Lee 3 die sets

[ff33]

Relatively new to reloading so I have a question about Lee's pacesetter 3 die sets. I have used the Lee loader for my 30/30 but as I am shooting and loading a bit more then usual I thought I would go ahead and get a press and do it up right. I loaded up some today and it worked out great. There is a depriming and sizing die and a die for seating the bullet and crimping all in one. I can't figure out what the third die is for. I thought it was for crimping but the bullet seating die does that, and quite nicely I might add as I found myself admiring my work more then once (new toy). I put the finished cartridge in the die and I don't see how it could be crimped anyway as the mouth of the shell is a bit smaller than the die. Am I missing something here.

 

[762Russian]

The factory crimp work like a collet; once you set it up right (check LEE's site; they have an excellent video tutorial,) you press down with a fair bit of force and it compresses the collet.

The roll crimp on the seater is all you really need for regular hunting and shooting. The factory crimp is for making precision ammo; roll-crimping will shift the bullets position slightly because it is in contact with the projectile. Factory crimper presses in from the side without touching the bullet. Very important for people who load to .001 precision.

 

[ciphery]

What he said....the factoy crimp also helps when the bullets being used have no cannelure or are being seated outside the cannelure groove.
The factory crimp die will make its own spot where the roll crimp will not and so will not crimp.

 

[ff33]

Thanks, I just played with it some more and now understand how it works. Didn't realize at first that it does close in as the ram pushes it up. Does the Lee 2 piece rgb die sets omit this particular die. If so that could be the set to buy instead.

 

[rembolt]

Yes the RGB dies only come with a FL sizing die and the seating die.Personaly I like the delux die set it comes with the FL size and the seating die plus the neck size only die.however the seating die in this set does not roll crimp the case.

 

[Magnum_Tom]

FF33;

The instructions for the dies will show you how to back off the seater die so it won't do the roll crimp. The factory crimp is not just for better accuracy, it's easier on the brass and the cases should last much longer.