Crimp dies

[Griff]

I'm of the opposite camp.  I learned to reload in the years prior to fancy, boutique crimping dies.  My first two sets of dies were for the .30-30 and .44 RemMag... in the only flavor the store offered... RCBS.  When I got my first 45 Colt, again... RCBS.  When I started loading for CAS, I bought my first carbide sizer, 45 Colt... RCBS.  When I bought my 1st Dillon, I was loading for two folks that shot .38s, so the Dillon came equipped with that flavor along with a spare tool head.  Golly, my RCBS dies worked perfectly.  See a trend here?  I've loaded .30-30 ammo with that same set of RCBS dies since 1972... it still makes sub MOA ammo.  But, hey... if I can shrink those groups down to "one ragged hole" status, why wouldn't I?  So... over on the Leverguns forum I was being told that I could load MORE accurate ammo with the Lee FCD.  So I bought one.  Nope, not even close to more accurate... I'll be generous and say they're equal.  But, why would I add an extraneous step to reloading already better than average ammo.  I load my .30-30s on the Rock Chucker... yes I could load it on the Dillon, but I don't look for bulk loaded .30-30 for target shooting.   Do I have other brands of dies?  Yep... I was given a set of Lee 25ACP dies.  (Why would I spend money on dies whose idea of a locking ring is a rubber band?)  Redding?  Yep, have two sets, fully adjustable competition, precision dies for the .30-06 for service rifle, and most lately a set of the same ilk for the 5.56.  

 

Making bulk ammunition is very different than making precision ammo, IMO.  Although the process follows the same steps... a couple of extra steps add to the quality of the final product.  

 

Good luck with the ammo BB.  Hope you found out what you needed.  No, I wasn't any help... But I wish you success.  However convoluted the process might be!  Whatever you do, don't call this practice.  Testing... yep, TESTING... that's what it is!  

[Stump Water]

14 hours ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

Lee # 90861 for 38 sp?

 

Yep.

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

6 hours ago, Griff said:

I'm of the opposite camp.  I learned to reload in the years prior to fancy, boutique crimping dies.  My first two sets of dies were for the .30-30 and .44 RemMag... in the only flavor the store offered... RCBS.  When I got my first 45 Colt, again... RCBS.  When I started loading for CAS, I bought my first carbide sizer, 45 Colt... RCBS.  When I bought my 1st Dillon, I was loading for two folks that shot .38s, so the Dillon came equipped with that flavor along with a spare tool head.  Golly, my RCBS dies worked perfectly.  See a trend here?  I've loaded .30-30 ammo with that same set of RCBS dies since 1972... it still makes sub MOA ammo.  But, hey... if I can shrink those groups down to "one ragged hole" status, why wouldn't I?  So... over on the Leverguns forum I was being told that I could load MORE accurate ammo with the Lee FCD.  So I bought one.  Nope, not even close to more accurate... I'll be generous and say they're equal.  But, why would I add an extraneous step to reloading already better than average ammo.  I load my .30-30s on the Rock Chucker... yes I could load it on the Dillon, but I don't look for bulk loaded .30-30 for target shooting.   Do I have other brands of dies?  Yep... I was given a set of Lee 25ACP dies.  (Why would I spend money on dies whose idea of a locking ring is a rubber band?)  Redding?  Yep, have two sets, fully adjustable competition, precision dies for the .30-06 for service rifle, and most lately a set of the same ilk for the 5.56.  

 

Making bulk ammunition is very different than making precision ammo, IMO.  Although the process follows the same steps... a couple of extra steps add to the quality of the final product.  

 

Good luck with the ammo BB.  Hope you found out what you needed.  No, I wasn't any help... But I wish you success.  However convoluted the process might be!  Whatever you do, don't call this practice.  Testing... yep, TESTING... that's what it is!  

Sounding like my years of reloading stuff.  Just thinking from bolt gun days it was 6mm, 243, 25-06, 270, .22-250, 308, 30x284, and 30x338.  IHMSA was-30-30 (my first P 40 T/C also shot in a Wichita), 30 Herrett (T/C), .44 mag, 41 mag, 353 (spire points in 357 case in FA Model 83) 7x08, 7 Br, 7x225, 7 Merrill,  270 Max,, and 30 Max.

Then came CAS so 45-70, 38-55 (yea I featured into long range sides at one time) , 357, and 38 special 

Hunting handguns were/are 30 Herrett (T/C), 357, .358 Win (RPM-Hunter), 44 mag (S&W, Ruger, Dan Wesson, T/C, FA), and 454 Casull (FA).

I have probably missed a couple and no doubt Widder can top our list.  Hey, we are old and Wid ain't no spring chicken

And, as of a week or so ago I now load shotgun. 

Like you, quite the mixture of dies.  I dwelt in accuracy from early years to today. Some of my reloading tools makes me wonder how much time I put into some of those cartridges.  Reaming in and out, pocket and necks, cutting, sizing, etc.   Cowboy is easy.

 

Edited July 10 by Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

On 7/10/2026 at 11:38 AM, Stump Water said:

 

Yep.

Borrowed one of these from TJD and really do like the crimp.  Evidently it is more of roll crimp as it seems to round off the sharp edge that can often mess with feed.  

