Yesterday when I started this thread I hadn't had my first cup of coffee.
So I didn't read the bulls eye forum thread thoroughly
My son has a set of .45 colt dies so we may try this for a tighter case to chamber fit.
I wrote in an earlier thread that I fire form my .38 .357, and .44 mag cases for our 1894 Marlin lever guns. Then I resize only the case section that the bullet goes into. IMHO the tight chamber fit added to my accuracy
Here's what the the bulls eye o.p.wrote
Re: Lee Factory Crimp Die Sticking
Post by estuck on 12/30/2017, 11:29 pm
The Uniquetek is their billet toolhead that has two small sockethead screws to lock the toolhead in place. My press is the Dillon 550. The expander/sizing die is Dillon in .45 long colt. I'm wondering now if that is the problem. There is no doubt the sticking is with the crimping die, all other stations are smooth. May try the 45 acp sizing die to see if it makes a difference.
Here's one of the replys
Re: Lee Factory Crimp Die Sticking
by SmokinNJokin on 1/7/2018, 11:53 am
Jack H wrote:I tried the Lee FC die for a while. No more.
The crimp part inside shreds the case mouth. Poor machining IMO
And I see no need to resize the round.
(and I broke the carbide on one using it as a push through)
+1 my experience exactly with the LEE FCD. It re-sizes brass down to minimum spec. Much smaller than needed for a match .45, in the name of 'reliability' (this is a band-aid for using wildly varying brass in a bunch of different guns and making sure it will always chamber and go bang. Also geared toward bulge-busting for unsupported chambers like glock and others). There is just no need for it in a 1911 bullseye gun.
Keep sizing with the .45 colt die though. If sized brass fits in the chamber of your pistol with no resistance, it is not a problem. The lee FCD is the problem, it is re-sizing your brass down to minimum spec, much smaller than needed. Go back to your dillon crimp die, that will solve the problem guranteed.
Using a .45 colt sizing die, .45 colt expander, .45 acp seating die, and .45 acp crimp die, my press runs smooth as butter and I haven't seen a SINGLE lead or brass shaving in a long, long time.