45 ACP Crimp

vranasaurus · November 19, 2008, 02:28 PM

Would it be a good idea to get a factory crimp die?

Is it necessary?

Are there any benefits?

D. Manley · November 19, 2008, 02:47 PM

They're OK, but any taper crimp die should work just as well. I used them for a while on Lee equipment with no issues loading jacketed and plated rounds but others using lead have found they *can* resize the loaded bullets creating problems. The FCD has a carbide "post-sizing" insert as well as the crimp function and therefore, some people use them to correct other issues in reloading. While this frequently works, IMHO, this is merely masking the original problem.

cgaengineer · November 19, 2008, 03:55 PM

You dont really need it...just a small taper crimp is fine. From what I understand the crimp dies are hard on your cases.

vranasaurus · November 19, 2008, 04:23 PM

From my understanding the lee bullet seating die has a taper crimp built in. So this should be sufficient?

I would assume the same goes for 9mm so instead of buying a 4 die set I'll stick with the 3 die set.

F. Guffey · November 19, 2008, 04:45 PM

vranasaurus, A set of ACP dies come with two crimp dies, either the taper or roll crimp die and the sizer die.

Size a case or 10, bell and seat a bullet without powder or primer, use the sizer die to crimp the bullet with the sizer, do not 'full length crimp

', then measure, and cycle through your pistol, you could get carried away and put enough cases together to load your clip and cycle them through the pistol, if the cases fly through your pistol like they do my 45 ACP, you have another option when it comes to crimping for ACP type rounds.

F. Guffey

vranasaurus · November 19, 2008, 04:57 PM

I have a 3 die set. Sizer, flare, and bullet seater. I have no crimp die.

I can't put a complete round in the sizer die unless I take the decapper out. Which is difficult with a progressive press.

vranasaurus · November 19, 2008, 05:22 PM

I read on Lees website that their seater die does in fact have a taper crimp built in.

I measured some of the rounds I made recently and they are .471 at the top of the case which is the same as the speer factory ammo I have.

So whatever I am doing the seater die is taking all of the flare out the cases. I am not going to worry about the crimp.

LHB1 · November 19, 2008, 05:35 PM

I have not used Lee dies but RCBS, Hornady, Redding, etc. dies typically have taper crimp built into the .45 ACP seater die. My RCBS three die set works fine on .45 ACP with no need for a separate crimper die. Some people prefer to seat and crimp in separate dies/steps but I have not found it necessary.

WESHOOT2 · November 20, 2008, 09:25 AM

1) It can be a good idea.

2) It is not necessary.

3) I have personally found significant benefit, and most highly recommend seating only with the supplied die (positioning it to remove any potential crimping effect) and finishing with a prpoerly adjusted LEE Carbide Factory Crimp die.

MADISON · November 21, 2008, 11:58 AM

Back in the 70's, when I began reloading, I needed a Taper Crimp die for my 45 ACP. The shop sales person brought me an RCBS sizing die, without the decapping stim. I adjusted it on the press and it WORKED PERFECT!

CortJestir · November 21, 2008, 12:35 PM

Well, here's a perspective from someone brand new to reloading. I've found that, if anything, the factory crimp die adds more peace of mind to a new reloader.

I have the 3-die set from Lee and their FCD for .45ACP. I know you can taper crimp and seat with the bullet seater die, but I was never able to get it right - adjust bullet depth and crimp was out of whack and vice versa. Yes, I've read all the recommendations on how to adjust this die, but I had the FCD on hand anyway when I bought all my gear, so I use it on my single stage press. Sure it adds another step to the process, but as a green reloader it takes me forever and a day to load even a test batch anyway! So what will an extra step matter?

And when I do upgrade to a 4-die Turret, I figure the extra step won't matter speedwise, plus I get finer and better control of the crimp and factory sizing to boot.

To sum it up though, no, you don't need the crimp die. It's helpful to have but not a necessity, in my view.

November 19, 2008, 02:28 PM	#1
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	45 ACP Crimp Would it be a good idea to get a factory crimp die? Is it necessary? Are there any benefits?

