Lee 38/357 Bullet Seating and Crimp Die -- Is it supposed to Shave Brass?

[Thomas Traddles]

I loaded up some 38 WC's and noted that on some of the cases a very thin ring of brass around the crimp had been shaved off. It does not happen on all cases, but only some. I am wondering if this is an equipment problem or operator error (i.e., that I have not set up the crimp properly.) Anybody else encounter this? Solutions? Thanks. T

[btroj]

Solution is easy, get a separate crimp die and seat and crimp in two steps.

[bedbugbilly]

No . . I haven't but I seat and crimp in two different operations. To me, seating and crimping at the same time is akin to standing on your pant legs and trying to pull your pants up at the same time.

Try seating in one operation . . . then back you seating stem out and crimp . . . see if you still have problems?

[Char-Gar]

Way to much crimp...

[462]

One die to seat + another to crimp = not having to adjust a single die to seat, then re-adjust it to crimp, then re-adjust it to seat, ad infinitum . . .

[Thomas Traddles]

Thanks, folks. I will set up a separate crimping die and give that a shot.

[stinjie]

I encounter the same thing,but only with new or freshly trimmed brass.Seat/crimp in one step can be successful with a clean crimp groove.My 38/357 and 44 mag reloads work great this way.

[bedbugbilly]

462 - I should have mentioned that . . :-). If the OP only has one seating/crimping die - he can try it by batch loading a few - seat a number of them and then adjust his die and crimp 'em and that should give him an idea of if it will take care of his problem.

I load on a 4 place Lee Classic Turret and have a separate seating and crimping die set-up. It works slick. On a 38 WC, he really shouldn't need much of crimp.

[Moonie]

Also note if you chamfer the inside mouth of the brass it will reduce this issue but I agree, the best thing to do is to seat and crimp in 2 steps.

[jadcock]

I just got a new set of Lee dies and have experienced the same thing. The way they set the die up to use their auto bullet feeder seems to me to be the culprit? I was not pleased. Luckily I have an extra die and I did as the others suggested. Seat with one, crimp with another. BTW, the die that did this will work fine for the crimp, it's the flare of the case before the bullet seating step that caused the issue. FWIW.

[462]

Bedbugbilly,
I knew what you meant.