.45ACP and Lee factory crimp die

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JohnnyB

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I currently reload several calibers and use the Lee Factory Crimp for all but the. 45 ACP. my question is: Will I get any improvement in accuracy by using the LFCD on the.45 ACP? I have and old Series 70 Colt Gov't and a new Gold Cup Trophy. I shoot 200 gr RNFP and Titegroup or Universal powders.?
Thanks in advance
John
 
The FCD was not meant to improve accuracy and it may actually decrease accuracy with some bullets/head stamp brass.

The primary purpose of FCD is to ensure out of spec/out of round bullets and cases are "fixed" so they will reliably chamber in any barrel, factory or match.

Secondary purposes are seating/crimping in separate steps and push-through resizing overly bulged cases regular resizing dies cannot fully resize all the way down to the case base so they can fully chamber.

Of course, if you are using within spec jacketed/plated bullets typical of jacketed diameter (.451") and cases that are not overly bulged, FCD's carbide sizing ring won't do much for you unless you want to seat and taper crimp in separate steps.

If you plan on using larger sized lead bullets (.452"+), the FCD's carbide sizing ring may post-size the bullet which may reduce neck tension and increase leading. Inconsistent chamber pressures and leading will likely result in decreased accuracy.
 
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UH OH!! Here we go again!!:fire: LOL! Honestly you will have to try it and see how it works for YOU. Some love them...Some don't.
 
1. You shouldn't have to crimp 45 ACP bullets at all.

2. If you decide to crimp, remember that 45 ACP headspaces on the mouth of the case so don't crimp too much.

3. You can't say across the board that crimping won't improve accuracy though, in my experience, it hardly ever does.
 
1. You shouldn't have to crimp 45 ACP bullets at all.

Well not exactly. If you bell the case mouth you need to use enough taper crimp to at least remove it when or after seating the bullet. If you are experiencing setback with jacketed bullets a crimp will often alleviate this issue.

2. If you decide to crimp, remember that 45 ACP headspaces on the mouth of the case so don't crimp too much.

Ideally a case crimped with the Lee FC die should fall within acceptable SAAMI factory dimensional standards. One of the main advantages of the Lee FC die for handgun rounds is that it is a post sizing die that reduces the case to no more than max SAAMI dimension standards ironing out any bulges caused when seating or from over sized bullets. The taper crimp will not reduce the case mouth to less than SAAMI minimum case mouth diameter so head space on the mouth will not be a problem with barrels that are within spec. Its pretty hard to screw up a round with the Lee FC dies but some people are probably capable through failure to read directions and follow basic procedures.
 
The FCD for pistols has two basic parts.

The first is the carbide ring (Larger in ID than the sizer carbide ring) that post "sizes" the round so that theoretically it will fit any chamber by squeezing any "fat" rounds down. This may or may not cause problems. It all depends.

The second is the crimp adjustment and it can be adjusted to crimp just right or to over crimp just like any other crimp die.
 
might help with bullet set back
Click to expand...
But is more likely to make it worse by decreasing neck tension. The dead soft lead will stay where the carbide ring sizes it to, while the brass will spring back a hair, decreasing neck tension.

A good read, not just theory, here.
 
I have not noticed any increase in accuracy,but it has made my life a lot easier in regards to my reloads being more uniform in length and less likely to deep seat bullets.They seem to stay where they were loaded with no problems.:cuss:
 
So what are you mad about? :confused:

And the FCD has nothing to do with with uniform length and being less likely to seat bullets too deep. That is a matter of proper expansion and seating die adjustment. Squeezing the loaded round will not help that, and the crimp is adjusted just like any other crimp die. You turn it up or down to get the crimp you want.
 
As Walkalong noted, crimping doesn't help with bullet setback and might make it worse. Neck tension is what prevents bullet setback.

Crimping can help prevent bullet "jump" with heavy recoiling revolver rounds. Two different phenomena.
 
I would wager that the Redding competition seater die would improve your accuracy and eliminate the need for the FCD completely.
 
I don't use any fc dies. I use lee dies to load .45 acp and the loaded shell measures at the case mouth .472, according to Lyman it should be .473. This works very well in 4 different 1911s.
 
I like seating & crimping in separate steps.
So I like the FCDs
Does it increase accuracy?? I doubt it, but it doesn't make 'em worse either (when properly used).

Some of the "experienced" reloaders learned how to set dies before anyone ever heard of FCDs & don't understand why you'd want one.
 
oldcelt,

About .470 is more like it. .472 is the upper limit for most chambers, actually probably too fat for many.

Hondo 60,

You are correct. We don't understand. Have patience.
 
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