November 19, 2008, 02:47 PM	#2
D. Manley Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2008 Posts: 299	They're OK, but any taper crimp die should work just as well. I used them for a while on Lee equipment with no issues loading jacketed and plated rounds but others using lead have found they can resize the loaded bullets creating problems. The FCD has a carbide "post-sizing" insert as well as the crimp function and therefore, some people use them to correct other issues in reloading. While this frequently works, IMHO, this is merely masking the original problem. __________________ *"Old School" ain't all bad...*

November 19, 2008, 05:35 PM	#8
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	I have not used Lee dies but RCBS, Hornady, Redding, etc. dies typically have taper crimp built into the .45 ACP seater die. My RCBS three die set works fine on .45 ACP with no need for a separate crimper die. Some people prefer to seat and crimp in separate dies/steps but I have not found it necessary. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

November 20, 2008, 09:25 AM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	1) It can be a good idea. 2) It is not necessary. 3) I have personally found significant benefit, and most highly recommend seating only with the supplied die (positioning it to remove any potential crimping effect) and finishing with a prpoerly adjusted LEE Carbide Factory Crimp die. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 21, 2008, 11:58 AM	#10
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	.45 ACP Crimping Back in the 70's, when I began reloading, I needed a Taper Crimp die for my 45 ACP. The shop sales person brought me an RCBS sizing die, without the decapping stim. I adjusted it on the press and it WORKED PERFECT!

November 19, 2008, 03:55 PM	#3
cgaengineer Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2008 Posts: 264	You dont really need it...just a small taper crimp is fine. From what I understand the crimp dies are hard on your cases.

November 19, 2008, 04:23 PM	#4
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	From my understanding the lee bullet seating die has a taper crimp built in. So this should be sufficient? I would assume the same goes for 9mm so instead of buying a 4 die set I'll stick with the 3 die set.

November 19, 2008, 04:45 PM	#5
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	vranasaurus, A set of ACP dies come with two crimp dies, either the taper or roll crimp die and the sizer die. Size a case or 10, bell and seat a bullet without powder or primer, use the sizer die to crimp the bullet with the sizer, do not 'full length crimp ', then measure, and cycle through your pistol, you could get carried away and put enough cases together to load your clip and cycle them through the pistol, if the cases fly through your pistol like they do my 45 ACP, you have another option when it comes to crimping for ACP type rounds. F. Guffey

November 19, 2008, 04:57 PM	#6
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	I have a 3 die set. Sizer, flare, and bullet seater. I have no crimp die. I can't put a complete round in the sizer die unless I take the decapper out. Which is difficult with a progressive press.

November 19, 2008, 05:22 PM	#7
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	I read on Lees website that their seater die does in fact have a taper crimp built in. I measured some of the rounds I made recently and they are .471 at the top of the case which is the same as the speer factory ammo I have. So whatever I am doing the seater die is taking all of the flare out the cases. I am not going to worry about the crimp.

November 21, 2008, 12:35 PM	#11
CortJestir Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2008 Location: Southern CT Posts: 1,406	Well, here's a perspective from someone brand new to reloading. I've found that, if anything, the factory crimp die adds more peace of mind to a new reloader. I have the 3-die set from Lee and their FCD for .45ACP. I know you can taper crimp and seat with the bullet seater die, but I was never able to get it right - adjust bullet depth and crimp was out of whack and vice versa. Yes, I've read all the recommendations on how to adjust this die, but I had the FCD on hand anyway when I bought all my gear, so I use it on my single stage press. Sure it adds another step to the process, but as a green reloader it takes me forever and a day to load even a test batch anyway! So what will an extra step matter? And when I do upgrade to a 4-die Turret, I figure the extra step won't matter speedwise, plus I get finer and better control of the crimp and factory sizing to boot. To sum it up though, no, you don't need the crimp die. It's helpful to have but not a necessity, in my view. __________________ "They have men amongst them who know very well what they are about..." - Lord Hugh Percy, on the events of April 19, 1775 Do you know what you're about? Find out at an Appleseed near you.