Factory Crimp Dies...Do You Use Them?

I use one for my 223. After ruining about 100 cases trying to roll-crimp with my RCBS seating die, I switched to the FCD. The roll-crimp bulged the cases at the neck. I could not perfect that crimp. I have not had a single problem using the FCD. I can't tell you if it improves accuracy or not since I'm shooting a Mini-14 and it is not that accurate.

I use them on all handgun calibers I load--9mm, .38 Spec., .357 Mag., and .45 ACP. I would not be without them. Bulged cases due to case length variation are a thing of the past. I get perfect crimps, as much as I want to have for each type of round, and post-sizing.

This is from Lee's website on the Speer warning.

Speer Warning on Factory Crimp die

A few years back Speer ran some advertisements on the Factory crimp die, making claims that it destroyed accuracy, ruined bullets, etc. No other bullet manufacturer has a problem with it. Therefore, we included the warning in our instructions.

There is no safety issue in using Speer bullets with the Factory Crimp Die.

I voted no because I don't have this die, but I am curious as it could prove useful, but I'm not sold yet.

Bulged cases due to case length variation are a thing of the past.

Click to expand...

I solve this problem with a case trimmer.

Failure to feed problems became a non-issue as soon as I began using the Lee Factory Crimp Die.

That and I had a barrel bulge once with a non FCD'ed shell. I'm pretty sure the problem just may have been bullet setback as I use a Pact high speed dispensor and digital scale and a powder that more than halfway fills a case so a double charge is pretty obvious.

First of all, Lee Factory Crimp dies will deform a bullet jacket if the bullet isn't cannelured but I don't think this adversely affects accuracy.

Secondly, though these dies don't adversely affect accuracy, I don't think they improve accuracy at all either.

I've found these dies useful for making bullets that are a little loose tight and for applying a crimp for magazine fed cartridges of high recoil rounds; otherwise, I don't crimp.

Yes...

Both for handgun ammunition and for rifle ammunition fired in semi-autos or lever guns...

Forrest

In handgun applications they are a band-aid AT BEST. If you 'need' them or saw an improvement in your ammunition when you started using them you need to fix the problem, not smash it out with a crutch.

No.
There is no good reason to crimp rifle loads for most applications so long as you have good neck tension. If you don't have good nek tension then there is a problem with your dies or brass, and afactory crimp isn't going to make anything better.
I've even sworn off Lee collet dies since getting the neck sized correctly with them is hit or miss.

yes. I have used them for rifle calibers only. Never used a pistol caliber one, and probably won't.

Yes .......

No. I use Redding Taper Crimp dies for .45 ACP and 357 SIG. Work great for me.

Yep

Yes on 9x19, which is the only caliber I currently reload.

No. The LFCD is just a cheap fix for poor reloading techniques.
It’s intended for the remedial reloader whose skills are deficient.
If you can’t produce a decent round without it, then you should look for another hobby.

I taper crimp auto pistol cartridges and roll crimp revolver cartridges because it is necessary.

Properly loaded rifle cartridges do not need to be crimped.
Crimps are not always condusive to good accuracy.
Although I had never crimped rifle ammo before, I let a guy talk me into crimping ammo for one of my semiautomatic rifles once. When I shot a target with this ammo, it was all over the paper. I could not shoot a decent group with it. I tired varying the crimp a bit but it still shot poorly.
I later loaded some more ammo to identical specs as the first batch except I did not crimp. This uncrimped batch of ammo shot MOA like it was supposed to.

If you are undecided as to whether or not you should crimp, load some of each and try it. I'll bet you decide not to crimp rifle ammo.

Yes, I use the Lee FCD. It solved the "fat" cartridge problem I occasionally had with 200g lead SWC bullets.

.223 is all I load for, and no, I don't crimp them.

Cracked butt. You forgot the .30-30 Win. It needs a good crimp when loaded in tubular magazines. The Lee FCD is ideal for this application. It doesn't hurt for .38 Special too.

Why are we discussing this twice in the same week on two different threads???:banghead:

Factory crimp? Nope!
I do crimp my straight walled handgun cartridges, and ammo for my `94 Winchester due to the tube magazine. If it has a crimp grove I use a roll crimp and if not a taper. Never had any problems with chambering, bullet movement, nor ignition trouble to date, even when useing no crimp which is 99.99% of the time with my bottle neck rifle loads..

i use it but only in a couple cartridges, and only for certain applications in those rounds.

my 270 for me seems to group better with a crimp(go figure?), so i crimp as another step. my springfield armory mil-spec is picky with what it will chamber, running everything through the FCD and adding a small crimp seemed to help my groups, and im not sure, but i feel like they burn a touch cleaner now too. maybe the crimp gave it enough hold to help the round burn better? no idea that could just be me looking at the world through rose tinted glasses.

i dont think they are necessary at all, but occasionally convenient.