Lee Factory Crimp Die

[308win]

The Lee Precision description of the factory crimp pistol die states that trim length is not important. Since the 45acp headspaces on the case mouth isn't the case length still a consideration or am I missing something?

I intend to get one of the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp dies for my 45acp reloading and I thought I would trim all of my cases to a length that I know will give me a complete lock up. Am I on the right track?

 

[dodgestdshift]

I have never done any experiments to verify this, but it makes sense. Very few loads in the 45 ACP really headspace on the crimp of the case, but instead headspace on the bullet.

Remove your barrel from the gun and drop a sized case into the chamber and note how far it goes into the chamber. Next seat a bullet and do the drop again and see where the cartridge goes into the chamber.

Finally with the Lee FCD the case length is not as important but I imagine it still has an effect.

 

[HSMITH]

Actually in a properly fitted gun the case is being held in position by the extractor if the case is short. If the bullet is hitting the rifling and headspacing the round they are 1) WAY over max OAL with anything but a full wadcutter and 2) going to be overpressure.

The next time you pop the slide off take a look at the firing pin protrusion on a 1911, it is pretty long to make sure it can get to the short case primers. Most if not all of your ammo is headspacing on the case or the extractor.

 

[Clark]

I have done experiments with the 45acp Lee Factory crimp in an S&W25-2 revolver.

In a revolver the recoil tries to pull the bullets out, just the opposite of a semi auto.

I found that the LFC die would always leave enough mouth to headspace, but was not a strong crimp with lead bullets in extreme recoil.

For that I am going to have to get a 45 Colt seater die, and cut enough off the bottom of the die, so I can make a roll crimp.

The strength of the Lee Factory crimp was always good with 230 gr FMJ if the OAL was short enough so there was some bullet to get ahold of [no problem in a semi].

When you do experiments with the LFC, note how many tightening turns you give the die past where it starts to crimp. The tighter you screw it down, the more crimp you get.

 

[Ala Dan]

In taking all aspects into consideration, I have
used the Lee FCD successfully for a month, on
.45 ACP cases. And its true, after the die starts
to crimp; the increased number of turns, brings
together a tighter crimp.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[swifter]

When I shot a lot of .45 ACP, I loaded 200 gr SWCs so that about 1/32" protruded past the case mouth to provide a "headspace cushion" seemed to work well for around 500 pounds of wheelweights...

I'd stay with a taper crimp.

Tom