Update: 475 Factory Crimp Dies

[WL44]

Just an update on this. It seems it's no longer a standard item from Lee unfortunately. Here's the e-mail from Lee.

For $30 just for the crimp die the Redding Profile Crimp is probably the one I'll go with as the combination crimp seems to provide a really good hold under recoil. I have them for 357 and 44.

See below:

The 480 Ruger Factory Crimp Die would be a custom order.

Factory Crimp Dies

The collet-type Factory crimp die can be made for a wide variety of cartridges.  Most rifle cartridges will fit into the 7/8-14 thread die body.  If your cartridge falls within the following parameters it will fit into our standard 7/8-14 die;
Bullet diameter    .172 - .501  (minimum - maximum)
Body diameter     .295 - .580
Case length       1.345 - 3.400
(all dimensions in inches)
Cartridges over the maximum in any of the three parameters will probably fit into the large-series dies.  These have a 1 1/4-12 thread, so your press must be capable of accepting this thread size. 

Bullet diameter .300 - .577  (minimum - maximum)
Body diameter .575 - .875
Case length 1.500 - 4.000

To place an order, send payment of $25 for a 7/8-14 series die, or $75 for a 1 1/4-12 series die, plus $4 for shipping and handling, and a dummy cartridge (a bullet seated in an empty case).  The dummy cartridge is for testing purposes, so please make sure it is within normal dimensional tolerances.

Custom Carbide Factory Crimp Dies for handgun cartridges can be made for most handgun cartridges that are not in regular stock.  Cost is $30.00 plus $4 for shipping and handling.  In most cases, a dummy cartridge is not necessary for Carbide Factory Crimp Dies.  Sizes available run from 25 ACP sized cases up to the 480 Ruger.  The 50 AE cannot be made because the carbide ring necessary for this cartridge is too large for our manufacturing process.

[Lloyd Smale]

if you want one for  a 480 see if they stock one for the .475 and just grind .10 off the bottom. A bench grinder will do it if you dont have access to a lathe. I think midway still has 4 die sets for the .475 listed.

[WL44]

Thanks Lloyd.

It was for a 475, so would work great. Midway won't ship outside of the USA from my previous enquiries. I guess I'm going with the Redding; not that that's bad as I've been very happy in the past. All good by the end of it I think.

[odoh]

I could be wrong but aren't they talking several kinds of crimp dies? The 'factory' crimp die, mostly for rife cartridges use a split collet to crimp right at the crimp/channelure in such a way that one can actually eyeball the setting/operation. That'un appeals to me.Then theres the integral to the die body crimp die and they even have a carbide ring crimp die that is provided as part of a delux 4 die set but is not of the split collet like the rifle factory crimp die.

The custom order parameters imply that a collet (rifle) type die could be had for the 480/475 as it fits within the parameters. Think I'll chk w/em in the a.m

[Lloyd Smale]

ask lee to sell you another bullet seating die. Pull the seating plug out of it and use it for a crimp die. It will not be a carbide crimp die but it works fine if a guy wants to crimp in a seperate operation. Some people prefer this to a lee factory crimp die as they tend to iron out the sides of the case and can actually make you loose case tension when the case springs back. the collet setup your talking about might be the ticket but i guess im not finding any problems with the way ive done it. At least not enough to spring for a custom die.

[odoh]

I could be wrong but aren't they talking several kinds of crimp dies? The 'factory' crimp die, mostly for rife cartridges use a split collet to crimp right at the crimp/channelure in such a way that one can actually eyeball the setting/operation. That'un appeals to me.Then theres the integral to the die body crimp die and they even have a carbide ring crimp die that is provided as part of a delux 4 die set but is not of the split collet like the rifle factory crimp die.

The custom order parameters imply that a collet (rifle) type die could be had for the 480/475 as it fits within the parameters. Think I'll chk w/em in the a.m

Well, I did ask them to do a split collet type factory crimp diefor the 480/475L and was rejected as that is used for bottleneck cartridges. So, I tried again but this time for the carbide factory crimp die. Mailed the paper 14July and it (480Ruger CFCD) was sitting on my porch today (24 Jul) 10 calendar days ~ not bad. It wouldn't surprise me if it was in 'stock' from several previous special reqsts. Hope to have the lube/sizer kit soon.