40 S&W Crimp Die

[ddcrawford]

I'm about to start reloading 40 S&W and would like suggestions on crimping. I have not had good luck with the Lee FCD for handgun rounds. I just purchased the Lee Deluxe die set here because it was cheaper than ordering the three die set but I don't mind ordering a crimp die if I need to. I have seen posts where people have removed the carbide ring on the FCD and had success. What works best for you? Thanks!

[TNsailorman]

Your Lee might work out, give it a chance. I like the Profile crimp die that Redding sells. james

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Use the Lee taper crimp die. I use it on all my .380, 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm, and .45 ACP. The FCD often swages down cast bullets.

[flashhole]

Taper crimp die here too. Works great and very easy to set up.

[ddcrawford]

This one Rattlesnake Charlie and flashhole?

https://www.titanreloading.com/40-sw10mm-auto-taper-crimp-die-?search=taper%20crimp

[flashhole]

That will work fine. I have the Redding equivalent.

[marlin39a]

I use RCBC 40 S&W dies with a taper crimp seater die. I first seat the bullets, then back off the seater stem, and run the die down to apply the proper taper crimp. Then they are run through a gauge.

[ioon44]

I use the Hornady Series II dies with the Hornady taper crimp die for 40 S&W on a 550 with great results. I really like the floating bullet alignment sleeve one the Hornady dies and have been replacing Dillon dies with the Hornady.

[LabGuy]

I use a RCBS die set, but crimp with a Redding profile crimp.

[Valley-Shooter]

I use a RCBS die set, but crimp with a Redding profile crimp.

Redding doesn't make profile crimp die for the 40 s&w.
The "profile crimp" die is used to make a roll type crimp. You need a crimp groove for that.
They do make a taper crimp die.

I use a Dillon taper crimp die. Works great.

[mdi]

The die in the link is described as a collet crimp die, but the description also states it "squeezes the case mouth into the crimp groove"(?. Do your 40 S&W bullets have a crimp groove/cannalure?). Prolly will work , but a simple taper crimp die will suffice. You prolly have a seating/crimping die in your set, you just have to reset the die after seating the bullets...

FWIW, my semi-auto reloads don't get a "crimp", I just straighten out any taper in the case mouth enough to pass the plunk test...

[ddcrawford]

Thanks guys, this is an awesome forum, so many helpful people here!

[stubshaft]

I use the FCD to iron out 40 S&W cases before reloading. My SDB has a separate crimping station the works fine for me.

[Big Tom]

I also use the LEE Taper Crimp die for 40 S&W - never had a problem with it.

[jdfoxinc]

Most of the posts complaining about Lee FCD are about bullets being swaged down in straight walled cases. The .40 tapers enough to prevent this.

[ioon44]

As far as I know the .40 S&W is a straight wall case the 9mm has a taper.

[LabGuy]

Redding doesn't make profile crimp die for the 40 s&w.
The "profile crimp" die is used to make a roll type crimp. You need a crimp groove for that.
They do make a taper crimp die.

I use a Dillon taper crimp die. Works great.
Yep, I just wasn’t thinking clearly!

[Moonie]

I use the lee taper crimp die (not fcd)

[Taterhead]

I have four 40 S&W/10mm taper crimp dies. RCBS and Lyman. Both work equally well, but the RCBS is has a better finish. I have Redding and Hornady too in other cartridges. Whatever is on sale, though. I don't care for the Lee taper crimp dies. It is a quality thing. My experience with Lee is a rough finish that abrades the case mouths. I seat in station 4 of my press and taper crimp in station 5.

A taper crimp die is the right tool for 40 S&W ammo. Use it to just iron out the flair/bell. You don't want to turn in the case mouth into the bullet. A lot of misunderstanding about this.

The post sizing ring in a Lee Carbide FCD is a concept that I have never warmed up to.

And was said earlier, roll crimp or profile crimp is not suitable for this cartridge except for the rare cases of loading bullets with a cannelure/crimp groove and shot out of a revolver.