Lee Crimp Die tight for .38 SWC?

[keppelj]

I'm finding that the Lee factory crimp die goes over seated .38 158 gr SWC or 148 gr plated bullets with effort, goes but binds a bit up and down. This happens no matter how slight the crimp. Doesn't happen with jacketed because of their smaller diameter. This is happening both at the die mouth and with the collar inside. Odd, normal?

 

[keppelj]

I'm finding that the Lee factory crimp die goes over seated .38 158 gr SWC or 148 gr plated bullets with effort, goes but binds a bit up and down. This happens no matter how slight the crimp. Doesn't happen with jacketed because of their smaller diameter. This is happening both at the die mouth and with the collar inside. Odd, normal?

 

[Rule3]

Do you have the internal crimping sleeve in correctly? Unscrew the top and shake out the the crimp sleeve. One side is thinner and tapered than the other which if "fatter". The tapered thin side faces down when inside the die.

 

[acl864]

I switched away from the Lee FCD for .38 & .357 Mag when loading lead bullets. It seemed to me that the resizing ring in the bottom was too tight when pushing the bullet through. The FCD works well for jacketed bullets but with .358 diameter lead bullets- I think it may slightly decrease the diameter of the bullet as you force the bullet in and out of the bottom of the die.

 

[keppelj]

OCD1, yes I've got the collar oriented right. ACL864, ditto my experience. Maybe that forcing is Ok. I had good accuracy some time ago doing 148gr WC. I'll call Lee on Monday, see what they say. Thanks, guys.

 

[acl864]

I'll be interested in hearing what Lee's response is to your concern. I REALLY like the crimp part of the die- the precise control of the crimp is great. Overall I'd like the die alot better if it didn't have the sizing ring in it at all. I'm sure with some calibers- especially rimless cartridges for autoloaders- it's a needed feature. IMO for 38/357 cartridges- it's useless.

 

[Rule3]

I have the same dies and used just the other day for 158 lswc. Soemtimes they stick a little sometimes not. The only other thing I can think of is maybe there is a sliver of lead in there or the dimensions of the lead vary a bit. Does it crimp correctly?

 

[keppelj]

Yes the crimps are fine. It's just that the casing with the bullet seated measure between .376 and .377 and the die mouth measures .376. The large end of the carbide where the bullet itself goes through measures .360 so there is no contact with the bullet itself and no issues with the bullet and cylinder throats. I imagine there is some stress on the casings forcing them in and out. They don't look any different, accordioned or anything, than before they go into the crimping die. Bullets measure .3575 to .358.

 

[keppelj]

Remeasuring, the casings outside the bullets measure .376 except right behind the crimp where they are sometimes .3765.

 

[shovelwrench]

I have heard you can remove the sizing ring by disassembling the die and knocking the carbide ring out with a brass punch from the top.

 

[keppelj]

No, once the adjustor is wound out the carbide rind drops out after it. But without it there's no crimp. It's stepped down to .360 so the bullet can more up into that narrower area but the ridge between the two diameters causes the crimp.

 

[Steve C]

I'm finding that the Lee factory crimp die goes over seated .38 158 gr SWC or 148 gr plated bullets with effort, goes but binds a bit up and down.

I think the resistance you are seeing when the round enters the FC dies on the up stroke is the belling sections travel over the sizing ring and on the down stroke its ironing out any bulge that may have been caused by the crimping operation.

Remember the Lee FC die sizes to maximum SAAMI factory allowable diameter so the only time you get any resistance is when a section of the OD of the case is larger than allowable.

One of the issues with loading lead bullets when using a standard die set is the expander diameter is set up for jacketed bullets and is a bit small for lead. In thick cases this can result in bulges in the case when a lead bullet is seated. One of the reasons I prefer to load lead bullets in Remington cases which are a bit thinner than Win or Fed. If you get a Cowboy die set from RCBS or have the factory send you an expander for lead bullets the bulging pretty much goes away and the lead bullets seat easier. I've also found that if you seat the bullet slowly and make sure its seating straight there will be less bulging. Try starting the bullet and then rotating the case in the shell holder 180 degrees before proceeding to seat it fully to make sure the bullet is not being seated crooked.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Measure your bullet diameter. I am going out on a limb here but am guessing they measure up in the .359" range, give or take .001".

What you are seeing is what Steve has said. You are actually resizing the bullet while it is in the case. One reason I don't use a LFCD for revolver rounds. In some automatics I use one, but have it set real light. Others just get a taper crimp or whatever crimp comes in the seating die.

 

[shovelwrench]

Originally posted by keppelj:
No, once the adjustor is wound out the carbide rind drops out after it. But without it there's no crimp. It's stepped down to .360 so the bullet can more up into that narrower area but the ridge between the two diameters causes the crimp.

The carbide ring is not the pat that moves, it is the "ring" when looking at the bottom of the die, flush with the bottom, its the part that does the sizing. Just like in your sizing/ depriming die.

 

[acl864]

I used an expanding ball guage to measure the inside of the carbide ring on my 38/357 Lee FCD-I got .37600". I took a W-W 38 Special load I had on the shelf that I had loaded with a TVB 148 Gr. DEWC -which are a very consistent .358" diameter- and a Hornady Seater/Crimper. I miked it at .37710" at the top just below the crimp. I set up the Lee FCD screwed the crimper assembly all the way to the top so just the sizer ring around the bottom of the die had any impact on the cartridge. It miked .37605" after being run through the die. I no longer use the Lee FCD for lead bullets in this caliber. Great die- just doesn't work for me in this application.

 

[keppelj]

Guys, thanks for all your interest. What a great community this is! Steve, I tried your finesse approach this morning and it worked. Keep the bullet very straight, ease it in and out. I felt some resistance coming out but slight. Nice. These are TVB SWCBB so straightening is pretty simple. Fortunately I use the Lee press for working up loads only, not cranking them out. Thanks again, all.