Lee factory crimp .45 ACP

attila787 · August 23, 2009, 11:50 PM

Well thanks for the help so far I have a hundred of sierra .308 ready to go. Now I'm trying to finish up some .45 ACP. However, I'm a little confused I now know that some people crimp and others do not when it comes to rifle ammo, but what about pistol ammo?

I have the Lee factory crimp die and trying to finish up some speer TMJ 185 grain, but I'm a little confused. Should I crimp these? They are not cranuler bullets....so should I?...and If I do how do I know how much crimp I need? Any pics????

Randy 1911 · August 23, 2009, 11:58 PM

Yes you need to crimp. The main purpose is to remove the bell at the case mouth. I crimp until the diameter of the case mouth is 0.470. It gives me good feeding and no problems what so ever.

flinch444 · August 24, 2009, 06:58 AM

The factory crimp die also re-sizes the finished round, which will take out that occasional case bulge from a bullet that didnt seat straight.
I use factory crimp dies for everything I load.

mongoose33 · August 24, 2009, 08:19 AM

The use of the word "crimp" is probably an unfortunate historical artifact, because it confuses what needs to be done w/ a straightwalled .45 ACP cartridge (and others as well) with what needs to be done w/ rifle cartridges.

For those straightwalled cartridges, it probably should be called something like the "de-belling" die because, as Randy says above, that's really all it's for (unless you use the FCD which also resizes the case, and which I've found is generally a good thing).

CrustyFN · August 24, 2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

The factory crimp die also re-sizes the finished round, which will take out that occasional case bulge from a bullet that didnt seat straight.
I use factory crimp dies for everything I load.

The FCD will only size a case that is out of spec. I have only had my FCD's size two cases out of thousands of rounds loaded. It is better to set the dies up right than to count on the FCD to fix a problem, just thought that was worth mentioning for someone new. I use a FCD for every caliber I load.

Rusty

Atticus Thraxx · August 24, 2009, 10:05 AM

Your right mongoose.Gonna start using the term de-belling instead of crimping myself.Good idea.

crnook · August 24, 2009, 12:29 PM

I use the FCD on my 45 ACP.

I find that if I am loading HP's if I seat and crimp in the same operation sometimes the nose of the bullet gets rounded a little (crimp set at .469") with the supplied flat nose seating ram.

I have also found that the Lee FCD re-sizes a lot of the Independence stamped Brass on the first go around. I don't know if they are slightly over sized or what but there is a lot more resistance running them through the die than any other brand. If I seat and crimp with my RCBS die on the Independence brass I will get the occasional FTF.

QBall45 · August 24, 2009, 01:54 PM

Yes.

I seat and crimp seperaty. I load almost strictly lead. By crimping seperately, I eliminate shaving lead that tends to happen if seating and crimping with the same die.

Yep, I use LEE's factopry crimp die.

poline · August 25, 2009, 07:47 PM

Better to set dies up right than to depend on FC . Can u elaborate other than what u have already said in more detail? U say the FC sizes the bullet that was not seated properly.....does this mean that the depth was incorrect? Does this that the fulllength sizeing die was not set up correctly? NEW AT THIS!

Blue · August 25, 2009, 08:27 PM

FCD puts an excellent taper "crimp" and is very reliable. I have one particular bullet where I use my RCBS seat and crimp on in one step (My favorite) I use the FCD as a separate step for bullets I don't load that many of.

I use FCD for 9mm, too.

Great tool.

CrustyFN · August 25, 2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Can u elaborate other than what u have already said in more detail? U say the FC sizes the bullet that was not seated properly.....does this mean that the depth was incorrect? Does this that the fulllength sizing die was not set up correctly? NEW AT THIS!

