Question about lee rifle dies.

[agent_mango]

I've been reading the lee manual (got the anniversary kit) and I've decided I'd like to neck size only with the collet die since I have around 800 fireformed winchester cases. But I also want the full sizing die on hand so I am going to order the deluxe die set.

My question is is the seating die included in the deluxe die set the same as or different from the factory crimp die? You see I also want to use the factory crimp die since the manual says it is advantageous for accuracy.

Also, I just had a thought that (obviously) fireformed cases only apply to a particular barrel and chamber. So if I rebarrel I will need to fully size and refireform any leftover brass. With that in mind, how many rounds can a savage stainless varmint barrel in .223 be expected to fire before accuracy degrades?

Thanks for the info.

 

[agilent_one]

My question is is the seating die included in the deluxe die set the same as or different from the factory crimp die?

Yes, the seating die will seat & crimp. The crimp die just crimps.

You see I also want to use the factory crimp die since the manual says it is advantageous for accuracy.

Debatable.

So if I rebarrel I will need to fully size and refireform any leftover brass.

Yes.

With that in mind, how many rounds can a savage stainless varmint barrel in .223 be expected to fire before accuracy degrades?

Lots. Probably >8-10K. This also depends on your personal definition of "accuracy" and how well you shoot, quality of handloads.....ad nauseum.

 

[Craig67]

The seating die is only for seating bullets, it does not crimp. The FCD is a different die that you need to buy separately.

I reload for my Savage 10 FLP in .308 win using the deluxe die set. I really don't see a need to crimp bullets. Make sure you seat your bullets far enough out so that they are just off the lands and accuracy is no problem.

Craig

 

[mihasic]

The seating die does crimp if you want and does not if you do not want - it depends on your adjustment. But the crimp die does it far better - you can crimp anything and at any depth with it. So I would advise you to get it. It is useful for hunting cartridges or if the seating depth is small. As an example, I use it with 110gr bullets in 30-06 - otherwise the bullet should be driven too deep and the accuracy is poor.
Have a look at http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1178712453.388=/html/catalog/dies-crimp.html

 

[Ritchie]

The deluxe rifle set bullet seating die does not crimp. It is a "dead length" seating die. However, if you desire a crimp you can "bump" a loaded round into the Full Length Die with the decapper removed. This nicely places a 360 deg. crimp on the end into the crimp groove.

Or buy the crimp die.

 

[Why not?]

The deluxe rifle set bullet seating die does not crimp. It is a "dead length" seating die. However, if you desire a crimp you can "bump" a loaded round into the Full Length Die with the decapper removed. This nicely places a 360 deg. crimp on the end into the crimp groove.

Or buy the crimp die.

You run a case with a bullet seated into the sizing die? I would like to see that, even with the decapper emoved!

Ted

 

[downwindtracker2]

Deluxe set has a full length resizer die,a bullet seater die and a collet neck sizer. It's my choice for a die set ,I also buy the the Factory crimp die . AR did a test with the factory crimp and overall improvement was 10%. Testing it,I have found it takes seating depth out of the equation. You have enough variables as it is. And when you use very tried brass for "bang" you can keep the bullet in place