Crimp or no crimp die

[timjh]

First time reloader. I have an OLD RCBS rock chucker and want to reload 45, 38 and 9mm. I reload shotshells now so I am not completely green. I have books and videos. Question is, which die type to buy.
Thanks

[XDRoX]

You want to buy a Lee or RCBS 3 die set.
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Seat/crimp

[mvpatriot]

Recognize that when talking about a semi-auto rounds that headspace on the case mouth, that CRIMP is not the way to keep the bullet in place.
Taper crimps are not really meant to grip the bullet. They are used to iron out the flare that you put on to accept the bullet. This is why it is important to not flare excessively. Look for .375
Any type/brand of dies will work fine. I prefer RCBS and seat/crimp with the same die saving myself 1 step.

[Cowboy T]

If you go for the Lee set, there is no need for their "Factory Crimp Die". They like to hype it up, but tens of thousands of rounds later, I've found that it is not necessary.

[timjh]

when I went shopping for carbide dies they had both crimp and noncrimp dies for sale in the same heading. am I misreading the website, is there a difference in the dies or just how you use them?

[Bill Steele]

This is what you want:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/661032/lee-carbide-3-die-set-45-acp

This is what you don't need:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/242098/lee-deluxe-carbide-4-die-set-45-acp

If you decide you don't want to crimp with the seating die, get a separate taper crimp die from Redding or Dillon, it will save you a lot of head scratching over the Lee dedicated crimp die (the so-called Factory Crimp Die). But in the end, you can do it fine with just the Lee 3 die set in each caliber.

Good luck, have fun.

[waxer]

If you decide you don't want to crimp with the seating die, get a separate taper crimp die from Redding or Dillon, it will save you a lot of head scratching over the Lee dedicated crimp die (the so-called Factory Crimp Die). But in the end, you can do it fine with just the Lee 3 die set in each caliber.

What exactly is wrong with using the Lee FCD? I've used that since I started and not had any head scratching moments.

[russt]

i know we are talking straight walled pistol here, so i understand no need for lee fcd, but for the record i think the lee fcd for bottle necked rifle cartridges is pretty good.

[timjh]

Are you saying I use lee in my RCBS???

[Bill Steele]

What exactly is wrong with using the Lee FCD? I've used that since I started and not had any head scratching moments.

The LFCD has a sizing ring at its mouth. That ring can give people problems when loading lead bullets or when loading with a headstamp where the brass is a little thick. If you haven't had problems with your LFCD, good on you, it just isn't a great solution in many cases. For people that want to crimp in a separate step, IMHO a traditional crimp die is superior in every respect.

With regard to the LFCD for bottle neck rifle, it is a completely different design and is a terrific solution to crimping rifle rounds when you want them that way.

[Bill Steele]

Are you saying I use lee in my RCBS???

Sure, they will work fine, but if you prefer the RCBS brand, they make a fine product as well.

I recommend getting a reloading guide and reading it, you have a lot to learn and it is best to know what you are doing with things that go bang.

[waxer]

The LFCD has a sizing ring at its mouth. That ring can give people problems when loading lead bullets or when loading with a headstamp where the brass is a little thick. If you haven't had problems with your LFCD, good on you, it just isn't a great solution in many cases. For people that want to crimp in a separate step, IMHO a traditional crimp die is superior in every respect.

With regard to the LFCD for bottle neck rifle, it is a completely different design and is a terrific solution to crimping rifle rounds when you want them that way.

Gotcha. That makes perfect sense. I appreciate the informative response.

Thanks

[M27]

Recognize that when talking about a semi-auto rounds that headspace on the case mouth, that CRIMP is not the way to keep the bullet in place.
Taper crimps are not really meant to grip the bullet. They are used to iron out the flare that you put on to accept the bullet. This is why it is important to not flare excessively

this is all true and very important to understand.

in 9mm and 45
depending on the bullet I am loading, if it has a rounded enough bace, I don't flair at all... and because I dot't flair I don't crimp.

A little chamfer and debur helps with this also.

When I do flair and crimp I like to seat and crimp separately, it takes a little more time but I find it yields a higher quality product. I have had good results with the hornady taper crimp dies.

38 is a different story, while I do have experience with reloading 38 it is more in the hundreds of rounds and not in the 10,000's so I will leave that advice to the more experienced.

[rsrocket1]

To add to the confusion, Lee does make a taper crimp die for those who want to seat and crimp in separate steps without wanting the "factory crimp die" for handguns which have the sizing/swaging ring.

From what I've seen, some manufacturers like Hornady make a pretty poor "crimper" on their seat/crimp die. It is simply a 45 degree bend and tends to roll crimp autoloading rimless cases like 45ACP and 9mm. Here is where the Lee taper crimp die would come in handy.

For those who enjoy tinkering and experimenting, you can use the Lee FCD as a separate stage to just close the flare by screwing the die almost all the way up so that it just "kisses" the top of the case mouth. There will be no swaging of the bullet and (I think) it does a better job than trying to seat/crimp in one step with cases of varying length such as range pickup 9mm cases.

I was having a tough time seating and closing the flare with cast 9mm bullets. I tended to end up with a smear of lead shavings on the case mouth but didn't have a 9mm FCD. I used a Lee 38 special/357 magnum FCD to just close the flare. Both cases have a .379" mouth, but the 38 case is straight, but the 9mm tapers out to .391" at the base so you don't want to use the die for the full length.