What I meant was that if a person is getting a lot of rounds that won't chamber rather than depend on the FCD to just fix them all it would be better to find what the problem is and correct it before it gets to the FCD. Mostly new reloaders might not have their sizing die set to touch the shell holder or they might have the seat/crimp die set wrong and the case is bulging. It would be better to adjust those dies right and let the FCD just fix the rare problem. Also bad brass like Amerc will usually cause problems and need to be fixed in the FCD, that's why all Amerc goes in my recycle bucket. I don't think fixing a round once in a while is a bad thing but letting it fix most of what somebody is reloading is a bad habit to get into, just my opinion. I use FCD's for all the calibers I load and think they do a good job.

Rusty

kwells6 · August 25, 2009, 09:24 PM

why dont you try a roll crimp if the bullets desired have a cannelur (not sure of spelling)? thats why i do with my lee set

Alleykat · August 25, 2009, 09:28 PM

You don't roll-crimp straightwall semi-auto cases.

kwells6 · August 25, 2009, 09:30 PM

i beg to differ... flare the case out a little and when you set the round, it will crimp into the cann... however its spelled. if its not roll crimping, what is it called?

poline · August 26, 2009, 10:34 AM

thank you,very much.

1tfl · August 27, 2009, 11:19 AM

I only load 200gr H&G #68 style cast bullets in 45ACP.
I seat and debell (crimp) in two separate stages.
I just make sure the bullet seats correctly and the case wall is debelled correctly and I never have feed reliability issues in my Colt, Glock or Sig.
I don't see the need to start to use the Lee FCD now.

CrustyFN · August 27, 2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

I seat and debell (crimp) in two separate stages.
I don't see the need to start to use the Lee FCD now.

The reason to use the FCD is the exact reason you seat and crimp in separate steps. The FCD is a crimp die. I buy the Lee four die sets. They come with the FCD. I like to seat and crimp in separate steps also thats why I use the FCD.

Sport45 · August 27, 2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

i beg to differ... flare the case out a little and when you set the round, it will crimp into the cann... however its spelled. if its not roll crimping, what is it called?

.45acp headspaces on the case mouth. If it is rolled into a bullet cannelure (not often seen on bullets made for acp) it will try to chamber too deep and will headspace on the extractor.

You can use a roll crimp on .45AR and .45acp if used in a revolver where the rounds headspace off the rim or moonclip.

A taper crimp is called for with .45acp. Just enough to remove the belling as has been stated. The mouth of the case needs to be proud of the bullet a bit for headspacing.

Sidewinder72 · August 27, 2009, 08:50 PM

I also seat bullet and crimp in separate steps. I do use F.C. for 45acp and the 9mm. More reliable feeding in 45 hollow points. Just like new factory loads but better and more accurate.

Alleykat · August 28, 2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

45acp headspaces on the case mouth. If it is rolled into a bullet cannelure (not often seen on bullets made for acp) it will try to chamber too deep and will headspace on the extractor.

You can use a roll crimp on .45AR and .45acp if used in a revolver where the rounds headspace off the rim or moonclip.

A taper crimp is called for with .45acp. Just enough to remove the belling as has been stated. The mouth of the case needs to be proud of the bullet a bit for headspacing.
__________________

But, but, but, but, he begs to differ!

August 23, 2009, 11:50 PM	#1
attila787 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2007 Posts: 259	Lee factory crimp .45 ACP Well thanks for the help so far I have a hundred of sierra .308 ready to go. Now I'm trying to finish up some .45 ACP. However, I'm a little confused I now know that some people crimp and others do not when it comes to rifle ammo, but what about pistol ammo? I have the Lee factory crimp die and trying to finish up some speer TMJ 185 grain, but I'm a little confused. Should I crimp these? They are not cranuler bullets....so should I?...and If I do how do I know how much crimp I need? Any pics????

