walshie Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 I'm coming to the end of my factory PPU SP ammo for the hornet so I'm going to start reloading. I've decided to start with 35gr v-max, the old PPU cases and Lil'gun powder. Half of the stuff I've read on the subject says crimping is a must. The other half says it's not necessary. I was going to buy a Lee Collet die set. Is it worth getting a crimp die too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 I have always put a light crimp on all my reloads (22-250 / 204 / 243 / 22 Hornet) As you mentioned, there is a lot of yes /no opinions out there. A light crimp won't do any damage. I used Lil'gun too but moved on to Hodgdon H4198. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted January 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 I only load 223 and 308 at the moment but never crimped either. I think I might have to get a crimp die and compare with and without. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fen tiger Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 3 hours ago, walshie said: I'm coming to the end of my factory PPU SP ammo for the hornet so I'm going to start reloading. I've decided to start with 35gr v-max, the old PPU cases and Lil'gun powder. Half of the stuff I've read on the subject says crimping is a must. The other half says it's not necessary. I was going to buy a Lee Collet die set. Is it worth getting a crimp die too? No need to crimp at all, keep velocities and pressures sane and do not try to turn the hornet into a 222 or 22250 just be happy with it for what it is. Chasing every last FPS in the hornet starts to effect cases function and accuracy, i have never done anything with 35 grain just typical 45 grain hornet type bullets and these have worked fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted January 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 1 minute ago, Fen tiger said: No need to crimp at all, keep velocities and pressures sane and do not try to turn the hornet into a 222 or 22250 just be happy with it for what it is. Chasing every last FPS in the hornet starts to effect cases function and accuracy, i have never done anything with 35 grain just typical 45 grain hornet type bullets and these have worked fine. Cheers. I wasn't going to push any boundaries as I have a 223 if I need a bit more oomph. Been doing fine with the 45gr PPU ammo so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fen tiger Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 3 minutes ago, walshie said: Cheers. I wasn't going to push any boundaries as I have a 223 if I need a bit more oomph. Been doing fine with the 45gr PPU ammo so far. A 2400 is good powder for Hornet it gets its name from the velocity it makes with 45 grain bullet in the hornet a tad either side of 9 grains gets the job done economically, alternatively look at H110 Vit 110 and i am sure one of those will get a sweet performing load in your gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 (edited) Was led to believe crimping is detremental to accuracy. In Hornet had great sucess with H110. Switching to a pistol primer considerably improved accuracy in this calibre. Edited January 30, 2018 by Robertt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 You won't have a problem crimping with Lil'Gun as the pressures are very low compared to other powders; @ 24,000 CUP if I recall correctly, which is almost half that of some of the other powders. Crimping will give you better consistency though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 If crimping promotes consistency why do NO benchrest shooters use it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Crimping does improve group size and consistency by a good amount in a hornet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Ok. My BSA Hunter consistantly shot .4 moa groups uncrimped at 100y. None of the bullets I used had no cannulure thus any crimp would have damaged the jacket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Like all reloading crimp if it works don’t crimp if not crimping works. My 243 more accurate with out a crimp 308 more accurate with a crimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Why do people get so hissy about these things. If crimping doesn't work in your particular rifle.................don't do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliveward Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 Hi All, On the crimping side of things and indeed pistol primer use with the .22 Hornet... It is the theory that the thin case gives inconsistent or low neck tension, so when the primer is detonated it can dislodge the bullet by a variable amount before the main propellant charge burns. A small pistol primer has less dislodging force and a crimp helps to even up the forces involved where it is a problem on some loads. My V-Max load doesn't need crimping, but my H&N round nose load does and crimping has greatly improved accuracy and consistency in that load. Cheers Clive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upandatem Posted March 3, 2018 Report Share Posted March 3, 2018 ive been reloading hornet rounds for 5 years now in my browning,,,, a bolt,,, i use 35 g v max from hornady with 12 g lilgun and it will destroy anything out to 150 yards super accurate and hard hitting dont get me wrong not as good as a 223 though i only have a hornet and a 243 for small stuff and 300 win mag for bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 On 29/01/2018 at 17:08, walshie said: I'm coming to the end of my factory PPU SP ammo for the hornet so I'm going to start reloading. I've decided to start with 35gr v-max, the old PPU cases and Lil'gun powder. Half of the stuff I've read on the subject says crimping is a must. The other half says it's not necessary. I was going to buy a Lee Collet die set. Is it worth getting a crimp die too? While searching for something else I saw this. How are you getting on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cervusman Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 If crimping is not needed why is all factory ammunition crimped? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 17 minutes ago, cervusman said: If crimping is not needed why is all factory ammunition crimped? Possibly because they have no control over its use/handling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted May 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 7 hours ago, wymberley said: While searching for something else I saw this. How are you getting on? Got the relevant hornet dies, powder etc. I just haven't made any yet as I still have nearly 40 odd factory rounds left and want to use them all up first. I got Lil' gun powder, 35gr v-max and I won't be crimping, at least to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 On 13/05/2018 at 19:19, walshie said: Got the relevant hornet dies, powder etc. I just haven't made any yet as I still have nearly 40 odd factory rounds left and want to use them all up first. I got Lil' gun powder, 35gr v-max and I won't be crimping, at least to begin with. I do a light crimp simply to cater for the repettive load/unload that occasoinally occurs; not to mention me dropping them. If you do decide to save money by not getting the crimping die, you could put it towards a Forster Bench Rest Bullet Seating Die which in view of the thin neck on these cases really does improve things. Appreciate it's each to his own, but I would say you can do better than Lil' gun for sub 40g bullets. On the other hand though you can't do better than Lil' gun with the more usual Hornet type bullet at, say, 45g. For extended range with the 35 v-max, it may just pay to check your accuracy/group size. Sierra, Hornady and Speer (especially if you're not crimping with these - this from Speer - although I've never had a problem) all do something decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted May 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 5 minutes ago, wymberley said: I do a light crimp simply to cater for the repettive load/unload that occasoinally occurs; not to mention me dropping them. If you do decide to save money by not getting the crimping die, you could put it towards a Forster Bench Rest Bullet Seating Die which in view of the thin neck on these cases really does improve things. Appreciate it's each to his own, but I would say you can do better than Lil' gun for sub 40g bullets. On the other hand though you can't do better than Lil' gun with the more usual Hornet type bullet at, say, 45g. For extended range with the 35 v-max, it may just pay to check your accuracy/group size. Sierra, Hornady and Speer (especially if you're not crimping with these - this from Speer - although I've never had a problem) all do something decent. It's nothing to do with saving money. I don't crimp 308 or 223 and have very consistent results with those. No doubt I'll eventually come up with a decent load for the hornet and if it includes crimping, so be it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 12 minutes ago, walshie said: It's nothing to do with saving money. I don't crimp 308 or 223 and have very consistent results with those. No doubt I'll eventually come up with a decent load for the hornet and if it includes crimping, so be it. I hope that this predominant and undue concern regarding whether to crimp or not does not obliterate the bit about the Forster die which really is a good tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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