Lee Load master

[Pulp]

Basically, all pistol cartridges need a crimp, since you bell the mouth of the case before bullet seating. Crimping removes the bell, and ensures a good tight fit. For bolt action and single shot rifles, a crimp is not necessary, since you don't bell. Friction fit of the bullet is normally tight enough. Accuracy may benefit or be hurt by crimping, just one of those quirks of reloading and your particular rifle. Lever action rifles with a magazine tube require crimping. The spring pressure of the follower, and the energy of recoil can actually push bullets farther into the case. If you're lucky enough to have a Browning or Savage lever action, then crimping will be optional. Ammo shot in a semi-auto should, as a general rule, be crimped. The cartridges get slammed around pretty hard during the cycle.

The vast majority of Lee bullet seating dies have a built in crimper. They do make a few that don't. Getting them to seat to the desired COL and crimp is a bit tricky, but doable. I use my seating dies for seating only, and then use a factory crimp die for my final operation. For my bolt action .223 I use Lee collet neck sizing die set, for my Mini-14 I use a full length resizing dies.

 

[Jedabug92]

Basically, all pistol cartridges need a crimp, since you bell the mouth of the case before bullet seating. Crimping removes the bell, and ensures a good tight fit. For bolt action and single shot rifles, a crimp is not necessary, since you don't bell. Friction fit of the bullet is normally tight enough. Accuracy may benefit or be hurt by crimping, just one of those quirks of reloading and your particular rifle. Lever action rifles with a magazine tube require crimping. The spring pressure of the follower, and the energy of recoil can actually push bullets farther into the case. If you're lucky enough to have a Browning or Savage lever action, then crimping will be optional. Ammo shot in a semi-auto should, as a general rule, be crimped. The cartridges get slammed around pretty hard during the cycle.

The vast majority of Lee bullet seating dies have a built in crimper. They do make a few that don't. Getting them to seat to the desired COL and crimp is a bit tricky, but doable. I use my seating dies for seating only, and then use a factory crimp die for my final operation. For my bolt action .223 I use Lee collet neck sizing die set, for my Mini-14 I use a full length resizing dies.

I looked at my pistol rounds and didn't see a crimp, BUT Aviator says most or all Lee bullet seating dies crimp.

When I get my .223 stuff I'll just get 4 piece set just to be sure.

And I haven't crimped for my bolt action.

Sent from the Armory

 

[aviator41]

I looked at my pistol rounds and didn't see a crimp, BUT Aviator says most or all Lee bullet seating dies crimp.

When I get my .223 stuff I'll just get 4 piece set just to be sure.

And I haven't crimped for my bolt action.

Sent from the Armory

You can set the seating die to seat without a crimp, it all has to do with how the die is set up. Chances are, you don't have the die screwed down far enough to crimp.

To set up to crimp the bullet, follow these instructions:

1. Ensure you have a good round that is the proper OAL for your gun. This should be a finished round, ready to shoot but not crimped.
2. remove your bullet seating die from the press and unscrew the bullet seat adjustment all the way until it falls into your hand.
3. Now screw the Bullet seating adjuster back in 1/4 turn, just enough to keep it from falling out of the top of the die.
4. with no die in the press, put your finished round in the press and extend the arm fully raising the finished round through the empty hole in the turret where the die would go (the die should be out of the turret still).
5. with the arm fully extended, screw the die in place until you feel resistance from the round. At this point, the seater should still be screwed out all the way still.
6. lower the arm and screw the die INTO the press an additional 1/8 of the turn, NO MORE, leave the seating adjuster alone for now.
7. run the loaded round back into the die, then retract and check for crimp. If the crimp isn't deep enough, add another 1/8 of a turn and try again.
8. Once you are happy with the crimp, screw down the locking ring for the die
9. Run the round back into the die fully, then screw the bullet seating adjuster down until it stops.
10. The bullet seating adjuster is now set for the OAL of that piece of ammo, and the die is set to crimp the bullet in place.
11. Minor adjustments to seating depth may need to be done once production starts.

When you're running the press, the bullet will seat and be crimped at the same time. If you need pictures, let me know, I'll make some up to go with the instructions above.

 

[Jedabug92]

You can set the seating die to seat without a crimp, it all has to do with how the die is set up. Chances are, you don't have the die screwed down far enough to crimp.

To set up to crimp the bullet, follow these instructions:

1. Ensure you have a good round that is the proper OAL for your gun. This should be a finished round, ready to shoot but not crimped.
2. remove your bullet seating die from the press and unscrew the bullet seat adjustment all the way until it falls into your hand.
3. Now screw the Bullet seating adjuster back in 1/4 turn, just enough to keep it from falling out of the top of the die.
4. with no die in the press, put your finished round in the press and extend the arm fully raising the finished round through the empty hole in the turret where the die would go (the die should be out of the turret still).
5. with the arm fully extended, screw the die in place until you feel resistance from the round. At this point, the seater should still be screwed out all the way still.
6. lower the arm and screw the die INTO the press an additional 1/8 of the turn, NO MORE, leave the seating adjuster alone for now.
7. run the loaded round back into the die, then retract and check for crimp. If the crimp isn't deep enough, add another 1/8 of a turn and try again.
8. Once you are happy with the crimp, screw down the locking ring for the die
9. Run the round back into the die fully, then screw the bullet seating adjuster down until it stops.
10. The bullet seating adjuster is now set for the OAL of that piece of ammo, and the die is set to crimp the bullet in place.
11. Minor adjustments to seating depth may need to be done once production starts.

When you're running the press, the bullet will seat and be crimped at the same time. If you need pictures, let me know, I'll make some up to go with the instructions above.

Pictures would help BUT I believe I have it visualized.
I will try that when I get home.


Sent from the Armory

 

[Jedabug92]

These is the die set I have.

Sent from the Armory

 

[aviator41]

yup, that seater die has a crimp built in.

 

[Jedabug92]

yup, that seater die has a crimp built in.

Far right, correct?

Sent from the Armory

 

[aviator41]

yes. correct

 

[Jedabug92]

How severe is the crimp supposed to be

Sent from the Armory

 

[Jedabug92]

Like this Aviator? ?
Not major but one isn't crimped for comparison.

Sent from the Armory