My question is which calibers should be crimped and which calibers should not be.

I reload 9mm, 30-06, and 44 rem mag.

The factory rounds are not crimped. So i am just wondering if I should crimp mine or not. Or is it optional

9mm = light taper crimp
.44 mag = roll crimp
.30-06 = not sure as I don't reload rifle calibers

thank you much

Some .44 mag loads do need a firm crimp to make sure the resistance is high enough to keep the bullets from being pulled out by inertia, and some need it to keep the bullet seated a fraction of a microsecond longer to insure complete combustion of slower powders. USUALLY the Manual will specify which need it, a 210 or 240 lead bullet on a moderate load of unique will need a little crimp, a heavy load of 296 or 2400 usually warrants a nice firm crimp,

Rifle ammo for the most part should not have a crimp, but relies on neck tension to hold the bullets in, the only rounds in rifle I crimp are those with big heavy bullets and big heavy recoil. AND only when those bullets have a cannelure crimping groove.

Most of the rounds meant for autoloading pistols should not have a deep crimp as this allows the round to slide too far forward into the chamber and can cause over pressure round by having the crimped portion having no where to expand out to...

Hope this helps

does any one know if i should crimp a 30-06.
I am currently putting a little bit of crimp on it now.



I am new to reloading so i might need some explanation on certian things

Is it for a bolt gun or an auto?
What weight bullet are you using?

30-06 Winchester model 70 bolt

150 gr fmj bullet

you really don't need to crimp that, however, crimp five really lightly, and not crimp five, all other things being egual. see how they shoot.

another thing with rifles, Each rifle likes its loads slightly different than others, one big thing is how far off the lands, or beginning of the rifling, the bullet sits when chambered. I have found that some like to be off the lands by a good (.020) distance, some like to be .002 of the lands for best accuracy.... and sometimes just a couple of thousandths makes all the difference between one holers and one moa,

I do not crimp 30-06 for a bolt action rifle, I do crimp rounds for a 308 autoloader, on the canelure. The reason for this is my autoloader has a somewhat forceful bolt spring. I agree with the other posters on pistol rounds and I always roll crimp 44mag and 357mag.