I never crimp any of my rifle ammunition (since everything I load for is in a bolt action), but have recently acquired an AR-15 variant which will, from time to time, dislodge an uncrimped bullet back into the case.

I found crimping with my RCBS .223 dies to be less than satisfactory. Either not enough crimp, or in attempting to apply a heavier crimp, the shoulder buckled.

What's the rap on the Lee "factory crimp" die. Does it work as claimed and would you recommend it? Who else makes a seating/crimping die you'd recommend?

Stonecreek, although I am unable to address the .223, I have enjoyed good results with the Lee "factory crimp" die for the 30-06 & 300 WinMag.

Only reason I use it is because I have not yet learned how to to properly seat the bullet to "kiss the lands" and the documentation implies that it is an appropriate compensator to achieve consistency in building up to the max pressure (their documentation).

I have never had anything buckle on me yet using this method or this product. I think it is because it is designed to stop at its maximum diminished size via a pin vice design. It cannot be crimped any smaller.

I have deployed the use of these dies from both a single station and turret press with equal satisfaction. My gut tells me that the single-stage press is probably better, but I have no facts either way at this time.

For the hundreds of rounds reloaded using this tool from this vendor, I am satisfied until I find a better method (I mean more money to buy more toys ).

Best regards,
Alex

[This message has been edited by Alex Szabo (edited 07-17-2001).]

I have used them and they worked as advertised. I taper crimp all of my rifle ammunition.

I like the Lee "factory crimp" for 308 and 416. I need to get one for my AR, but do not have one yet!

Don

They are the greatest thing since canned beer. Well almost. They are the best crimping device I have ever seen. The dies works on the collet principle. As you push the cartridge up the crimping section squeezes the neck into the bullet. There are three segments of the collet that surround the neck. That part slides in a tapered hole. As you push the cartridge up the die shrinks but puts no downward force in the case. Neat!! Trim length is not important. No more buckeled shoulders. You can put any degree of crimp on the bullet. You can crimp any bullet any place. No crimp groove is necessary. The result is cosmetically great. It looks just like the factory crimp, thus the name. Get one, you will like it.

[This message has been edited by scot (edited 07-17-2001).]

[This message has been edited by scot (edited 07-17-2001).]

I use a 358/356 w/ a shim for my 35 whelen, based on the claims of increased accuracy. I haven't done much testing to compare crimped vs uncrimped loads, I have a load that works, and thats what's important.

Whats nice about it is you don't have to seat the bullet to the canalure to crimp, seat it where you want, then apply the crimp. I've pulled a few rounds that have been run through it, and it swadges its own canalure into the bullet.

Amen to all the above, my only problem with Lee is they won't make one "up-sized" for .50 caliber bullets. I have them for: 7mm, 8mm, .308 and .375. Grafs and Sons has them for $9.00.

Ditto. After you crush a few .458 Win or .416 Rigby cases by adding just a touch too much crimp with a "normal" die, you financially learn one of the beauties of the Lee die, no more ruined cases, ever. Also, ditto on needing a 50 cal crimp. The Alaskan is in dire need of a Lee Crimp die, but they won't do it.

I have reloaded thousands of rounds in .223, .308, 7.62x39, 7.62x54, 8mm Mauser, and .30-06. All were loaded for auto-loaders. I've got one for 7.5 French too, but try to find factory brass. The Lee factory crimp die is super. I noticed no accuracy difference at all from a standard roll crimp and you don't have to worry so much about AOL of the round. (Unless of course you are close to the maximum in length for your chamber.) I agree with the other guys. Best thing since sliced bread. RCBS does not like them, but only because they don't make them.

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Surely we must all hang togather, for seprately we will surely all hang.

They will make special ones on order. Wish I knew which one they already made. Perhaps they once put them in a catalog, of course with special price.

I hope they make new shell holders for the big bores, for their trimmer, the Auto prime and the factory crimp die.

Good Shooting! H

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