Lee Factory Crimp dies

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SquirrelNuts

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I have a RCBS RC Supreme press and RCBS dies.

I learned to reload from reading a much as I could, watching some videos on YouTube, and I have a friend with the Lee Anniversary set who walked me through the physical process. I like the idea of crimping my ammo. My RCBS dies will do it so long as the bullet has a cannelure. I am loading Nosler 150 gr Ballistic Tips, which do not. I was impressed by the factory crimp die on my friend's Lee setup. I purchased a set of the Lee dies for .30-06 to try it out.

Do you guys use the Lee Factory Crimp die on bullets that do not have cannelures? They are designed for it specifically, I am just curious if you actually use it. I could feel a difference in the case neck with rounds we put through the crimp, and with rounds that had only been seated. The Factory Crimp die seems to crimp the entire neck around the bullet rather than just roll a crimp over a cannelure. Is this correct?

-SquirrelNuts
 
It seems counter-productive to pay top dollar for Nosler BT bullets, and then smash the jackets / loosen the cores by crimping them.

Anyway, there is no good reason at all to crimp 30-06 loads unless you are shooting them in a Semi-Auto.

But thats just me.

I have tryed the Lee FCD for crimping .223 bullets that didn't have cannulures. Didn't seem to help accuracy at all.
But on the otherhand, it didn't seem to hurt anything much either.

I just don't see the point of shortening my case life by crimping any caliber when I don't need too for a good reason.

rc
 
A very good "rule of thumb" for rifle cartridges is to crimp only if you have a bullet moving in the case, and are sure you have proper neck tension.

For me, with the eight rifle cartridges I reload (including the 30-06) that means only one: 45-70 with full power loads using 405 grain bullets.

Why ruin a bullet with no cannelure, or shorten the case life by folding the case mouth in/out if you do not need to?

Again, above applies to rifle cartridges only.
 
i have several fcd's. i do use them, and they work well on non canalured bullets. i once had to disassemble a cartridge because i goofed, but didn't realize it until after i was done (read the charge wrong in the book). you could see and feel the crimp in the bullet. but, that was in my 300 win mag. i crimp those because i have had many bullets with the noses battered from recoil. not so likely (but could still happen) in a 30-06. my 223 and my lighter win mag loads do not get crimped. like rc says, it will shorten case life. with some rifles, you just don't have a choice. like lever guns. it just has to be done. but if you dont have to, try not to., at least imo. hope this helps.
 
These are going in a Rem 700, so I will leave those alone. I have two M1 Garands...I might try a few with those crimped. Thanks guys!
 
One of the advantages of the Lee Factory Crimp die is that the crimped section of the case neck will help to center your bullet in the throat as it enters the rifling. A light crimp on bullets without a crimp canelure will not loosen the core but it will make the bullet "pull" more uniform and probably improve accuracy. Easy to check, simply load the same combinations with and without the facrory crimp. shoot them off the bench and see which are more accurate.
 
I use it on all my rounds, but have not tested accuracy against uncrimped.

Since I didn't measure the distance to my lands, I just seat to the book length and use the LFCD. Works great so far...very good accuracy with NBTs and Sierra SBTs.

Next up is the collet neck die!
 
If you are shooting it out of a bolt rifle, no need to crimp...as stated above. But, if you feel you have to crimp, a LIGHT crimp is just fine and will not distort/swage the bullet.
 
what about the theory that it isn't always to hold the bullet tighter but to provide a standard start pressure?
 
Compared to uniform case-neck tension, a crimp is just a flatulence in a whirlwind.

But I do know this.
You won't find any benchrest shooter, or 1,000 yard match shooter crimping thier loads.
And they are the most accurate loads in the world.

rc
 
I used the Lee FCD for pistol (9mm and 10mm) and for .223 rounds that get used in my AR15. Light crimp on all of them. I haven't compared using it/not using it for accuracy yet.
 
what about the theory that it isn't always to hold the bullet tighter but to provide a standard start pressure?
Click to expand...

RC,

So no opinion about my question?
 
Hey folks,

I once read another fellow's post that said the Lee Factory Crimp Die was best described as a solution looking for a problem. I have to agree with him. I never found any use for one.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
Hey folks,

Speedo asked, "So it isn't true that ammo for lever actions with tube magazines need to be crimped?", and I suppose his query was in defense of the Lee Factory Crimp Die. In response, I would point out that I load 45-70s for my Marlin Cowboy rifle, and the Cowboy is a lever action with a tube magazine. While I do crimp my bullets a slight amount for the 45-70, it is important that it does not require the use of a Lee Factory Crimp Die. The bullet seating and crimping die that came with the 45-70 die set makes a perfect crimp all by itself. Adjustment of the regular bullet seating and crimp die can make finished loads with case mouths that range from no crimp to a very heavy crimp. I don't understand the need to spend money for an additional die to make a crimp.

I know some folks say the Lee Factory Crimp Die will crimp a bullet that has no cannelure at all, and it will crimp a bullet at another location if you don't like where the cannelure is located. Yes, I agree it will crimp a bullet anywhere you want it, but it just does not make sense to me to squeeze a precision made bullet to a new shape for which is was not intended. If I actually need a crimp, I will use a bullet with a cannelure and use the seating die in my die set.

In addition, the Lee Factory Crimp Die is a complete mis-nomer. There is nothing "factory" about squeezing your own "cannelure" in a bullet. When ammo makers use a crimp on their bullets, the case mouth is crimped on a bullet with a cannelure, and you can rest assured that they are not using a Lee Factory Crimp Die or anything like it. They are using a bullet seating and crimp die very much like the bullet seating and crimp die you get in your Lyman, Hornady, RCBS, or whatever die sets.

Like that other fellow once said, "The Lee Factory Crimp Die is a solution looking for a problem."

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
Anyway, there is no good reason at all to crimp 30-06 loads unless you are shooting them in a Semi-Auto.
Click to expand...

Exactly, but I learned from experience that NOT crimping my 40's did force the bullet back into the case. After five of my workup loads got forced back I bought the crimp die.

I also barely crimp my .308s for the AR10B. What I found was they sometimes hang on the case ridge as they feed into the chamber. Crimping them just the smallest amount stopped it.

I don't put any crimp on my bolt rifle.
 
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