my first .40 reload!(question)

nearnorthguy

nearnorthguy

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Hey, i think i just completed my first .40 cal reload, and have my dies set up correct...just a few quick questions...

I set up the total case length as per the digital micrometer and locked in my bullet seating die ( 28.80mm)

the case mouth flare dosent seem to "flare" as per the naked eye is this correct or should it look a bit flared?

i was not issued a crimping die is this necessary??

thanks!
 
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You should be alble to feel a slight outward belling, it may be hard to see. The purpose is to make it easy to introduce the bullet. If the bullet seats easily sliding into the case then you have enough bell.

I would crimp .40 S&W handgun ammo, you do not want a bullet banging on the ramp and shortening significantly as this shorter COL will result in increased pressure. A second problem (I have seen this), is if you rack the slide with a live round chambering, you may have it come apart and fill the action with powder. Then you will have to strip it down and clean it.

The best .40 cal die I have used for crimping is the Lee Factory Carbide crimp die. This supports the case body, and prevents the base from bulging. This can happen with range brass that has been fired in a Glock, where the base is not supported. I have had many failures to feed from this problem. Since I started using the Carbide crimp die, I have never has a problem.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/cart.cgi?1203805292.4172=90862
 
For .40 you just can't beat the Lee FCD. Lots of folks do without it, but after using it to 'finish the job' every one fits into the case gauge without fail. If you measure your taper afterwards at the mouth, don't have a measurement under .417 or .418 otherwise you've over-tapered. Most of mine end up around .420. I'm sure others could give you good taper measuring suggestions as well, but that's my 2 cents.
 
I've never used a factory crimp die on pistol ammo. IMO you don't need it for a semi auto ( using Lee dies).
The bullet seating die also crimps the case, how much crimp is dictated by the depth of the die. Try lowering the die on a few dud's and you'll see what I mean. But don't over crimp as the 40 headspaces off of the front of the case. Also when adjusting the die for a good crimp expect to go through a few cases and bullets to get your OAL right ( you may elect to not use powder for this). When you press together the round the die crimps it, if you need to adjust the die for OAL and re-press that same round it won't give you a true OAL because you are pushing the crimped bullet through the crimp so I use a new case and bullet for every adjustment.
Properly set up that bullet isn't going nowhere except down range.
Nothing wrong using a FCD but in a semi auto pistol I just don't see the need.
 
I agree with RUPZUK. I too use Lee dies and have never "factory crimped" pistol ammo. I have never had an issue with this.

I factory crimp rifle ammo and full load .357 only.

I use the seating dies which just removes the bell/flair. I have thousands of rounds fired without incident.
 
Nearnorthguy: Contrary to the naysayers, a Lee Factory Crimp die is the greatest thing since clean underwear. Not only does it provide a proper crimp for pistol rounds, it also insures each and every round will chamber in your firearm. As far as 'belling' your handgun brass, take a hard look at the Lyman 'M' die. It provides a definite shoulder for the bullet to enter the case instead of a sloppy 'belling' or flaring.
 
Griffoneur said:
I factory crimp rifle ammo and full load .357 only.

I use the seating dies which just removes the bell/flair. I have thousands of rounds fired without incident.
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Yup, couldn't agree more. I factory crimp my rifle reloads and roll crimp my revolver reloads.

Shootshellz said:
Nearnorthguy: Contrary to the naysayers, a Lee Factory Crimp die is the greatest thing since clean underwear. Not only does it provide a proper crimp for pistol rounds, it also insures each and every round will chamber in your firearm. As far as 'belling' your handgun brass, take a hard look at the Lyman 'M' die. It provides a definite shoulder for the bullet to enter the case instead of a sloppy 'belling' or flaring.
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The only thing that ensures that your round chambers in your firearm is to use a chamber checker or remove your firearms barrel and use that as a chamber checker, personally I recomend a quality chamber checker and I check every round. And as far as the Lee FCD being the end all be all all I gotta ask is exactly how many semi auto pistol rounds do you reload/fire in a year?
Or are you on commission....
 
i checked some factory loads in .40 cal today and federal dont crimp their rounds. Im a bit confused now. I guess ill keep crimping anyhow, its one more quick step with the turret and it seems to lock the bullet in place. I dont see any harm in doing it for now.
 
its a taper crimp.. not a roll crimp. It pushes the bell back in and holds the bullet snugly in place.
I do it for all my 9mm and .40
I use a Dillon press and Dillon carbide dies.. it takes no effort at all to crimp and its the last station in the press anyway. When using a 3 die set.. I use all the dies.
 
Rupzuk: The great thing about the Lee FCD die is you DON"T have to use a chamber checker; the die guarantees your round will chamber. And I assure you I reload a bunch more handgun rounds every year than you could dream about. And no, I am not on the payroll; just know a good thing when I see it.
 
Shootshellz said:
Rupzuk: The great thing about the Lee FCD die is you DON"T have to use a chamber checker; the die guarantees your round will chamber. And I assure you I reload a bunch more handgun rounds every year than you could dream about. And no, I am not on the payroll; just know a good thing when I see it.
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I agree, I think the issue with the various opinions is related to what gun you have and what you do with it.

I have a para 14-40, and a Valtro 45. The first 2 years I was shooting and reloading I used the standard dillion roll crimp die, I shot from a bench, maybe 50 rounds at a time, picked up my brass, almost always all mine, as it was easy to find. I loaded ~2000 rounds and never had a problem. Then I started IPSC, shooting 5-600 rounds on a weekend training session, 100 in a match sometimes several times each week. So the gun was not as clean, often did not get cleaned between matches (that is life if you shoot alot), and I had to pickup brass from the floor after 40 other guys had shot in the same indoor range, hence I got a mix of brass. At that time I had to leave 2 matches because of failiure to feed (never happened before), and when I checked my loaded rounds I was tossing 10%. I first got a roll sizer, this was expensive and a pain and cut my losses to 5% rejects. I finally heard about the Lee FCD, I have loaded about 5000 rounds since, and have never had a reject or a failure to feed. Finally there is really no downside to using this die in a dillion press, it does not take any longer. If you are making precision rifle rounds I agree do not crimp, but these are handgun rounds, we are not looking to shoot MOA out to 1000 yards, I see no problem and lots of advantages to crimping my handgun rounds.
 
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