NAME THAT TOOL ??????????

[H&R Glock]

What I've got here is some kind of LEE crimping tool. I believe it is an older model.
The markings are: "LEE-38 SPL-G7"
I e-mailed Lee asking if it was a roll crimper or a taper crimper.
Lee's answer was: "I don't know!"
Kinda funny they don't know what they make, so maybe someone here can identify the specific use it was designed for. Thanks

 

[dgod]

It looks like my Lee 38spc Roll Crimp, but it is missing the top piece.

 

[H&R Glock]

DGOD---- Thats why I aimed the camera into the top. To use Michigan language, :"There ain't no top piece, cuz there'z no threads in the top to screw anything into it." You can see the inside is machined smooth. It is smooth bore all the way down to the halfway point of the die.
I have the new Lee "Factory Crimp Die" with the adjustable top thing and I like it. It was supposed to be a "collet" type tool, but their advertising was misleading when I bought it. Somebody must own one of these "G7" tools. Be back tomorrow.

 

[FROGO207]

Years ago Lee would make you a specific tool/die for you to reload with or modify one that they already made. You might be in possession of one of these. Or it might be a bullet sizing die without the bullet catching container that was usually included. Kind of looks like my old ones. I think the G7 is a date code.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That die just might be their new handgun collect crimp die.

The quick trim die looks similar.

 

[Lafitte]

Just set it up in your press and run an empty case into it. You will find out if it is making a roll crimp, taper crimp or it may be something else.

Lafitte

 

[Axis II]

My lee 38 taper crimp die looks just like that.

 

[Walkalong]

Have a pic of the inside? Does look like a crimp only die, the ledge inside will tell you what kind of crimp.

 

[thomas15]

Send it to Lee with a letter stating that it is broken and ask if they would please fix it. See what they say.

 

[Ruger 15151]

Its a Lee collet-style crimp die. The only adjustment is how far you screw the die into the tool head. the give away is the useless aluminum nut with the o-ring.

 

[someguy2800]

I dont see a collet in there, looks like a fixed taper crimp die or something

 

[rmelton]

I have one, it's a taper crimp die http://leeprecision.com/taper-crimp-die-38spl.html

 

[reddog81]

If the G7 is only a date code it could be anything. It should be easy enough to figure out what is does by testing it out on a piece of extra brass.

 

[hdwhit]

melton wrote:
I have one, it's a taper crimp die...

I agree. I have one, too.

Same markings, too, except that mine ends in E3. It was bought in 1993, so the idea that the suffix is a date code seems plausible.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There are at least 3 Lee dies that look like that and the aluminum nut has nothing to doc with it, they all have the same nut.

 

[H&R Glock]

Mr. Rmelton and Mr. Hdwit thank you both for the info and the link to a picture. I'm also gonna run a piece of brass into it tonight and then up load a picture of the brass for you guys to see. I can recognize what a roll crimp should look like, but I have no idea what a taper crimp would look.
This will be a learning experience for me and maybe others.

 

[H&R Glock]

Therez nothing like doing it now instead of later. Not knowing what a taper crimp looks like here are the results. The case marked "ROLL" was done in my RCBS seating die. The "?" marked brass is from the mystery die. What do you think?

 

[H&R Glock]

The roll crimp stands out as a rounded inward radius to me. The other must be a taper crimp as the crimp is about a straight angle instead of being rounded. Am I correct????? Has anyone else tried this? It is so hard to get well defined facts on aspects of reloading like this.

 

[Walkalong]

Hard to see, but it looks like a taper crimp, although way over done.

 

[Ruger 15151]

I'd say it is a over-crimped taper crimp as well because of the flat angle rather than a gentle radius.

 

[sellersm]

I'd vote for taper crimp as well, from what I can see in the pics... This thread reminds me that I need to label all my various Lee crimping dies using a better method!!

 

[mdi]

The taper crimps I've see on empty brass has a much larger/longer taper. The crimp on the ? case looks very short, mebbe .050"? I would use the tool as a roll crimp die...

 

[loose noose]

Looks to me like it might be a powder guide for using with the Lee powder scoops that they produce. But what do I know?

 

[H&R Glock]

Both dies were turned in 1/2 turn after contact with the cartridge mouth. I appreciate everyone's time and two cents on this problem. Further experimentation with bullets will probably result in my discarding this die or selling it for scrap iron. I rather prefer the roll crimp and surprised myself with the results on empty brass. I hope all of us benefit from this adventure. Thank you all!

 

[mdi]

If you're gonna get a new die, look at the Redding Profile Crimp die. It's sorta a hybrid roll/taper crimp die. I use one for my 38/357 and .44 Spec./Mag.