30-06 Match Ammo Crimp or ?

[1903shooter]

Gents,


I am looking to make some match loads up for my 1903A3 and 1903 and M1. Remington brass new, CCI #34 primers, 44gr Varget, topped by a Nosler Custom Competition 155gr bullet. Would any of you reloaders out there put a slight crimp on the round, I have been told by some more senior reloaders that this improves accuracy. Thanks, 03

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[John Kepler]

That "a crimp improves accuracy" is a near-mythical position that has never been supported by any significantly repeatable data that I've seen....where the use of neck-tension only has just GOBS of data supporting it, not to mention things like benchrest championships, NRA National Highpower Championships, et. al.!

Some folks swear by crimping, are close to religious zealots about it, do just all kinds of things via "factory crimp dies" and assorted mumbo-jumbo to make it "work", then tend to bear teeth and snarl if you question their claims with requests for data that you can actually recapitulate....but I've never seen'um doin' much at Camp Perry either!

At the end of the day, a crimp is an additional, very difficult to control variable in the loading system. Uncontrolled variables in a precision shooting system is NEVER a good thing!

[CapnJohn]

NO on the '03/03A3, ?? on the M1 due to the possibility of the recoil/cycling kicking the bullet loose.

[Dan In Indiana]

I certainly am not a competition shooter, just a small time collector, and shooter, never crimp my rounds any more, have never noticed any difference in accuracy in my bolt guns. Don't crimp my rounds for my Grands or my M1A, rifles always shoot better than I do.

OFC

[oney]

I used to crimp when I started to reload due to being told that the recoil could dislodge bullets from cartridges in the magazine. My dies provide enough neck tension, and thus I no longer crimp any of my loads. Crimping can have an impact on pressure, and it is difficult to repeat the same crimp on each load.

The only rounds I still crimp are the dummy rounds I use to initially set up my bullet seating depth when setting up my dies.

"THIS WE'LL DEFEND!"

[colwhelen]

My experience says no crimp necessary. You need all cases to be exactly same length so it only adds an extra step to check or trim and results are not any better.

[Lance White]

A crimp is most useful if you are trying a light loading for a bolt gun and use a powder like 3031, to help insure the powder gets a sufficient chance to burn.

[jim r]

i've reload a lot for the garand and never had a bullet come lose, just my 02cents,jim

[Ron H.]

Sir, there's no need to crimp match loads. Depending on what bullets you use, crimping may actually detract from accuracy. For example, Sierra Match Kings are not designed to be crimped.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

[AKA Hugh Uno]

first, I am not a big fan of CCI 34 primers. Why people think they need the things is a tribute to the pure hype spooned out by CCI. They are my absolute LAST choice for primers.

Second, if you go with NO CRIMP, then you can remove (or turn down a few thousandths) the neck sizer button (you will need a Lee universal De-Primer to remove the primer). This results in nice tight neck tension and no need for crimp.

I also like the Lee Factory Crimp very much, although I only impart a very modest amount of "crimp". I know it works to decrease group size and for 12 bucks, you can afford to check it out and do your own comparison if you like.