45 Colt FTX crimp die

Status
Not open for further replies.

Griffen

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Messages
144
I am looking for a die set for seating and crimping 225 gr FTX bullets in 45 Colt. Does anyone know of such a set? What does anyone who loads this bullet use to reload? Thanks in advance for your response.
 
Don't load 45colt, but I do 460 S&W and 450 Bushmaster with FTX bullets. Hornady makes special seating stems for their seating die, just for the FTX bullet. I don't see one listed for the 45 225gn, but I bet you can talk to them and they will set you up. As far as crimping, I like the Lee collet style crimping dies (not the normal FCD) that I use for 44mag and 357mag, they do make one for 45colt.
 
I just looked at the Hornady load data, the FTX bullet requires trimming the 45colt cases a little shorter, so the Lee collet crimp die will not work. The normal FCD might work.
 
Redding makes a crimp die that is adjustable and made just for the .458 45-70 and it works perfectly. I can’t seem to locate the equivalent for the .452 45 Colt.
 
OP

Buy the Hornady custom dies to use with the FTX and just roll crimp them by turning the die in a few turns. I use the Hornady custom dies for 45-70 and you can get the special seat stem and also crimp that short brass with the same die.
 
You have to trim them all the same anyway so the regular die with a FTX stem will roll crimp them just fine. The lee FCD will crimp too high but you might be able to grind off enough on the bottom that it will crimp in the correct place but I do not load that bullet or have that FCD as I use an old set of Herters 45 Colt dies and seat/roll crimp my ammo with them in a single step.
 
You have to trim them all the same anyway so the regular die with a FTX stem will roll crimp them just fine. The lee FCD will crimp too high but you might be able to grind off enough on the bottom that it will crimp in the correct place but I do not load that bullet or have that FCD as I use an old set of Herters 45 Colt dies and seat/roll crimp my ammo with them in a single step.
There are two Lee crimp dies for the 45colt. There is the regular FCD, which is adjustable and does not depend on the cases being any specific length (but they should all be trimmed to be the same length for consistent crimps). In fact, this die can be used for 454casull as well as 45colt.

https://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/hand-gun-dies/lee-carbide-factory-crimp-die/

Then there is the collet crimp die, that does depend on the case being a specific length. This is the one that would need to be modified as you say for it to work with the FTX trimmed cases. Instead of modifying the die, it may be possible to trim off the top of a shellholder the required amount.

https://leeprecision.com/45-colt-custom-carbide-factory-crimp-die.html

The problem with the normal FCD is that it contains a carbide resizing ring that may interfere with the case/bullet, slightly oversize bullets may be swaged down in use. For instance, I can't use my 44mag FCD with .430 sized bullets for that reason. I've heard the carbide ring can be knocked out, but I have never tried it.

The best option might be the Redding profile crimp die.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/292753/redding-profile-crimp-die
 
Yeah I was referring to the collet FCD and you do need to knock out the carbide sizing ring to have it work with some diameter bullets. I was under the impression that the other die was the regular roll crimp/seat die that came with every die set.
 
I'm not sure what problems the OP is having.

I have loaded the FED bullet for the .357 Magnum and used the regular die set from Lee without any issues. What is the problem you're having?
 
The problem is the longer FTX bullet in my standard Dillion 550B and the .45 Colt Dillion dies. The extra length due to the tip on this bullet makes the tip become compressed during seating and the crimp process. On the 550B this is a two step process. It results in a inconsistent seat and roll crimp. For the 45-70 I found dies to work through this perfectly. On the 45 Colt I am looking for a die set to handle this issue for rifle loads.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top