Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die

[Steve]

If you are adjusting it correctly, I don't know what, unless there is a burr holding the crimp color up.

[Poppop]

I think I'll call Lee tomorrow.
I really don't know if I need a crimp on .38 for a revolver. I don't bell the cartridge much when seating the lead bullet.

[horseman]

On the Lee CFCD I thought the correct setting was to screw the die in to touch the shell plate/shell holder, not the case mouth, and THEN adjust for crimp with the screw in adjuster.

[Poppop]

Screw the die down to the shell holder then insert a case with a bullet in it to adjust the crimp and screwed it down until it hits the lead, remove the bullet and turn the adjuster another half turn or so and try a crimp and adjust as needed.
Well I did all this as many times as Einstein would call it INSANITY.
I loaded w/o a crimp and seems to make no real difference in accuracy so I will stop the INSANITY and not crimp .38 cal

[DaveInGA]

Screw the die down to the shell holder then insert a case with a bullet in it to adjust the crimp and screwed it down until it hits the lead, remove the bullet and turn the adjuster another half turn or so and try a crimp and adjust as needed.
Well I did all this as many times as Einstein would call it INSANITY.
I loaded w/o a crimp and seems to make no real difference in accuracy so I will stop the INSANITY and not crimp .38 cal

Revolver calibers need crimp even more than pistol calibers in most cases. Get your crimp die fixed or get -another brand that works, but I think it ill-advised not to crimp those cartridges. That said, you can crimp with the seating die. You DO NOT want those bullets pulling out of the case during recoil causing your revolver to jam at a most critical point.

[Steve]

Screw the die down to the shell holder then insert a case with a bullet in it to adjust the crimp and screwed it down until it hits the lead, remove the bullet and turn the adjuster another half turn or so and try a crimp and adjust as needed.
Well I did all this as many times as Einstein would call it INSANITY.
I loaded w/o a crimp and seems to make no real difference in accuracy so I will stop the INSANITY and not crimp .38 cal

Just a thought Poppop, are you maybe expecting to see what looks like a roll crimp? the FCD does not apply a roll crimp, it just applies a slight tapper crimp.

[buddha1percent]

Well my lee crimp die does both when you look at the tool a roll crimp on one side when it is turned the other way a taper crimp
I like roll crimp because I use projectiles with a crimp groove cast in to the bullet.
Makes adjustment easier.
The issue as ALLWAYS is case size consistency.
Even after I cut them to length with the Lee too there are some variation.
I have been considering making a trimmer that will cut my .45 colt cases down to Schofield length this way I can get way more loadings out of them.
Since I load cowboy action loads (powder puff) loads for shooting in the backyard I don't stretch my cases hardly at all the only wear is in the primer pockets and the case mouth (from crimping)
I just loaded up about 650 rounds of .45 colt for spring and summer shooting.
That's a lot on a single stage.
Check your bullet depth you may be to far out of the case mouth to feel the small movement in the handle as the case mouth crimps

[Fyodor]

Well my lee crimp die does both when you look at the tool a roll crimp on one side when it is turned the other way a taper crimp

I never heard about that... what would you turn upside down? Can you post a picture? I can't imagine what you might mean.

[buddha1percent]

The cylinder that is inside the die when the cartridge enters from one direction it will taper crimp from the others roll crimp.
Is your projectile in the case far enough. That the mouth of the case can close around it just a little?

[Fyodor]

I didn't realize that before. I'll take a closer look on that next time.