Crimping some 224 sierra boat tails I had over pressure. Blew the primers right out of the case. I think that crimp on those light thin jacketed bullets caused them to swell creating the excess pressure. Lee says crimping bullets without a canalure ring is a good idea. That pressure is closer to equal shot to shot. Crimped Nosler partition and no issues. Anybody else have trouble with crimping and no canalure ring using the Lee factory crimp die?

I used one with my first loads I ever assembled 18 years ago . I turned it down more of a turn than the direction said maybe 1/16 turn more . Just where I could see it was doing something. I had great groups but 300 win mag recoil from that 270. I pulled a bullet and it was slightly hour glass shaped from over crimping.

Instead of backing it off I just started roll crimping when I need crimped and called it good.

Try backing it off a little. A little goes a long way with them and jacket thickness probably plays a part.

I only go until there's barely a mark on the case neck. I haven't loaded too many without a cannelure, but I haven't noticed any issues. Maybe I wasn't crimping it hard enough lol

never had a problem till now

I used it on 223, 308, 30-06 ,300blk

I just measured a few if I place my dial caliper on the neck just before the crimp then on the crimp .002" difference
you can just barely even see it making a mark. on the case mouth

I would back your die out some and slowly turn in , crimp measure when you get to .002 that seems to be enough without being too much

it hardly even feels like your making a crimp

Sounds like you turned your die down too far. Get some locking lock rings for your die to avoid the same thing happening again.

iv used it on 223 and liked it. I just followed the instructions that came with it and never had a problem loading Hornady vmax bullets. but I don't have near the experience as some guys on here.

I don't think those dies can over crimp a bullet enough to cause high pressure-brass is to soft for that.

I use an LFCD on pretty much all rifle cartridges - especially lever actions or bullets without a real crimp groove. I often apply it pretty heavy, too. I know it sometimes squishes the bullet just a bit. Yet, I've never seen any indication of high pressure except when I increase the powder charge up to the max.

Was your charge already near the top end of the range for weight of bullet you are loading?

Are the cases from the overpressure loads any different than other loads? I would look for another variable first before suspecting a bullet deformed by the factory crimp die as the cause of the excessive pressure.

Another thing to consider might be the OAL after using the FCD. I have definitely seen cases where applying the FCD increases my OAL. Perhaps you seated the bullet close to the lands in your rifle but the FCD moved it out a little. If the bullet got pushed far enough into the throat, maybe that would spike the pressure. You might just check length before and after crimping to see if there is a difference.

I am convinced that bullet, sierra game king boat tail 55 grain 224, is unsafe to crimp. It has no cannelure ring. Its a light bullet designed to expand.

Some years ago I remember somebody else posting about this. I thought it was lawdog but he said no. Anybody else thinking about doing this beware.

Like I said, no problem with 60 grain partition and the same powder with only 3/10ths of a grain powder reduction. The only difference being crimping into the solid copper section of the partition. OAL was the same. 2.26 The only reason for the crimp was to prevent feeding problems by seating against the lands. The rifle is a semi auto.

I think those small thin jacketed soft bullets are deformed by the lee factory crimp die. I have loaded at least (probably lots more) a thousand rounds of different bullet types and calibers with one and no issues till now. The primers were blown clean out. A dangerous overpressure without a doubt. So if your loading a small thin jacketed soft bullet go easy till you see how it is going to work.

It is my opinion that by seating your bullets touching the lands as you state above, the crimping is enough to cause a pressure spike that you are experiencing. Try and experiment, back the bullet off the lands 20-30 thousandths. Then crimp as you have been, support the gun with some sandbags and fire the gun with a string on the trigger from a safe position. Your issue may very well go away. I had a load for my coyote gun that liked 52 gr a maxes touching, but after having a couple of bullets pulled as I opened the bolt to unload after a stand I found another sweet spot that (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) just as good if not better a ways back off the lands. I found that while out in mother nature if any particles of grass or dirt get in your chamber area while in the field the tolerances are to tight and caused the issues I had. Now if you are shooting a match with the load you probably wouldn't have to be concerned about a dirty rifle.

THEY WERE NOT TOUCHING THE LANDS


put another way: The only reason for the crimp was to prevent feeding problems CAUSED by seating against the lands. The rifle is a semi auto.

.223 OAL was 2.26

somebody else posted about this a few years ago. it can happen. i wish that poster would chime in.

It is my go to bullet in the 223 wssm and AR 15 wylde .... Now I have taken the size of the expander button down just a little to give me the neck tension that I am after and don't crimp them with zero issues. Just got another 500 of them when I got a notification that they wee back in stock. Given that the recoil of the 223WSSM is way more in that light Browning A bolt than in the AR and they still don't move I am quite happy with the results I get from them. They are accurate in both rifles and that is what I was after.

WAKE UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED?Lol. Your post was not well worded concerning your seating depth. Go ahead and have a rage filled day, I'm off to collect coyotes and not complain. Sorry for posting I guess. Have a nice day.

I shoot them in my bolt action 22-250 loaded tight to the lands no crimp. Decent deer bullet. I tried crimping these as I thought it might give me a better group. I didnt load any without the crimp so they may shoot fine with 2.26 o.a.l. I threw away the rounds I had crimped with sierra boat tails. I loaded the noslers to compare the two accuracy wise. The noslers were giving me good accuracy no over pressure indicators. I have not shot either one uncrimped yet in my semi. Haven't taken or had time. To windy today to try a comparison. This rifle has a wylde chamber also



Scuba, Did you turn down your expander butten yourself or special order one?

I did that myself. No ned for turning though I did chuck it up in the lathe but used emery cloth as it only needs a light touch and then polish it back up. I did that twice till I was where I wanted it . I do aneal every 2 firings to keep things consistent though. Your milage may vary on this, but it works for me

Not loading for rifles with tube type magazine I have no use for any type of crimp dies Lee or otherwise. Heavy recoiling revolver where bullet pull is common, yep roll crimp is mandatory. Heavy recoil pistols were bullet setback in the magazine is a thing taper crimp is called for.

If anyone believes that crimping is conducive to improving accuracy I would suggest a trip to the range while a bench rest match is being held. Ask every competitor there if they crimp their match ammunition. Be prepared for laughter.
Those guys live eat and breathe accuracy, if crimping possibly improved accuracy they would be on it like a duck on a junebug. I don’t care what a corporate ad campaign tells me. The only legitimate reason for crimping a loaded cartridge is to prevent bullet movement of unfired rounds in the magazine or cylinder. And on occasion during the feeding cycle of particularly violent simi autos.
Crimping causes bullet deformation which leads to strays and flyers.