August 23, 2009, 11:58 PM	#2
Randy 1911 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Location: Western Arkansas Posts: 273	Yes you need to crimp. The main purpose is to remove the bell at the case mouth. I crimp until the diameter of the case mouth is 0.470. It gives me good feeding and no problems what so ever. __________________ Been Reloading 27 Years NRA Member Member Old Fort Gun Club www.ofgc.org

August 25, 2009, 07:47 PM	#9
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	To CRUSTYFN Better to set dies up right than to depend on FC . Can u elaborate other than what u have already said in more detail? U say the FC sizes the bullet that was not seated properly.....does this mean that the depth was incorrect? Does this that the fulllength sizeing die was not set up correctly? NEW AT THIS!

August 25, 2009, 08:27 PM	#10
Blue Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2009 Posts: 113	Crimp 45 Automatic Colt Pistol FCD puts an excellent taper "crimp" and is very reliable. I have one particular bullet where I use my RCBS seat and crimp on in one step (My favorite) I use the FCD as a separate step for bullets I don't load that many of. I use FCD for 9mm, too. Great tool.

August 25, 2009, 09:24 PM	#12
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	why dont you try a roll crimp if the bullets desired have a cannelur (not sure of spelling)? thats why i do with my lee set __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

August 24, 2009, 06:58 AM	#3
flinch444 Member Join Date: August 2, 2007 Location: North Idaho Posts: 27	The factory crimp die also re-sizes the finished round, which will take out that occasional case bulge from a bullet that didnt seat straight. I use factory crimp dies for everything I load.

August 24, 2009, 08:19 AM	#4
mongoose33 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 228	The use of the word "crimp" is probably an unfortunate historical artifact, because it confuses what needs to be done w/ a straightwalled .45 ACP cartridge (and others as well) with what needs to be done w/ rifle cartridges. For those straightwalled cartridges, it probably should be called something like the "de-belling" die because, as Randy says above, that's really all it's for (unless you use the FCD which also resizes the case, and which I've found is generally a good thing).

August 24, 2009, 10:05 AM	#6
Atticus Thraxx Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2007 Location: Yolo County CA Posts: 314	Your right mongoose.Gonna start using the term de-belling instead of crimping myself.Good idea. __________________ "No Curling in the Squat Rack!" Looking for K98 bolt #5954 and K98 bolt #31942 for trade. DM me if you have a match. Prizes will be awarded!

August 24, 2009, 12:29 PM	#7
crnook Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Posts: 15	I use the FCD on my 45 ACP. I find that if I am loading HP's if I seat and crimp in the same operation sometimes the nose of the bullet gets rounded a little (crimp set at .469") with the supplied flat nose seating ram. I have also found that the Lee FCD re-sizes a lot of the Independence stamped Brass on the first go around. I don't know if they are slightly over sized or what but there is a lot more resistance running them through the die than any other brand. If I seat and crimp with my RCBS die on the Independence brass I will get the occasional FTF.

August 24, 2009, 01:54 PM	#8
QBall45 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2008 Location: South Central Minnesota Posts: 584	Yes. I seat and crimp seperaty. I load almost strictly lead. By crimping seperately, I eliminate shaving lead that tends to happen if seating and crimping with the same die. Yep, I use LEE's factopry crimp die.

August 25, 2009, 09:28 PM	#13
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	You don't roll-crimp straightwall semi-auto cases.

August 25, 2009, 09:30 PM	#14
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	i beg to differ... flare the case out a little and when you set the round, it will crimp into the cann... however its spelled. if its not roll crimping, what is it called? __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

August 26, 2009, 10:34 AM	#15
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	To CRUSTYFN thank you,very much.

August 27, 2009, 11:19 AM	#16
1tfl Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2007 Posts: 287	I only load 200gr H&G #68 style cast bullets in 45ACP. I seat and debell (crimp) in two separate stages. I just make sure the bullet seats correctly and the case wall is debelled correctly and I never have feed reliability issues in my Colt, Glock or Sig. I don't see the need to start to use the Lee FCD now.

August 27, 2009, 08:50 PM	#19
Sidewinder72 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 130	I also seat bullet and crimp in separate steps. I do use F.C. for 45acp and the 9mm. More reliable feeding in 45 hollow points. Just like new factory loads but better and more accurate.

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