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.223 for AR with no crimps

m1ajunkie

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Feb 22, 2010
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I am very new to the reloading game, and just got a set of these lee dies.

[url="http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=776391"]http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=776391[/url]

I plan to reload rounds for my .223 AR. However will the lack of crimps from these dies be good to go? Do I need a die set to load rounds with cannelures? Will this die set load rounds that have cannelures?

Any one have a link to a nice die set that crimps rounds?

I plan to load some rounds like m193's that have a cannelure, as well as rounds like smk's without cannelures.
 
Re: .223 for AR with no crimps

I load .223 rounds with and without cannelure. To date, I haven't crimped any and haven't had any issues. I use RCBS dies and the neck tension from the sizer die has been sufficient to prevent any setback of bullets I've loaded.

FL dies should be able to crimp by screwing the seating die down a few thousandths past contact on the case. However, if you don't trim all to length before loading, the amount of crimp will vary from cartridge to cartridge and might cause accuracy problems from different amounts of crimp.

BLK7
 
Re: .223 for AR with no crimps

I don't crimp my loads for High Power. The M262 load is crimped for mil-spec, as is one of the Sierra 77's, but for service rifle reloading the neck tension is more than enough to hold the bullet. If your wondering make a dummy round up and try to pull it with an inertial puller.
 
Re: .223 for AR with no crimps

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"Lee Factory Crimp Die."

You don't need it though, regular FL dies are fine. I load cannelured bullets with a non-crimp die without a problem. </div></div>

Same here. I use Lee dies for all my 223/5.56 reloading.
 
Re: .223 for AR with no crimps

Bullets jump <span style="font-style: italic">forward</span> upon chambering for me, by about .002". This was when using reasonable neck tensions. Like Falar said, tension of .003" (e.g. using a .247" bushing to achieve a .250" loaded outside neck diameter) is about right for keeping that bullet jump manageable and consistent.

Oddly enough going to a .244" bushing actually resulted in <span style="font-style: italic">more</span> set-forward than the .247" bushing in my relatively informal testing.
 
Re: .223 for AR with no crimps

I bought the Lee delux rifle die set for .223 and I used to use the factory crimp die then heard some guys on this forum say it wasn't neccessary. I crimped 50 and didn't crimp 50 and the accuracy was the same if not better with the non-crimped rounds. With my scientific testing method I now skip the crimping step in the process.