Lee Factory Crimper

WileyWapiti · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

I have came across a scenario where my crimping is necessary for sure - not sure why, but my 6mm sizing die is somewhat tempermental - I really need to watch it closely or else it opens the neck up a little too much - could use some advice here on ideas - so once I seat the bullet it tends to seat a little loose - I am able to crimp to secure the bullet a little better. Obviously this is not an ideal situation in my mind and I have suspended loading this caliber until I can figure out the sizing a little better. I use the Lee Collet dies for the 6mm - none of my other dies are collet - I thought this would seat the bullet better thus the "collet" - think I am doing something wrong and could sure use some advice on a direction to go for correcting this. All my other rounds are a light crimp - never done it any other way so I cannot post an opinion on "to Crimp" or "Not to Crimp".

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

I'd measure the neck of a sized but not expanded case (remove the expander before sizing) and also the expander. I don't have any 6mms of any type so I can't tell you what they should measure but I know someone on here will be able to help you with those dimensions!

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

Easy to solve Pumpy...Just start a reply with any letter (I use "a") and post it. That will bring it in for you. Then when you are finished add to your "letter" post or delete it...

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:55 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

Thanks Bushy, that worked.

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

What's your "letter"? Very Happy

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

Well... Note that I edited my original response...

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

Oh...I get it...It's a secret...

Vince · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:33 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

Bushmaster wrote:

Easy to solve Pumpy...Just start a reply with any letter (I use "a") and post it. That will bring it in for you. Then when you are finished add to your "letter" post or delete it...

Punkin wrote:

Thanks Bushy, that worked.

Bushy wrote:

What's your "letter"? Very Happy

Punkin wrote:

Well... Note that I edited my original response...

Bushy wrote:

Oh...I get it...It's a secret...

What have you pair been smokin' ?????? Whatever are you on about?????

Wiley...I would go back and revisit the instructions that came with your Lee Collet Die and ensure that you have got things set up correctly ...either that or throw an email to the Lee Customer Service Centre. It definitely sounds like something is not right. It is just a matter of working out if it is you or the die mate.

Cheers, Vince

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

Ah Vince, when I first pulled up page 2 of this thread, about the 6mm die problem, the text was running off the right hand side of my screen and I couldn't read it. I posted a response that mentioned that but when I got back to the page things lined up properly. Bushy was commenting on how to fix it while I was editing my first post.

Bushy, since you've laid claim to "a" I'll use "Q"... Wink

SingleShotLover · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:03 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

Wiley,

Are your cases neck-turned? I knew a fellow that neck-turned his case necks too far which caused the neck-sizing die to not be able to squeeze the case necks tight enough to hold a bullet.

With "traditional" sizing dies, it is pretty easy to reduce the diameter of the expander ball by simply removing it from the die, chucking it in a drill and holding a fine-cut file or even emery cloth to it as it turns. Just be careful how much you take off the plug and go slowly. No having worked with the Lee Collet dies I don't know if this is an option for you.

Arizona Hunter · Member Joined: Jul 22, 2006 Posts: 275

I use the Lee crimper to put a light, not hard, but light crimp on my 30.06 and 6.5 x 55 loads. At least wit hthe loads I've created I noticed a small increase in accuracy, keeping both under 1" rather than over.

English Mike · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

After seeing a repeatable decrease in group sizes when using the Lee FCD for .270 & .243 loads, I've just bought them to use on the 22-250 & .308.
Whether it's down to confidence or science matters not one whit - if it makes for greater accuracy, then I'll use it.

denis · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

English Mike wrote:

After seeing a repeatable decrease in group sizes when using the Lee FCD for .270 & .243 loads, I've just bought them to use on the 22-250 & .308.
Whether it's down to confidence or science matters not one whit - if it makes for greater accuracy, then I'll use it.

You can't argue with personal experience, and I'd agree that confidence is a real factor to be considered.

I loaded up a batch of 30-06 for testing, using once-fired cases, neck-sizing, and a minimal factory crimp application (the collet petals closed about halfway). Half the cartridges were crimped, and the other half had the bullets seated without the crimp step.

Now I need to work in the time to do a good test firing, which may be a week or two as the waterfowl opener is this weekend.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:26 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

I wonder what Wiley figured out...

denis · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 5:19 am Post subject: Re: Lee Factory Crimper

WileyWapiti wrote:

I have came across a scenario where my crimping is necessary for sure - not sure why, but my 6mm sizing die is somewhat tempermental - I really need to watch it closely or else it opens the neck up a little too much - could use some advice here on ideas - so once I seat the bullet it tends to seat a little loose - I am able to crimp to secure the bullet a little better. Obviously this is not an ideal situation in my mind and I have suspended loading this caliber until I can figure out the sizing a little better. I use the Lee Collet dies for the 6mm - none of my other dies are collet - I thought this would seat the bullet better thus the "collet" - think I am doing something wrong and could sure use some advice on a direction to go for correcting this. All my other rounds are a light crimp - never done it any other way so I cannot post an opinion on "to Crimp" or "Not to Crimp".

When I started using the collet neck-sizing die on my 30-.06 cases I noticed that many of the cases were a little loose in the neck. After reading the instructions more closely I realized that the collet tightens the neck against a mandrel and unlike a full-length resizer, there really isn't any neck expansion that takes place. Only neck reduction. I think the instructions say to exert at least 25 pounds of downward pressure on the arm of the press. After I went back and redid each case, they all passed my little test, which was to place a fresh bullet in the mouth and see if it meets normal resistance. A second test is in the bullet seating where I have a pretty good idea of how much resistance the bullet should meet as it slides into place.

Thus far I have no complaints about either the sizing or the seating.