All that time in testing for accuracy and I forgot to test fast feed.  Dumb mistake.  Should have thought of that.  Accuracy is not going to help to much if you can't run rifle with some decency.  I believe this LFCD 90861 will fix.  Redding also on list to try. 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

BB,

I replied to your PM.  Hope it helps.

 

..........Widder

 

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

1 hour ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

BB,

I replied to your PM.  Hope it helps.

 

..........Widder

 

yep. thanks

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

After re-crimping already crimped reloads  with LFCD  feeding  seemed to be corrected in some tests today.  Now will apply LFCD use in reloading more brass.  Glad re-crimping seems to be correction, I had reloaded about 1300 rounds.

[Ethan Cord]

On 7/27/2026 at 4:22 PM, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

After re-crimping already crimped reloads  with LFCD  feeding  seemed to be corrected in some tests today.  Now will apply LFCD use in reloading more brass.  Glad re-crimping seems to be correction, I had reloaded about 1300 rounds.

Hey Billy, I’m glad you are getting things figured out. Like you and some of the others, I have numerous brands of reloading dies that IO have acquired after almost 7 decades on this planet. 

 

For the dash-caliber pistol cartridges (25-20, 32-20, 38-40 & 44-40) I started using the Lee Factory Crimp Dies around 1990 or so. This type of die solved the issue of some bullets being pushed back into the cartridge cases when in a rifle magazine tube. 

 

For fixing already reloaded ammo that won’t chamber, I used a Redding Profile Sizing Body Die on almost 500 rounds of .223 that my son loaded up without having the Dillon dies adjusted correctly in a Dillon 550. 

 

I hope all is well for you and I hope to shoot with you again some time before the Good Lords calls us home.

Edited July 30 by Ethan Cord
correct name of die

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

3 hours ago, Ethan Cord said:

Hey Billy, I’m glad you are getting things figured out. Like you and some of the others, I have numerous brands of reloading dies that IO have acquired after almost 7 decades on this planet. 

 

For the dash-caliber pistol cartridges (25-20, 32-20, 38-40 & 44-40) I started using the Lee Factory Crimp Dies around 1990 or so. This type of die solved the issue of some bullets being pushed back into the cartridge cases when in a rifle magazine tube. 

 

For fixing already reloaded ammo that won’t chamber, I used a Redding Profile Sizing Die on almost 500 rounds of .223 that my son loaded up without having the Dillon dies adjusted correctly in a Dillon 550. 

 

I hope all is well for you and I hope to shoot with you again some time before the Good Lords calls us home.

Amen.  Will you make LR or 2027 EOT?  All in my plans if in His.

[El Chapo]

The Dillon die for revolvers is a taper crimp at light settings and a roll crimp at a heavier setting.  I haven't found anything better.

 

I use Lee FCDs for .223 but I would never use one with lead bullets in a pistol.  It will size down your bullets.  If you have a tight barrel it may not matter, but you'll know if it does, because you'll have leading and possibly tumbling.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

On 7/9/2026 at 6:05 PM, Savvy Jack said:

As far as "fhit ding, fhit ding", anything works that works.

If you just want the case to not bulge, just back of the crimp until it don't bulge.

 

If you want a bit more of a refined load technique, get a Redding Profile crimp die.

https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/handloading/my-preferred-loading-method

 

Profile Left, LFCD right If you want a bullet designed specifically for the LFCD, check here: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/handloading/bullet-molds/modern-bullet-molds

 

Look for the 43-219M and 43-220CC

 

You must be casting your own? I’ve not seen a commercially available bullet with that shape. The ones available to me (200 gr RNFP) have a fatter, less tapered ogive and is why I can’t use the Redding PCD. I can’t get a decent crimp without it shoving the bullet too deep. I don’t have that problem with the Lee FCD. 
 

If your bullets can be had commercially, I’d love know a source. 

 

Edited July 31 by Abilene Slim SASS 81783

[Eyesa Horg]

6 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

You must be casting your own? I’ve not seen a commercially available bullet with that shape. The ones available to me (200 gr RNFP) have a fatter, less tapered ogive and is why I can’t use the Redding PCD. I can’t get a decent crimp without it shoving the bullet too deep. I don’t have that problem with the Lee FCD. 
 

If your bullets can be had commercially, I’d love know a source. 

 

Slippery's look like that. His 45s anyhow.

Edited July 31 by Eyesa Horg
Added text

[Savvy Jack]

6 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

You must be casting your own? I’ve not seen a commercially available bullet with that shape. The ones available to me (200 gr RNFP) have a fatter, less tapered ogive and is why I can’t use the Redding PCD. I can’t get a decent crimp without it shoving the bullet too deep. I don’t have that problem with the Lee FCD. 
 

If your bullets can be had commercially, I’d love know a source. 

 

 

Yes, I cast my own from a bullet I had Accurate molds modify...meaning I sent in my own custom dimensions and they cut me a custom mold. It is the 43-214A...but is a modified Lyman 427098.

 

 

The problem with most modern commercial 44-40 200gr lead bullets is that they are cast from Magma Engineering molds, which are not 44-40 "profile" bullets...especially in sizes larger than about .428". Problem #1 is that the Profile die (Hence the name) hits the forward driving band that extends past the case mouth...and if the bullet diameter is larger than .428", it exaggerates the problem.

 

Much of this information can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/handloading

Edited July 31 by Savvy Jack