3 die set or 4 die set

[tony56shooter]

I have loaded ammo for rifles for some time. .223 and 220 Swift. I'm planning to start reloading for my Glock 23 and 35 40 S&W. Do I need to get a 3 or 4 die set? A long time ago I used a three die set that I used a rolled crimp. I not to familiar with a taper crimp.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Tony

[huckberry668]

You can't use roll crimp on 40sw rounds. I am not sure any ones makes one either. It headspaces on the case mouth. Roll crimp makes it dangerous.

Most brands of pistol die set come in 3 die sets. Only Lee offers a 4 die set that includes a separate crimping die. Most seating dies also work as a crimp die but require a separate adjustment. I use Lee crimp dies for my pistol rounds.

[huckberry668]

Forgot to mention. You'll need a separate crimp die if you use a progressive press.

[tony56shooter]

Thanks for the help. now I can make my die order. Oh do they come with the shell holder?

[BajaJames83]

i use lee 4 die sets and they work great!!

[tony56shooter]

Forgot to mention. You'll need a separate crimp die if you use a progressive press.

Not at this time but maybe in the future!

[sequoia_nomad]

Three die set will work fine.

Forgot to mention. You'll need a separate crimp die if you use a progressive press.

False.

[XDRoX]

The Lee 4 die sets are the biggest sham on the American public since Obama's health care plan.

The 3 die sets work fine. No need for a 4th useless die that does nothing except mask mistakes that shouldn't have been made to begin with.

[huckberry668]

the problem with Lee Factory Crimp Die is that stupid carbide resizing ring. It resizes every loaded round and causes some rounds with thicker case walls to be sized down too much. I had some serious fliers due to this. So I send them back and had the sizing rings opened up to a larger diameter. I should've just buy the Dillon die sets instead.

I still maintain a separate step for crimping is the best way to go. I use a Dillon 550 progressive and it has a 4th station for crimping operation only. Seat and crimp in one step would cut/shave the bullet by the case mouth.

[sequoia_nomad]

Seat and crimp in one step would cut/shave the bullet by the case mouth.

Have you tried? You say "would" as if you haven't. I have loaded mostly lead bullets since I started loading( about 3 years ago) and have never once encountered a problem with bullet shaving, provided my die was set up correctly.

[tony56shooter]

Can I use seating die to seat the bullet, then use the same die to crimp at a second stage?

[huckberry668]

yes i have. I said 'would' because of the amount of crimping you set the seating die may not be enough to cause it. I got tired of the shaving and rings cut on the bullets that I switched to crimping separately by readjusting the seating die. I then got tired of resetting the seating die again for seating so i went for Lee crimp dies.

I started reloading 20 years ago on RCBS carbide dies. Followed their instructions to the letter seating and crimping in one step. The problem is seat/crimp step shaves the longer ones of the mixed headstamp cases. especially the magnum revolver rounds where a heavier crimp is needed.

I didn't know why a ring of copper was falling out of the seating die till I realized what it's doing. I pulled a bunch of the loaded rounds and found some of them didn't look good with a ring of copper/lead missing.

After I started shooting competitively I tested the accuracy of those seat/crimp rounds and they didn't shoot as well as the crimped separately rounds. Both my PPC and Bianchi Cup revolvers were capable of shooting 2" 6-shot groups at 50 yards sandbagged. I don't remember the group size differences but I remembered it being obvious at 50 yards. I used to shoot 40k to 50k rounds a year. I ranked "Master" at PPC and my last score was 1483 out of 1500.

but like i said prior, the Lee crimp dies resize some loaded rounds a bit much and reduces bullet diameter and causes fliers so I had the ring opened up.

[tony56shooter]

Thanks for all your help. I think I'll start using the seat/crimp die separately to start. I'm just starting to do IDPA and having fun. Just trying to save some $ on ammo.

My new Glock 35 will be picked up next Friday!

[Cowboy T]

The Lee 4 die sets are the biggest sham on the American public since Obama's health care plan.

The 3 die sets work fine. No need for a 4th useless die that does nothing except mask mistakes that shouldn't have been made to begin with.

Hmm...not really sure what you're trying to say here, XD. Maybe you oughta be less afraid to let your real thoughts be known. Don't worry, it's safe here.

[MaHoTex]

The Lee 4 die sets are the biggest sham on the American public since Obama's health care plan.

The 3 die sets work fine. No need for a 4th useless die that does nothing except mask mistakes that shouldn't have been made to begin with.

What are you talking about? Can you explain what the 4th die is masking? I am missing something here.