Crimp 45ACP with Lee 45LC FCD?

JKilbreth · June 1, 2013, 05:42 AM

I was just wondering: could I use the Lee FCD in .45 Colt to crimp a .45 ACP cartridge somehow? I know it's probably a long shot, seeing as how I have no idea how to get a shorter case into the longer die shaft, but I can't find a FCD in .45 ACP, and I already have the .45 Colt FCD.

Thanks in advance!

spacecoast · June 1, 2013, 06:28 AM

It might be possible to insert a spacer between the die adjustment screw and the die shaft, however the two cases have neck diameters of .480 (Colt) and .473 (ACP) so that might present another problem.

A bigger issue perhaps is that the crimp applied to the .45Colt is normally a roll crimp, whereas the .45ACP requires a taper crimp.

mmb713 · June 1, 2013, 02:34 PM

No. The 45 Colt FCD applies a roll crimp, a very good one I might add. The 45 Auto requires a taper crimp for proper headspacing. Even if you could get a 45 Auto cartridge to contact the crimping portion of a 45 Colt FCD you would just end up ruining the cartridge.

Edward429451 · June 1, 2013, 02:35 PM

No. The 45acp case is too short to reach the crimping portion of the taller 45 Colt. Different kind of crimp too.

June 1, 2013, 05:42 AM	#1
JKilbreth Member Join Date: May 10, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 97	Crimp 45ACP with Lee 45LC FCD? I was just wondering: could I use the Lee FCD in .45 Colt to crimp a .45 ACP cartridge somehow? I know it's probably a long shot, seeing as how I have no idea how to get a shorter case into the longer die shaft, but I can't find a FCD in .45 ACP, and I already have the .45 Colt FCD. Thanks in advance!

June 1, 2013, 06:28 AM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	It might be possible to insert a spacer between the die adjustment screw and the die shaft, however the two cases have neck diameters of .480 (Colt) and .473 (ACP) so that might present another problem. A bigger issue perhaps is that the crimp applied to the .45Colt is normally a roll crimp, whereas the .45ACP requires a taper crimp.

June 1, 2013, 02:34 PM	#3
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	No. The 45 Colt FCD applies a roll crimp, a very good one I might add. The 45 Auto requires a taper crimp for proper headspacing. Even if you could get a 45 Auto cartridge to contact the crimping portion of a 45 Colt FCD you would just end up ruining the cartridge.

June 1, 2013, 02:35 PM	#4
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	No. The 45acp case is too short to reach the crimping portion of the taller 45 Colt. Different kind of crimp too.