Crimping 223/5.56

[Collo Rosso]

Do you guys crimp your 223/5.56 rounds for a AR?
I haven't been and have had no problems.

 

[Rule3]

Some do, some don't.

Many "manuals" will say to crimp magazine fed ammo.

As with most things it is a a debated subject

Neck tension is key but that said I do put a very , very light collet crimp on my 223/556

 

[Cdog]

Regardless of caliber any rounds that may see rough handling receives a crimp.

If I'm shooting match or varmint rounds from an AR they ain't likely to see a crimp.

 

[DWalt]

I have never crimped 5.56/223. Just used the standard seating die.

 

[Jboutfishn]

I load the 5.56 on a progressive, the last stage is a Lee Factory Crimp Die.

 

[rg1]

Bullets with a cannelure I crimp. Non-cannelured or match bullets I don't. My standard AR's show no accuracy improvement without crimps. Personal choice but maintain good neck tension on the bullet. A crimp won't help if you should have loose neck tension. I haven't seen any loose neck tension in over 20 years with various cases and many bullets loaded with Hornady, RCBS, and Redding .223 dies.

 

[Culina]

^^^^^^If there is no cannelure, crimping doesn't really work and probably does more harm than good. In my AR's I have fired thousands of sierra matchkings that never got crimped, no problems. I also have fired thousands of M855 projectiles that I crimp because they have a cannelure. I pretty much exclusively reload LC or WCC headstamped brass and throw them in the recycling bucket after 5 reloads, the neck tension is usually good its the primer pockets that get too loose.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I forget who made the bullets (bought a big bulk years ago and the label is gone) but they do have a cannelure. Out of curiosity I seated bullets in 2 cases, lightly crimped one, put the bullet tip to the bench and did the push test. It did take more effort to push in the crimped one, but the un-crimped round had plenty of neck tension.
I took 25 rounds and did a light crimp and bagged them. Next time I shoot the AR I'll see if there's any noticeable difference.

 

[gregintenn]

I usually do, but my handloads work fine either way.

 

[Cdog]

I'm one of those people that "purpose load." Application dictates how I treat any loading.

The majority of my rifle loads are more precision oriented, so a lot of detailed case prep, no crimp, small batch uniform storage, etc.

I don't know how much hauling, bouncing and banging my utility grade .223/5.56 or .308 autoloader ammo may be exposed to before its firing. It's usually loaded and stored in larger less secure packaging, (thrown into metal or wooden boxes/cans.)

I'm a firm believer in "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

 

[DWalt]

One will find that having the correct COAL for the rifle makes much more difference in grouping when it comes to grouping performance. I have never seen any problem involving crimping vs. not crimping for the AR. The AR magazine is designed to protect the bullet from moving under recoil when the weapon is fired. That is what the grooves are for, to keep cartridges from moving forward.

 

[fredj338]

I rarely crimp my ar rounds, the exception is the bullets i make myself. The brass jacket seems to respond to a light crimp.