Barnes Triple-Shock and Banded Solids have square-cut crimping grooves, allowing an extremely tight and solid crimp. In special situations they can be seated farther out, using one of the rear grooves for crimping. From left: the new Nosler Solid .416 with a square-cut crimping groove; a cast .416 from Huntington Die Specialties; and a Hornady .458, with a knurled cannelure.

The same is true of crimps and cannelures. After decades of being consigned to the shadows by the uber-accuracy crowd, they are reemerging and proving their worth in hunting circles all over again.

The difference between now and 1890 is that we are working with jacketed bullets and bolt-action rifles. With bolt actions, we are accustomed to great freedom in seating depth, overall cartridge length and a wide choice of bullets.

Recognizing the importance of cannelures, some manufacturers are now offering bullets with or without them; others are putting two cannelures on a bullet to accommodate different seating depths, still others offer special-order cannelures anywhere you want them.

For casual shooting and hunting close to home, this may be a lot of trouble, but when you are half a world away with something big lurking in the bushes, a firmly crimped bullet can be worth its weight in gold.