I avoid crimping whenever I can, but in the case of my 30-30, with a tubular magazine, I thought it wise to throw a little crimp on there. I picked up a Lee factory crimp die and have put probably 40 rounds thru it. What I'm noticing is the accuracy just isn't there - not near what factory ammo gives me. I'm using H322 powder, and have tried several charge weights from 25 to 29 grains. I'm using 170 grain sierra pro hunters (my factory ammo that I was using was 170 grain core-lokt). All the rest of the specs on this handload are straight from the latest speer manual for a similar 170 grain bullet.

Thus far, I've crimped every round, but I'm going shooting this weekend with some that aren't crimped so I can compare.

The substance of my question is, is the accuracy problem most likely a function of the crimp, given that I noticed the following?

On all the crimped cartridges, the crimp is consistently uneven. You can look at the crimp mark on one side of the case and see its about 1/16" down from the mouth. As you rotate the case, you'll notice that the crimp mark goes up all the way to the mouth on the exact opposite side. Is this normal, or should that crimp mark be a uniform distance from the case mouth? Is it the die, or am I forgetting something/doing something incorrectly?

I own two of these dies, one of which I shortened to use on a 2.015" case and both were uniform from the factory. I would guess most likely your neck thickness is varying considerably. Are you using Remington brass? Other than using a better quality case and neck turning (which is what I do) try a little more pressure on the press ram. However, first pull the die apart and lube the collet with graphite or a molly suspension. Using too much pressure over time can cause wear and sticking on these collet dies but they're so inexpensive, one can afford a couple as backups.

MC

Thanks, I'll try taking the die apart. I've actually used a mix of brass. Some were once fired Remington Brass, and some were virgin, straight-out-of-the-bag, Winchester brass. Both showed the same results.

One other thing I noticed was that I can actually wiggle the die a little when its seated in the press. I'm pretty sure the locking o-ring is allowing this. I finger tighten the die down, as instructed. Maybe the o-ring is causing the die to cant?

If it's crimping lower (farther from the mouth) on one side then it is a trimming issue. Check the case mouth against the cannelure, the distance from the mouth to the front of the cannelure should be even all around.

Really? I'll check it, but as i mentioned I've used multiple types and both new/used brass. Doesn't seem like it would be doing exactly the same thing on all that different brass.

I'm having the exact same uneven crimp problem with a brand new Lee FCD I bought in .375 Win. The brass is perfectly trimmed, with no thickness issues, by the way.

I was pretty unimpressed, as a result, and it didn't do anything to improve my opinion of Lee products.

RSY

If it's crimping lower (farther from the mouth) on one side then it is a trimming issue. Check the case mouth against the cannelure, the distance from the mouth to the front of the cannelure should be even all around.
I recently purchased the Lee FCD in .223 and .30-06, and both are crimping below the case mouth all the way around. Didn't help my accuracy at all, and all cases are trimmed. I had thought is was supposed to crimp at the mouth, the way my straight-wall crimp does for .357? :confused:

The Lee Factory Crimp die is supposed to crimp like the factory does it, hence the name!. If you look at factory rifle ammunition you will find a segmental crimp which is straight and extends about .025-.035 from the mouth of the case. If you want a tapered or roll crimp, the Lee die isn't the one you want.

Not trying to ruffle feathers here but the die is not that difficult to use and get good results. It needs to be seated/adjusted properly in the press so it's square to the shaft. not loose, and you should be able to see it engage the case in a uniform manner as the bullet comes through the opening. If you're not a fan of the embedded O-ring and think it may be causing problems, swap out the die ring to something more standard. Hornady makes the best die rings.

If the cases are trimmed properly, I'd be checking runout to ensure the bullet is seated squarely in the case. You can roll them across a flat mirror and see if there's wobble. I have 4 FCDs, all bottle necked cartridges, and they all work really well. The only straight wall case I load is the 45-70 and for that I use a Redding Taper Crimp die.

My faulty FC die is being used in a Forster Co-Ax press (runout highly unlikely), and is mated with a Forster ring, as well (Lee O-Ring won't work in the press). Again, the brass is A-OK. The die is screwed up, bottom line.

Everything looks good from the top during operation, but the finished product is piss-poor.


All that said, I look forward to replacing it, because I do like the concept.

RSY

If you send the die back to Lee be sure and let us know what they say. I had fits with one particular collet neck die until I polished the bejezus out of it per Lee's recommendation. It all worked out in the end but what a pain in the behind getting there.