Lee crimp dies vs Factory crimp dies

[bebop4212000]

I just bought a NIB Lee 4 hole turret press, 750 Speer 9mm bullets, 2 Lee crimp dies and a 3 die .38/.357 set for $80.00. I think I did good.

I have been gathering bits and pieces of equipment for months to start reloading.

I am not familiar with a taper crimp die vs a factory crimp die. What is the difference?

I bought a Bonanza 38/.357 3 die set and he through in a Lee taper crimp die #90781. Will they work together?

I also got a Lee 9mm taper crimp die #90780. Will this work with a Lee 9mm 3 die set or do I need to get the factory crimp die?

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

I love the lee carbide crimp die when using jacketed bullets. I won't use it when loading case as it resizes the brass and therefor the bullet. I like my cast bullets .001-.002 inch over size and the lee carbide die at least the ones I have negates this.

 

[SASS#23149]

re: the Bonanza set..
I would use the seat/crimp die to just seat the bullet,and use the Lee die as step number 4. Makes adjusting seat and crimp a whole lot easier,and doesn't shave jacket material like you would by using jus 1 die for the 2 operations.
Same answer for the 'extra' 9mm crimp die.
the FCD dies that I have seen have a carbide sizer ring that is supposed to 'iron out' any 'problems' with the loaded round.May work,may not. I do know they require extra effort,and bounce my powder measure top off.
I think you can live without one but some folks love 'em.

 

[armoredman]

I use the FCD in all rounds. Even cast, where it really doesn't seem to cause any issues, for me, ( I am gonna try some without, thanks for the idea, Pumpkinheaver), but the FCD leaves a great roll crimp on 38, and a perfect taper crimp on my 9mm. The rifle ones work completely differantly, so don't buy one for .223 thinking it will do any resizing, 100% differant.

 

[Uncle Chan]

+1 what SASS #23419 said (incidentally, I'm #38654 ).

I use my Dillon for reloading my 45LC, but my Turret for all of my other pistol and rifle. I use Station 1 - Sizing/Depriming, 2- Charging and belling, 3 - Seating only, 4 - factory crimp.

For my 45LC, I use a roll crimp. For my rifle calibers (30-06, 223, 45-70), and these pistol calibers: 45 ACP, 9mm, etc. I use a taper crimp. Taper for FMJ for me.

Hope this helps.

U.C.

 

[RustyFN]

The FCD is a taper crimp die with a post sizing ring to iron out a case that is still out of spec. I use the FCD with all the calibers I load. If you have your dies set right you won't feel the round go in or out of the FCD but will still get a crimp. The key is to set up your dies right and not count on the FCD to fix problems. I have loaded thousands of rounds on my classic turret and only felt the post sizing ring come into play twice.
Rusty