Reloading for AR-15 in .223

J

jay martin

New member
What type of crimp should I use for my RRA CC in .223. The RCBS instructions say taper crimp but don't I need a special die for that? Any help is appreciated. I now reload for bolt action .223 with complete success and confidence. This is my first semi-auto rifle and I'd like to reload for it as well.
 
I use a Lyman Factory Crimp Die. They might not make the most accurate ammo, but you won't get bullet set back either. Not sure if it really an issue if you are going to shoot them up. If you keep reloading the first round and it isn't crimped, it could get pushed in.
 
Have loaded for M1 garands & carbines, M1A/M14, AR15's, never crimped and never had trouble w/bullet setback.

The only rounds I crimp are for rifles w/tubular magazines and large calibers w/heavy recoil (.375 h&h and up). Magazine tube spring tension combined w/recoil can set bullets back as can the heavier recoil of the larger bores.

Regards,
hm
 
What hm1996 said.
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I have my bullet seating/crimping die set back so it doesn't crimp the bullet for my ARs. The neck ID after resizing is usually .220" with a bullet dia of .224" gives enough tension to hold the bullet in place. My expanding ball in my resizing die measures .222" so after the case exits the die expanding ball and the brass springs back, I end up with .220" ID.
Flyrodder
 
I see the crimp vs no crimp argument all the time, so it must be a valid discussion.

One thing that might be useful for others that are new to to reloading would be if we put our type of shooting along with our method.

I crimp my stuff that will be used in a semi auto, but I run and gun a lot. Lots of 3 gun / multgun etc....

I'm sure there will be others that do the same stuff and don't crimp.

If I was a bench rest shooter I wouldn't crimp, but I always get good groups with my ammo and prefer it crimped for my uses.
 
In bolt guns I do not crimp.

In magazine feed guns that auto load I always do. For me its the ounce of prevention thing.....
 
Though I'm new to reloading the 5.56/.223 AR. I've found for accuracy unless the bullet has a crimp grove-don't crimp! As long as your case aren't worn out the case will grab the bullet with enough tension to keep it from moving! If the cases are worn I use the Lee Factory crimp die and put a slight crimp on bullet without the grove and it seems to work fine!
 
I was always told that if the bullet did not have a cantelever then you didn't want to crimp because it really was not doing anything and it could cause different pressure spikes. In all my ar's I never crimp because the bullets that I shoot are either NBLT or bergers. The only time that I did crimp was when we were shooting some remington soft points that had a cantelever out of bolt guns and then we put a slight crimp on them to keep them in place. Right or wrong that is the way I was taught.
 
I have never crimped bullets in my ARs either, no matter if its smooth or has a crimp line. Only in my lever actions have I ever crimped.
 


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