Lee PrecisionLoad DataReloading EverythingMidSouth Shooters Supply
Inline FabricationTitan ReloadingRepackboxRotoMetals2
Wideners
Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Lee Crimp Dies

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Jim22's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Eastern Washington
    Posts
    590

    Lee Crimp Dies

    In a fit of whatever I ordered one each .357 Mag. Lee crimp dies. I have the 'Factory Crimp Die' and I have their 'Collet Style Crimp Die'. I have only used the Factory Crimp die but I wonder about the other. I very much like the look of ammo crimped with a properly set Factory Crimp Die. Where might I use the other to my advantage?

    Jim

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Newburgh IN
    Posts
    198
    I use a Lee collet die on .223 ammo. works good.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master wilecoyote's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2021
    Location
    venice, italy
    Posts
    635
    usually Lee collet dies works fine on my semiauto bottleneck rifle brass.
    FC works at their best on my straight revolver or straight lever rifle brass
    Food is overrated. A nice rifle is way more important.
    Rob

  4. #4
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    73
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim22 View Post
    In a fit of whatever I ordered one each .357 Mag. Lee crimp dies. I have the 'Factory Crimp Die' and I have their 'Collet Style Crimp Die'. I have only used the Factory Crimp die but I wonder about the other. I very much like the look of ammo crimped with a properly set Factory Crimp Die. Where might I use the other to my advantage?

    Jim
    I use the collet crimp die to put a roll crimp on .45 slugs that have no grooves. Collets exert more force than the push-type crimpers, so that makes it useful for ungrooved bullets.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    111
    Collet die gives consistent crimps when reloading mixed brass of differing lengths whereas FCD doesn’t.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

    mdi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So. Orygun
    Posts
    7,239
    Collet crimp die? Yes! Post crimping sizing die? No!
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    tja6435's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Westcliffe, CO 81252
    Posts
    898
    I use the Dillon crimp die for 38spl and the Lee collet die on .357. Life is too short to worry about boolit pull from recoil.
    8500' Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    SW ND
    Posts
    324
    The factory crimp is kind of misnamed. It is actually a post size die for the last step. It is larger than the regular size die that you use first. The idea is to make sure all rounds don’t exceed a certain diameter that would prohibit chambering.
    It has a crimp ring that is adjustable by the knurled stem on top to provide a regular roll crimp or if an auto caliber, a taper crimp.
    Some love it some hate it. Usually if people hate it it is because the die is too small for their loaded rounds.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy Ziptar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Rockingham County New Hampshire
    Posts
    483
    10 years or so ago the only way to get a .357, .44, or .45 pistol caliber Lee collet crimp die was through RanchDog, used to have them custom done by Lee before they were a regular catalog item. That's where I got mine. Lee added them to their catalog not long after, so I guess it must've made sense to them and they realized they were useful.

    I use the collet crimp die for 98% of my .45 Colt loads, it's a better crimp for cast for two reasons. 1. Under heavy recoil from hot loads it keep bullets from shifting. 2. With light loads it's tight hold results in a cleaner burn using powders like Unique so there's less soot and unburned powder but no over pressure.

    I had a Factory Crimp Die once a long time ago, got rid of it. First time I used it I mic'd the diameter of the case at the crimp groove before and after using the FCD. Used it on 50 rounds and damned if it didn't swage every singe bullet down by ~ .003 as I recall so the bullets I took the time and effort to size to 0.452 ended up re-sized to 0.449. That aint't right! I posted about it here, probably can still dig it up.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    612
    I just knock the ring out and no more worries about sizing down bullets.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master

    mdi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So. Orygun
    Posts
    7,239
    I knocked the ring out of the only FCD I bought. The remaining crimp was no better (and not as good as most) plain roll crimp dies. At that time I also had a Profile Crimp die which was excellent so the FCD moved to a landfill somewhere in So. Oregon. I now have a collet crimp die in four calibers; two handgun and two rifle...
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy Hi-Speed's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Northern Nevada
    Posts
    354
    I tried collet (Lee) crimp die and it marked the heck out of my 357 cases. I’ve also used Lee FCD for years but I prefer roll crimping more with an RCBS crimp die (removed seater plug) or Redding Profile Crimp die. I didn’t like the extra step of lubing the Profile Crimp die but I use a simple expedient…lightly lubricate a Qtip with Ballistol and coat the inside of the die and then take a dry Qtip to remove any excess. Ballistol is a “wonder” lube!

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    995
    Based ln GONRA's vast experience (?) runnin' yer auto pistol reloads thru LFC die
    USUALLY is a "good idea".

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
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