DenverGP
05-15-2014, 17:09
Loaded my first batch of test ammo. Wanted to pass on a lesson learned about the Lee factory crimp die.
I loaded up my first bunch, seated the bullets with no crimp from the seating die. Then adjusted the factory crimp die as directed in the instructions. When I ran the round into the crimp die, it felt odd, like it was hitting something. And the round didn't appear to be crimped. So I turned the adjuster in a little more and still got the same result. A little further still, and I actually got a little bit of brass scraped off the round. But the rounds were still a tight fit into my 1911 chamber.
After reading to make sure I was adjusting and using it right, I disassembled the die. It's just the adjuster screw, and a sleeve that has a taper to it. Well, the narrow end of the sleeve was down, instead of the wide end. I flipped that sleeve around, reset things, and the rounds crimped perfectly and pass the plunk test nicely now. I disassembled and discarded the couple rounds I had attempted to crimp with the improperly assembled crimp die.
I loaded up my first bunch, seated the bullets with no crimp from the seating die. Then adjusted the factory crimp die as directed in the instructions. When I ran the round into the crimp die, it felt odd, like it was hitting something. And the round didn't appear to be crimped. So I turned the adjuster in a little more and still got the same result. A little further still, and I actually got a little bit of brass scraped off the round. But the rounds were still a tight fit into my 1911 chamber.
After reading to make sure I was adjusting and using it right, I disassembled the die. It's just the adjuster screw, and a sleeve that has a taper to it. Well, the narrow end of the sleeve was down, instead of the wide end. I flipped that sleeve around, reset things, and the rounds crimped perfectly and pass the plunk test nicely now. I disassembled and discarded the couple rounds I had attempted to crimp with the improperly assembled crimp die.