I have used the Factory crimp die many times in a few calibers and with different brass cases and my pistols shot excellent.
A few days ago I got into a jug of A-USA cases that I primed and prepped years ago to load.
45acp.
Now I stuck in a powder coated bullet and seated it and then ran it through the Lee factory carbide crimp die and did NOT crimp it just iron out the case mouth flare.
Well that brass has some spring back and when i pulled the round out of the carbide die
the bullet was seated .300" longer.
Actually almost came out of the case.
I grabbed the bullet and pulled it from the case with my fingers.
OK got to measure the bullet as it was .4525" Now it measures .449"
OUCH!
I measured that particular die and it is .002" smaller than another die I have.
The cases are .001" thicker than my R-P cases also.. so tolerances are stacking up.
I checked a Hornady XTP after running a case with it through the same die and it got
sized to .449" also.
Something to look for if you use that Factory carbide crimp die.
I have a few 45acp Lee dies and maybe I grabbed a small one.
Either way it is something I thought I would share.
Yes .4525" cast powder coated bullet I honed my sizer die out a bit for a couple 45 barrels
that slugged large.
A few days ago I got into a jug of A-USA cases that I primed and prepped years ago to load.
45acp.
Now I stuck in a powder coated bullet and seated it and then ran it through the Lee factory carbide crimp die and did NOT crimp it just iron out the case mouth flare.
Well that brass has some spring back and when i pulled the round out of the carbide die
the bullet was seated .300" longer.
Actually almost came out of the case.
I grabbed the bullet and pulled it from the case with my fingers.
OK got to measure the bullet as it was .4525" Now it measures .449"
OUCH!
I measured that particular die and it is .002" smaller than another die I have.
The cases are .001" thicker than my R-P cases also.. so tolerances are stacking up.
I checked a Hornady XTP after running a case with it through the same die and it got
sized to .449" also.
Something to look for if you use that Factory carbide crimp die.
I have a few 45acp Lee dies and maybe I grabbed a small one.
Either way it is something I thought I would share.
Yes .4525" cast powder coated bullet I honed my sizer die out a bit for a couple 45 barrels
that slugged large.