Hello All,

Last year my basement flooded with rain water. My dies were in storage in a box on the floor in a closet. By the time I got to deal with the closet stuff all my RCBS dies were rusted beyond repair. My older RCBS dies had the split lock rings. The new RCBS dies have the set screw which I believe ruins the threads. Anyway I replaced all my dies with Hornady dies. A friend loaned me a pair and I liked the sliding bullet seater on the seating die.

I always seat and crimp in two separate steps. I am not to impressed with the roll crimp on the Hornady dies I have used so far on 30-30, 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag. I turn the crimp die down unitl it touches the case and start with 1/16 turns. I have never gone past 1/8-1/4 turn after case contact. This seems to slighlty buldge the case neck or deform it. It will still chamber but I dont like it. I take pride in my handloads and want them flawless. Other than this problem I love the Hornady dies. And yes I back-out the bullet seater stem before crimping. I just think the roll crimp in the Hornady dies is excessive and deforms the neck.

I have not used the new Hornady dies on any of my pistol loads yet. The problem I had above was with bottleneck rifle cases. I hear all this talk of the Lee Factory Crimp Die. Most of what I hear is good but I have heard some negative stuff on the board with these dies. I know to use a taper crimp on pistol and a rolled crimp on revolver cases. I read on this board someone using a taper crimp on 45 colt. What is your thought on the LFCD. Midway sells the carbide LFCD dies for about $12.50. I was going to pick up three, one for 357 mag, 44 mag and 45 Colt. Do you recommend another brand of crimp die.

I am switching from jacketed to Laser Cast bullets for all my revolver loads. They seem to not lead the barrel, are 1/4 the cost of jacketed bullets. Besides me, I have to fead the shooting cravings of my wife and son, since we leave the bullets in a pile of dirt at the range I'm looking for a cheaper cost to have fun. The 357 mag will be SWC bullets, the 44 and 45 will be RNFP bullets. Will the LFCD work ok with the Laser Cast bullets?

I know I wrote a book, but I get so much good info off this board. After all, this is why I joined.

Thanks to all who reply

I swear by the Lee FCDs and have NEVER had any problems with them. I use them on the 218 Bee, 30-30 (Win & AI), 35 Rem, 356 Win, 375 Win, 44 Mag, 444 Marlin, 45 APC, 45-70 Govt, & 450 Marlin.

Why doesn't RCBS put a lead plug behind the lock ring setscrew like they did in the 1960's, before they used the split rings? It's not a problem anyhow, as a 7 1/2 shot pellet does the trick and you won't hurt the threads. ;) Split rings, Hornady or RCBS, are a pain to adjust.

Bye
Jack

I use the Factory Crimp Die on lots of different cartridges and haven't seen where it will distinguish a jacketed bullet from a lead bullet. It works well on both. I really like my Redding Taper Crimp Die for 45-70.

I'll go with flashhole and ranchdog, been using the Lee factory crimp dies for a while with no problems.

243
280 Rem
7mm Rem mag
308
8mm Rem mag
357
41 mag
44 mag
45 Colt
54 cal muzzle loader

I use them on all my rifle and pistol loads with no problems.

Thanks for all the replys. I ordered Lee FCD's for all my pistol and rifle calibers from Midway. Lee sure has a good price on their products.

I shoot:
223 Rem
30-30 Win
30-06 Sprg
7mm Rem
308 Win
300 WIn Mag

38/357 Mag
40 S&W
44 Mag
45 Colt

Thanks