reloading for 40 s&w with lee turret press

[saskgunowner101]

I just set my dies( I think) and had a few questions. How heavy a crimp does one need to prevent setback under recoil. I've made a few dummy rounds, no powder, no primer. There's no noticeable crimp groove, and I can put the tip on the bench, apply a great amount of force, and the c.o.l. does not change. Excel bullets,180 grn copper plated,bullet diameter is .398-.399, top of casing is .422, c.o.l. is 1.134-1.135. I have the lee auto disk powder measure, and have titegroup powder. Starting loads for this powder/bullet weight are around 4.2. If I set the disk to the .34 hole setting, its supposed to throw 4 grains. From what I've read in their literature, it might throw a bit less. Is this okay?? Should I tinker with the crimp die until it makes a noticeable bulge, then back off?? Length of brass is supposed to be .85, but the speer stuff from the range isnt. Any tips, advice, whatever very welcome.

 

[zimmineee]

When I crimp my .40 using the Lee factory die crimp there is no noticeable crimp on the case.

I have loaded .40 many times using the .32, .34 and .37 disc. It is a nice light load and I have never had one failure. This is using Titegroup with a 180 gr FMJ CanadianBDX/Montana Gold bullet.

Watch the videos listed below on the LEE site if you haven't already. I found them very helpful when I was starting out. Especially the ones under "Die adjustment on single station presses" even though your press is a Turret press. Mine is a Turret press also and those are what I used to adjust the dies for it.


http://www.leeprecision.com/html/HelpVideos/video.html

 

[hoochie]

it should be crimped enough to take the flare out, and still fit the chamber of the pistol. Take out your barrel and confirm that the rounds fit before you proceed with loading a bunch. Generally, I lift the press all the way up, then lower the die until it touches. This gives me a starting point, then I turn the die down a half turn at a time until the round fits the barrel easily and is not "over crimped".
I dont know how to explain over crimped other than to say that you should not see a bevel in the top of the case.

 

[saskgunowner101]

I reset my dies according to the videos, but am still having a problem. I set the c.o.l. for 1.135, and its all good until I turn in the bullet seating die the half turn(like on the video) before tightening the lock ring. Then my c.o.l. turns to 1.112. Would this be just a matter of turning the adjusting screw out a bit, so the c.o.l. is longer??? So close yet so far!!!

 

[zimmineee]

I reset my dies according to the videos, but am still having a problem. I set the c.o.l. for 1.135, and its all good until I turn in the bullet seating die the half turn(like on the video) before tightening the lock ring. Then my c.o.l. turns to 1.112. Would this be just a matter of turning the adjusting screw out a bit, so the c.o.l. is longer??? So close yet so far!!!

I think you are one step ahead of yourself. Don't turn the bullet seating die a half turn. They are using a combination seating/crimping die, I am assuming you are using the regular Lee carbide seating die and a separate lee factory crimping die, as it says in the video, you are supposed to omit the 1/2 turn of the "Bullet seating Die" if you will be using the Lee Carbide factory crimp die later on. Adjust the bullet seating die until you have the COL that you want. Lock it down at that length. You should than be able to put all your bullets through the "Bullet seating die" and they should all be the exact length or very close, adjust as needed.

Once you have put the bullet through the "Bullet Seating Die", than move on to the "Lee Factory Crimp Die". This Die will have nothing to do with the COL. The overall length should not change after using this die. Once you have installed the die into the turret and set up the proper position, you want to screw the adjusting screw on the top of the die up as shown in the video, than put the Bullet in, raise it all the way up into the die. At this point adjust the top adjustment screw down until it makes contact with the top of the bullet. Now, lower the bullet out of the die, turn the top adjustment screw a half turn down. This step adjusts the crimping die for the proper crimp. You can now run all of the bullets through. You should feel just a slight amount of pressure and give on the handle as the crimp is being applied.

It all seems confusing at the beginning but once it clicks, you'll find out that it is quite easy.

 

[saskgunowner101]

I think you are one step ahead of yourself. Don't turn the bullet seating die a half turn. They are using a combination seating/crimping die, I am assuming you are using the regular Lee carbide seating die and a separate lee factory crimping die, as it says in the video, you are supposed to omit the 1/2 turn of the "Bullet seating Die" if you will be using the Lee Carbide factory crimp die later on. Adjust the bullet seating die until you have the COL that you want. Lock it down at that length. You should than be able to put all your bullets through the "Bullet seating die" and they should all be the exact length or very close, adjust as needed.

Once you have put the bullet through the "Bullet Seating Die", than move on to the "Lee Factory Crimp Die". This Die will have nothing to do with the COL. The overall length should not change after using this die. Once you have installed the die into the turret and set up the proper position, you want to screw the adjusting screw on the top of the die up as shown in the video, than put the Bullet in, raise it all the way up into the die. At this point adjust the top adjustment screw down until it makes contact with the top of the bullet. Now, lower the bullet out of the die, turn the top adjustment screw a half turn down. This step adjusts the crimping die for the proper crimp. You can now run all of the bullets through. You should feel just a slight amount of pressure and give on the handle as the crimp is being applied.

It all seems confusing at the beginning but once it clicks, you'll find out that it is quite easy.

I guess I should be more specific when throwing the word" dies" around. Just cause I know which die, doesnt mean your a mind reader zimminee. To clarify,my die set is the carbide 3 die set. I do not have the factory crimp die yet( on order) so in fact it is the bullet seater/crimp die in one that I'm talking about. I followed the instructions off the video on the lee website, but I'm wondering if the fact the turret moves up slightly makes a difference,compared to a single station press. In the end, I've set it as stated, then with the half turn in. Then I backed out the bullet depth adjusting screw(more like a vertical knob on top of the die) and got it back to where I think it needs to be. Does this sound okay??

 

[zimmineee]

Sorry, I thought you had the 4 die set. I'm not sure how the combination die works, I've never used one? I bought the 4 die carbide set which has the bullet seater and factory crimp separately. If you don't get any response, maybe post another message inquiring about the combination seater/crimper. You might not have everyone reading this thread because it is .40S&W specific in the heading.

 

[hawk223]

The combination die is crimping as it is seating. It should be adjusted so that it crimps just a little near the top of the stroke. If you try and crimp too much the case will buckle. I am not sure if this is the result of the crimp ring buckling the case and/or the case gripping the bullet before it is completely seated.