Starting to load 45 ACP .... factory crimp needed? (using Lee dies)

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basicbill

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Hi all.... I bent to temptation and bought one of the CanadaAmmo Norinco 45 deals (with 1000 rounds).
So I'm gearing up to reload 45 ACP. I purchased a 3 die Lee set but it doesn't come with a factory crimp. I've been looking around but they're scarce as hens teeth and those that are on ebay are stupid expensive.

Will the three die set do an adequate crimp job or should I get an order in for the factory crimp die?
 
i use the Lee carbide 3-die-sets for all my calibers and they work fine. the round headspaces on the case mouth so i like to keep it straight. doesn't cause problems to me.
 
A 3 die set will do the job.

The Seating die will also crimp in the same die. The Factory crimp die just squeezes the case and bullet to SAAMI specs (I think?), and gives you a very easy way to adjust crimping.

I use it with my 4-hole turret press, But after it's SET.. Then I kind of wish I only had the 3-hole press.. :/

You only want to 'crimp' enough to take the bell out of the case mouth and not much more than that.
 
Soulfly said:
A 3 die set will do the job.

The Seating die will also crimp in the same die. The Factory crimp die just squeezes the case and bullet to SAAMI specs (I think?), and gives you a very easy way to adjust crimping.

I use it with my 4-hole turret press, But after it's SET.. Then I kind of wish I only had the 3-hole press.. :/

You only want to 'crimp' enough to take the bell out of the case mouth and not much more than that.
Click to expand...

^^^ This and if you want you can purchase a Case Gauge to test the rounds you made or do a "plunk" test. (search YouTube).

I have a Lyman Case Gauge that I test all the rounds I made.
 
Aprilia Man said:
^^^ This and if you want you can purchase a Case Gauge to test the rounds you made or do a "plunk" test. (search YouTube).

I have a Lyman Case Gauge that I test all the rounds I made.
Click to expand...

or you can also use your barrel to test rounds as well, obviously be safe or Darwin will award you.
 
Best to use only the barrel, of course; not the whole gun.

I've used the Lee 3 die 45 ACP set with no problems (that weren't my own doing)....
 
I use the Factory Crimp die for my .45 ACP, because I had problems years ago with some crappy Excel TMJ bullets. They were so blunt shaped that they would get pushed into the case when going from the mag to the chamber. The factory crimp die pretty much took care of that problem. However, I believe you need to be careful with it, because it can deform the bullet pretty badly. I don't have a match gun, so I can't see much difference in the accuracy I get but with a tighter gun it might be a different story.
 
I use the Lee factory crimp die for 9mm and 45, I love it. I've loaded about a 1000 of each caliber and never had a round get hung up in a case gauge.
 
i also load 45, & done so with norc brass, i use the crimp die because it make for easy chambering in my 1911, i would suggest the "plunk" test in ur barrel to see if its needed & go from there
 
I use RCBS dies with the seating die squeezing the case mouth (taper crimp) to hold the bullet tight but still allowing headspace off the case mouth. . The 45 ACP seating dies will taper crimp the case mouth rather than roll crimp. . Correct case length is important for proper headspacing.
 
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