Lee Crimp Die

[fubar]

Thanks for allowing me to post. This is a great forum. I am loading for the 8mm mauser, with lee dies. I am new to their Factory Crimp Die. When I put a loaded round into the die to crimp, and try to crimp, I only get about a crimp around half the case. I can look at the die from the top and the bullet is coming into the die off center. What am I doing wrong? My press is a RCBS Rock Chucker, and I have tried it with the lee and the rcbs shell holder. Any help would bee appriciated.
Thanks

 

[30Cal]

FWIW, you probably don't need to crimp rifle cases. I never do except for lever action handloads.

Ty

 

[The Bushmaster]

I concur with 30cal. I don't crimp my .30-06 rounds, but I do crimp my .30-30 rounds with a Lee factory crimp die.
You need to check, again, the alignment of the press, shell holder, ram and the Lee FCD.

fubar...I know what that means . Welcome to the best site dealing with hand loading that I have been able to find. Stick around and enjoy...

 

[Oldnamvet]

Most old military guys remember 'fubar'. Sure hope you're not!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Hey Oldnamvet...Just who you callin' old here...Just because I retired from the Navy (22 yrs) in 1986 and am a very young 62 pushin' 63 doesn't mean I'm old, like you... (Maybe)

 

[Oldnamvet]

Bushmeister

I only meant it with respect. Otherwise I would have said something about a 'curmedgeon'. I am a little younger than you but at our age, it no longer matters. You're just closer to having those social security checks to spend on fun stuff. I have to sort out my excess stuff to put on Ebay.

 

[The Bushmaster]

L O L I've been called "curmedgeon" too, on many an ocasion...I wish you the health that I have and hope you can do all the things you plan to do when you retire. I, on the other hand, am headed for the mountains for 6 days on horse back in the Three Sisters Wilderness of Oregon and am about 3 years short of cashin' in on them SS checks...I could quit now, but I'm greedy. Besides I have been putting into SS ever sense I was 9 years old and I am going get every penny they owe me.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Welcome!

Fubar--welcome to the club! This is perhaps the most knowledgable group of friendly people that exists who will help with any & all firearm-related questions.

BTW--You yourself are an expert at something --everybody is--so we'll need yr input from time to time.

Re the old guys sniping @ each other (In this case, Oldnamvet and Bushmaster) Well, ya just put up w/that. They earned the right, in the School of Hard Knox. They both are knowledgeable and helpful...after their naps.

(BTW, no hard feelings, guys, I'm an old f*** myself!)

(Edit) Just reviewed all the answers to this question--The very first answer--or maybe the 1st and 2nd--gave everything that Fubar needed; all the rest of this is like static on the radio!

While I'm at it: If you are truly FUBAR, how are we going to recognize you??

 

[Rockstar]

Is a "curmedgeon" a less-literate version of a "curmudgeon"????

 

[bakert]

Fubar, some of these gentlemen here are pretty sharp about reloading. They will give you good info. Pay no attention to their snipping at each other. though.
Oldnamvet and Bushmaster, at 67 I'm getting those SS checks but when you have a wife like mine that thinks SS monies should be spent on food, clothing, shelter etc. it gets hard as hell to buy guns and fun stuff that a man my age need for relaxation and peace of mind. Of course if you keep your head and learn how to explain things to her, you can always enhance the truth a bit and have a little wiggle room about buying things!! !!

 

[BigG]

I'm only SNAFU. Haven't worked my way up to FUBAR yet.

 

[armoredman]

16.5 years to retirement. Of course, with a govt job, retirement for me will be 55...

 

[Major Beer]

does crimping help accuracy?

nice rips guys - glad to see some fun - about crimping - welcome fellow reloading rooking Fubar.

being new to reloading i have a question - does a good consistent crimp / crimp adjustment allow for accuracy enhancements? just curious - going to try .223 for my first rifle reload. does it depend on tyhe caliber? etc

thanx

 

[goon]

I never crimp rifle rounds either. Even when running them through my FAL I haven't had any problems with the bullets getting pushed back. Unless they are going in a tube magazine or you are working with the worst recoil known to man, I would try it without first.

 

[30Cal]

nice rips guys - glad to see some fun - about crimping - welcome fellow reloading rooking Fubar.

being new to reloading i have a question - does a good consistent crimp / crimp adjustment allow for accuracy enhancements? just curious - going to try .223 for my first rifle reload. does it depend on tyhe caliber? etc

Depends on the rifle and the particular load combination. Except in rare occasions, if you see any difference from crimping it's going to be subtle (ie a 3MoA load is not going to come down to 1/2MoA).

Ty

 

[BluesBear]

There is one great secret to producing accurate ammunition.

Consistency

The more you can make each round identical to the next one the more accurate it will be.

Just one of the variables is neck/mouth tension on the bullet.
The more consistent the tension holding the bullet in the case the better.
Neck thickness, neck sizing, neck expansion and crimp all go hand in hand with bullet diameter, bullet composition and seating depth to determine bullet tension.


So while it is true that a better crimp will not change a 3MOA load into a ½MPA load, a sloppy crimp CAN change a ½MOA load into a 3MOA load.