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Thread: What is a LEE Factory Crimp Die?

  1. #21
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,863
    I was given a bunch for pistol, and I gave them away to people that wanted to try them, taper or roll crimp is fine.

    I don’t crimp .223, neck tension is sufficient for my modest loads, but if I did I might try the collet style FCD.

  2. #22
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    914
    [The pistol FCDs] work like a case gauge to verify the diameter of your completed cartridge. If your cartridge is out of SAAMI spec it will size it down.
    With a case gauge, you would find the problem and then fix it for future rounds. The FCD "fudges it" on the fly. This reduces neck tension and makes the bullet size variable, dependent on the thickness of the brass. If you want to use it like an automatic case gauge, you can do this by feeling for resistance as the cartridge is pushed through the pistol FCD. It should barely touch and glide right through the carbide ring at the opening of the die. If there's any significant resistance/force/dragging, this is a "fail." If you set aside the "fails" and examine them, you might find a common headstamp of case that is causing the problem.

  3. #23
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    160
    I use the Lee Crimp die on 45 ACP, 357 mag, and my 223. with no complaints.

  4. #24
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Denmark (a greasy little spot in Scandinavia)
    Posts
    815
    Left to right:
    No crimp
    Factory crimp
    Taper crimp
    Roll crimp


    Click image for larger version. 

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  5. #25
    Boolit Master AntiqueSledMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    516
    From LEE Precision's web page,

    AntiqueSledMan.
    Attached Files Attached Files

  6. #26
    Boolit Buddy


    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    Tug Hill, NY
    Posts
    107
    I had roll crimping problems with a 257 Roberts rifle die when seating bullets long to reduce bullet jump to the lands. With moly coated cast bullets and a light roll crimp, not in the crimp groove, they would not stay put. Lesson learned: It is not fun going home early to clean powder out of the action & magazine!

    I had good results with the Lee Factory Crimp Die which put on a firm taper crimp.

    I also found my seating depths were more consistent when seating and crimping in two steps. Not a big deal for plinking ammo, but for accuracy I adjust my non Lee dies to seat without crimping then adjust to crimp without changing the seating depth.

    When crimping hunting loads in the crimp groove the FCD seemed to do a better job. Nice smooth uniform crimps. I would not be surprised to find improved concentricity with Lee’s collet design.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check