.45 ACP into .45 Colt die

[jg rider]

Last test, attachments

[johnh]

Looks good. Dog checks out as well prepared for a cat or squirrel apocalypse.

[CPTKILLER]

This is the .45 ACP.

[CPTKILLER]

.45 Colt Drawing

They are different cartridges with different dimensions. The drawings explain a lot.

[jg rider]

Yesterday when I started this thread I hadn't had my first cup of coffee.
So I didn't read the bulls eye forum thread thoroughly

My son has a set of .45 colt dies so we may try this for a tighter case to chamber fit.

I wrote in an earlier thread that I fire form my .38 .357, and .44 mag cases for our 1894 Marlin lever guns. Then I resize only the case section that the bullet goes into. IMHO the tight chamber fit added to my accuracy


Here's what the the bulls eye o.p.wrote

Re: Lee Factory Crimp Die Sticking

Post by estuck on 12/30/2017, 11:29 pm
The Uniquetek is their billet toolhead that has two small sockethead screws to lock the toolhead in place. My press is the Dillon 550. The expander/sizing die is Dillon in .45 long colt. I'm wondering now if that is the problem. There is no doubt the sticking is with the crimping die, all other stations are smooth. May try the 45 acp sizing die to see if it makes a difference.


Here's one of the replys


Re: Lee Factory Crimp Die Sticking

by SmokinNJokin on 1/7/2018, 11:53 am

Jack H wrote:I tried the Lee FC die for a while. No more.
The crimp part inside shreds the case mouth. Poor machining IMO
And I see no need to resize the round.
(and I broke the carbide on one using it as a push through)

+1 my experience exactly with the LEE FCD. It re-sizes brass down to minimum spec. Much smaller than needed for a match .45, in the name of 'reliability' (this is a band-aid for using wildly varying brass in a bunch of different guns and making sure it will always chamber and go bang. Also geared toward bulge-busting for unsupported chambers like glock and others). There is just no need for it in a 1911 bullseye gun.

Keep sizing with the .45 colt die though. If sized brass fits in the chamber of your pistol with no resistance, it is not a problem. The lee FCD is the problem, it is re-sizing your brass down to minimum spec, much smaller than needed. Go back to your dillon crimp die, that will solve the problem guranteed.

Using a .45 colt sizing die, .45 colt expander, .45 acp seating die, and .45 acp crimp die, my press runs smooth as butter and I haven't seen a SINGLE lead or brass shaving in a long, long time.

[Ikeo74]

Also can't reply with quote or go advance. Get message that says message to short

When it says message too short, it means you started writing above the last sentence of the last post. Go back and page the last message up and make sure it is above where you are starting your reply.

[CPTKILLER]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...bide-sizer-die

$25 is a smart investment to consider.

[jg rider]

I stopped using the Lee Factory Crimp Die for 9mm and .45 acp a long time back. I cast my own bullets for both out of a mix of wheel weights and linotype. And then I lube size them to my slugged out barrel diameters. The 9mms are sized to .356" and the the .45s are sized to .452"

My cases are all mixed manufacturers, so there is a difference in wall thickness. Heck some of my .45 brass are old military, dating back to the 70s

So much for the tech stuff

I found when using the Lee die without setting the crimp and then I pulling the bullets, the bullets were swagged down about .001" or so. This was because of the difference in the wall thickness of the brass.

This deviation really doesn't mean much to us except the principal of it. We're not precision shooters. If we can hit 8" plates out to 25yds. that's good enough. But IMHO it's a waste of money

YMMV, John

[Bawanna]

The purpose of the Lee factory crimp die is to make any reload work in any gun.
If your shooting your reloads in the same gun or especially if just one particular gun just neck sizing or sizing just enough to feed and chamber efficiently is all a person needs.
I have a TC Contender in 30-30. Don't shoot it much lately but I only neck size that and mark the boxes specially for the Contender so they don't get used in my Winchesters or Marlins. They work, I just don't want to get them mixed up.

[jg rider]

The purpose of the Lee factory crimp die is to make any reload work in any gun.
If your shooting your reloads in the same gun or especially if just one particular gun just neck sizing or sizing just enough to feed and chamber efficiently is all a person needs.
I have a TC Contender in 30-30. Don't shoot it much lately but I only neck size that and mark the boxes specially for the Contender so they don't get used in my Winchesters or Marlins. They work, I just don't want to get them mixed up.

Hi bawanna,
Can we we agree to disagree?

I understand the theory of the Lee die, also there is something about taking out bulges. What bulges ? The only bulges I know of is if crimping to much. Then I can possibly see rerunning the round up a Lee die.

As far as the die making reloads work in any gun I don't know of anyone experiencing the problem.

I have 8 9mms and 10 .45 acp, autos all taper crimped. And revolvers, plus my fire formed, then neck sized .38, .357, .44 mag for my Marlins are all roll crimped. They will all chamber in other guns.

Except for my fire formed .44 mag. Those rounds are a tight fit into a revolver chamber.

[jg rider]

I double posted, sorry

[Bawanna]

Nothing to disagree about. Your correct in your descriptions and your needs.

I'm correct in that the Factory die puts the case back the way it was born all the way to the rim. Do we need to do that, most of the time no.
Is it a waste of time and money, most of the time yes but still not a bad option if wanting to start fresh or dealing with guns with tight chambers.

I wouldn't see a need for it shooting lead.

I generally don't use it so I'm not an advocate for them or anything, so far I've never received a commission check from Lee although I'm not giving up hope ya know.

[CPTKILLER]

I'll always full size resize mine.