Any accuracy advantage to LEE rifle FCDs?

[Bull Nutria]

any advantage to using the Lee collet type factory crimp dies on say 7mm08 and 30.06 rifle reloads. I have been using the no crimp method for years by seating the bullets to the cannulure on my 30.06 and on my new 7mm08 i have been doing the same. would i get better accuracy or consistency from using a crimp or LEE factory crimp die? the 06 in a Rem 760 and the 7mm08 is a Thompson Center Venture. i shoot the 7mm 08 to an average of about 1.25in at 100yds with 140 g Rem corelocks and the 30. 06 to an average of 1.5 at 100yds.with Hornady 165g interlock BTSP.

As you guys probably have determined I am full of questions!!

Bull

 

[rsrocket1]

No you shouldn't be getting any more consistency with the FCD. If you are, it means your neck tension isn't consistent to begin with. I use the rifle FCD only when I load lead bullets and I flare the case mouth to prevent lead shaving. I then adjust the FCD to just close the bell, no more.

 

[steve4102]

Yes and no. I have several LFCD and have tested all them for accuracy vs not crimp. Most of my testing is with my semi-autos but I have tested them in bolt actions as well. In my testing I have found crimping with the LFCD improves accuracy most of the time. Not always, but more often than not. In a few instances the LFCD did little or nothing as far as accuracy goes, but I have never had it degrade accuracy. YMMV.

Here is a test that may interest you. Note that accuracy did not suffer at all.
http://www.accuratereloading.com/crimping.html

 

[Stack]

The Lee FCD is cheap and being a semi auto guy mostly I crimp everything. That said, You will never know until you experiment a bit so why not give it a shot and report the results?
Personally I'm curious.

 

[Curator]

The Lee FCD has the advantage of holding a bullet in line with the bore as it enters the bore. Not all rifles need this but those with generous throats will show an accuracy advantage with the Factory crimp. This is a real advantage with military rifles that often have over-size throats.