Am I over crimping my 45 ACP?

[lpspinner]

Woops! Spinner typed faster than me and took my thunder!

[Bill Steele]

The only SWC bullets I have ever had problems with feeding in my 1911's were XTreme plated 200gr SWC's. For my normal LSWC's I find a crimp at the case mouth of .469"-.470" works best, with this crimp I get no feed issues with lead.

I just shot the plated SWC's I bought out of my G21SF and don't buy them anymore. I use SNS casting for my 200gr LSWC's, they seem to work great.

[blockfort]

I may bring my press to the range next time. I'll experiment with some crimp settings and if I find one that works, do the whole batch the same way. I'll start with minimal crimp and work my way tighter until they feed every single time.

[Bill Steele]

Also, if you are getting 3 point jams, playing with the OAL might also help. Changing the timing of when the nose contacts the upper part of the chamber may improve results.

[Fishslayer]

Is there a way to test the crimp about other than measuring the diameter? Something with how it fits or sounds in my chamber?

There's the "plunk test."

Take your barrel & drop a finished round into the chamber. It should "plunk" and should fall out freely when you tip the muzzle up.

Sometimes "the book" isn't 100% correct for 100% of guns. If you feel you've crimped enough and the round still doesn't "plunk" try a shorter OAL. You're particular barrel might be a little tight or might have a bit less distance to the rifling. My RIA is particular about OAL, especially with .452 lead bullets that have a step at the bearing surface.

[lpspinner]

Be careful with too much crimp. As mentioned above, to much crimp can jam that cartridge in too far AND too much crimp INCREASES pressure.

Now you have two situations that can increase pressure. That would be Pressure squared.

[mjmagee67]

The Lee FDC for pistols is a wonderful tool if you use it right! I love mine, much better than crimping and seating with the same die. My 45 ACP crimp is .469-.470, any bigger diameter I have had feeding issues.

There seems to be a few loud guys on Calguns that really knock the Lee FCD, but head over to Brian Enos'es forums and a lot more seem to like it and use them.

[Bill Steele]

Thought I would answer some specific Q's.

...

Should I back off the die a bit?

.469-.470" at the case mouth is the crimp you want. Wilson Combat crimps there test rounds at .469"

Should I get a Lee FCD?

You don't need a FCD. The FCD in .45ACP is a taper crimp die. What makes it a "FCD" is Lee named it a FCD. The FCD has some nice features like a knob on top that allows you to adjust how much crimp is applied without unlocking the die. It also has carbide ring at the mouth of the die that will size the round down to SAAMI maximums. Some guys like that feature to assure the round will chamber. The negative to this carbide ring is if you are loading lead, it can size you whole round (including the bullet) if you are using thicker headstamp brass. I personally don't like the carbide sizing ring of the FCD, it always seemed like a "bigger hammer" approach to making ammo that would work in your gun, but some guys love it.

Should I get a taper crimp die?

I use separate taper crimp dies for my handgun loads. It makes adjusting the crimp easier. I prefer Redding and Dillon to the Lee FCD, but either will get the job done. The seating die also has a taper crimp built in.

BTW, the collar on the FCD that does the actual crimping has a fairly sharp break on it, so if you screw the crimp down far enough it will look like a roll crimp. Some taper crimp dies (that are not FCD) also have a ledge like cut that will make the crimp look like a roll crimp if screwed down far enough.

Is a taper crimp die the same as a FCD

See above, essentially it is, except for the carbide ring at the mouth of the die that acts as a last resort sizing ring and the adjustment knob versus having to adjust the die body.

See above.

[bruce381]

also run OAL out a little that may help the feeding I run 200 gr SWC cast at 1.250