44 mag crimping

[ccoker]

I use lee dies
the bullet seater puts a crimp on it and it seems to hold the bullet firmly in the cannulure.

do I need to run the rounds through the Lee FCD as well?

I have been and the groups are good, just curious to get more info

[stimpylu32]

ccoker

If your getting a good solid roll crimp with the seating die there is no reason you need to use the FC die , alot of guys use the FC die so we don't have to readjust the seating stem to crimp when doing the seat & crimp in two diffrent steps , myself I just seat and crimp at the same time . 

stimpy

[Savage]

I seat and crimp as separate operations. All my reloading these days is done on a turret press or a progressive, so it works well for me. If I were loading for a revolver, and using a single stage press, I'd most likely seat and crimp in one operation, as I did for 30 yrs or so before the LFCD. Crimping as a separate operation with the LFCD insures my loaded rds will chamber using mixed range brass. I use it on everything I load, including revolver ammo. As your ammo is working for you, I wouldn't change anything.
Savage

[cwlongshot]

I agree, it works its fine.

 I too do it both ways. Lite to moderate crimping is usually done at one operation. somethings this is problematic and then I just back out the die and do the crimping last. For the heavy crimps I like on my magnums, I do the crimping after all bullets are seated.

Case length uniformity is critical for good consistant crimps. Straight cases hold OAL's very well and grow slower as the expander ball in most is non existant. BUT, with heavy loads they will grow, so keep an eye out.

 As I keep suggesting, make up dummy rounds for each bullet you load and throw them in the die box. That way you can get more consistant loads from your bench.

CW

CW

[AtlLaw]

I use lee dies... the bullet seater puts a crimp on it... do I need to run the rounds through the Lee FCD as well?

I use Lee dies for my 44 Mag as well and as much as I like the LFCD I just crimp when I seat the bullet as you do.  I think doing both may be counter prodictive.   

BTW CC, I bought a Ruger SBH Bisley Hunter!     Can't wait to try it out!

[Graybeard]

Goodie, goody, goody. Now when that dang Ruger starts giving you trouble I can say "I told ya so, ya should've bought an FA83 lak I told ya too". 

I can see almost as much fun coming as when you bought that Taurus. 

[AtlLaw]

Bill, my dear old friend... I'm glad I can bring such joy into your life... 

But IF something goes wrong with the Ruger, I hope their CS is better then Taurus's...    My Tracker is still siting there, unused for want of a screw... sounds like my love life... 

[ccoker]

they fixed mine within a week and overnighted it back, all free
they replaced the parts I lost

I have zero complaints about their service

[Lloyd Smale]

unless a crimp die is not available i use them for all handgun ammo and allways crimp in a differnt stage then seating. Most of the time if you dont you will deform the bullet somewhat. does it matter. I dont know. If i cant buy a factory crimp die i buy a second seating die and take the stem out of it and use it to crimp. You dont want to double crimp and you can actually make the crimp less effective by doing it.

[Graybeard]

Bill, my dear old friend... I'm glad I can bring such joy into your life... 

But IF something goes wrong with the Ruger, I hope their CS is better then Taurus's...    My Tracker is still siting there, unused for want of a screw... sounds like my love life... 

I believe you can safely count on that Richard. Ruger does have good customer service. I don't particularly like their products but I do rate their customer service as excellent.