well try it so see if it has any effect on accuracy, what does he have to lose?
Last edited by
Warrigul on 25 Nov 2014, 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.