243 Crimping issues....

[Jeremybj]

I have been reloading target ammo for quite a while now, but I recently started reloading hunting ammo.

I will start the story from the beginning. This fall I loaded some 85 grain Sierra Game kings w/o cannalure for my 243 Win for antelope in western South Dakota.

While out on the hunt, I opened my ammo box and found that the bullet to one of the rounds had fallen into the case. No big deal, I thought I didn't get a good neck size on it.

Well I decidied to load some 100 grain Hornady interlocks w/ cannalure for this coming year.

I used my Lee deluxe die set and neck sized the brass and loaded as normal. I seated the bullets to cannalure and called it good. Well my OCD kicked in and I decided I would apply a little pressure to make sure that the bullet wouldn't fall into the case. To my surprise, a little pressure and the bullet fell right in.

So I pulled out my Lee factory crimp die, followed the instructions, and put a crimp on the brass. I pushed on the bullet again, same problem, falls right in. I tightened down the crimp die a little more to give it tighter crimp. I can see the ridge the crimp die is putting in the brass, so I know it is making contact.

I don't know where I am going wrong on the deal. I use a set of RCBS 2 die set for my 270WSM with 130 grain Hornady Interlocks w/ cannalure and those things are SOLID, not going anywhere.

So I have a couple ideas, is it my neck die that is causing, should I try full length sizing some? Either that or I'm not using the crimp die correctly, but it isn't rocket science....

Any help would be great, thanks guys.

 

[jagged77]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

Sounds like you are not putting enough pressure through the Collet Die, you should be able to get a decent amount of case tension using it without needing to crimp. However, for hunting ammo I'd full length size for reliable feeding, I'd also anneal the brass for consistent neck tension and to rule out any spring back due to work hardened necks that you may be getting (how many firings on your brass?).

 

[steve123]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

Are you using the factory crimp die or the collet sizing die?

If the cases have been shot a bunch the necks will thin down some. Plus you've changed bullets which are probably slightly smaller in diameter.

Of course a crimp alone will not be sufficient to hold the bullet if there is not enough neck tension. I don't advise using a crimp for a precision rifle. Crimping by nature deforms the bullet.

You should have at least .002 neck tension.
Measure a sized neck and then the same neck with the bullet seated. The difference is the neck tension.

You will need to use a full length die or a neck die with bushings to size the neck smaller. A trick I've used to increase neck tension is to take the expander ball out or chuck up the depriming spindle with attached expander ball and polish off a little.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

Your neck die does not have a tight enough neck bushing to properly size the neck. Just FL size the brass and you should be fine.

 

[Jeremybj]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

I am going to try a batch of full length sized brass tonight. This is only my second firing on this brass, so practically new.

Would you guys recommend using the factory crimp die after full length sizing or should it be fine?

 

[Tripwire]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

I've never EVER crimped a bottle neck rifle cartridge.......

 

[jagged77]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jeremybj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Would you guys recommend using the factory crimp die after full length sizing or should it be fine? </div></div>

No, you shouldn't need it for a .243, full length sizing should give you more than enough amount of tension. The only time I'd consider crimping would be on a heavy recoiling round whilst hunting dangerous game. That said I have done it with .270 hunting loads and the rifle still held sub MOA, its really up to you.

Just out of interest how much pressure were you putting through the Lee Collet Die? Although I'd recommend FL sizing for a hunting load the Collet Die should still size the neck correctly.

 

[Jeremybj]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

For the die set you pretty much go to where the shellholder makes contact with the die. So it I guess I would lock out the arm.

I applied a little extra pressure when I loaded these to make sure I didn't have a repeat of my hunting experience. With that in mind, I am sure I put enough pressure on the neck collet...

 

[Jeremybj]

Re: 243 Crimping issues....

Well full length sizing solved the issue. Thanks for the help every1.