Lee Factory Crimp Die

[HisStigness]

Some of my die sets from Lee come with their factory crimp die. I am trying to put a crimp on 30-06 loads using bullets without a cannelure, because Lee says it can do that. I have it set up so I give it a decent amount of force and the collets (or whatever they're called) go most of the way closed. I can't see any change in the neck at all, and definitely nothing like the crimp they have on some of my xm193 box ammo. I don't want to apply too much pressure and get overcrimp and risk a high pressure situation, but I feel like I should be able to tell the difference between a crimped and uncrimped round. Could somebody upload some pictures to show the before and after of using the factory crimp die? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Vol46]

Crimp is not necessary in bottleneck rifle cases. I don't crimp any of mine, including magnums.
Some argue that a light taper crimp will give more consistent neck tension & improve accuracy, but I have not found that to be the case. Try two batches with your favorite powder & bullets, identical in all respects, but crimp one batch & don't crimp the other. If you get better accuracy with the crimped rounds, then go for it. I have not tried every combination or even every caliber that I load for, but I have tried the Lee FCD on several of my hunting & varmint rifles, and did not achieve any accuracy gains. In fact, crimping opened up my groups with several of my pet loads.

 

[Sb1911]

I do not crimp my 30-06 either, I tried it once and noticed no better accuracy then non crimped. Just a thought, if you are wondering if you are achieving any crimp at all load up some dummy rounds ( no powder no primer ) that are crimped and a couple that are not and use your bullet puller to remove the bullets. It should be slightly harder to remove the crimped round. Also some may disagree with me but I think you will damage the bullet or case before you will cause a spike in pressure due to crimping.

 

[Rule3]

The collet type crimp dies will and probably are crimping the bullet. You do not want to over tighten them,. Only tighten until the inside collets touch. More than that and you will wreck the die.

http://leeprecision.net/support/ind...View/125/0/rifle-factory-crimp-die-adjustment

 

[Vol46]

Also be sure your "crimp die" is not a neck sizing die - it has collets, and is designed to " neck size" your brass after it has been fired in your guns chamber. It is an alternative to full length sizing. It will not crimp.

 

[ranger335v]

IF you're getting any crimp at all, you'll see it. And you don't need much crimp to be plenty on non-cannalured bullets.

There's nothing magic about crimping your box magazine fed .30-06 ammo. Crimping will slightly increase initial ignition pressure and, done correctly, it certainly can improve powder burn consistancy and accuracy. How much good a crimp may do must be determined by the same tests any other load change should be tested; by load experimentation and work-up.

Willy-nilly crimping an established 'pet load' isn't likely to help anything and is more likely to screw accuracy up but it WILL NOT change the start pressure sufficent to blow you up.

 

[gamestalker]

Honestly, I can't imagine introducing an additional variable to bottle neck loading that offers no real advantage.

As for pressures, a crimp is in no way going to introduce any pressure circumstances that need addressing or consideration. The limitation of a crimp will be deformation of the brass, and, or the bullet. this is not to say that a crimped cartridge won't shoot different than a non crimped round.

GS