Lee Factory Crimp Die, correct location of crimp

[Tac-O]

I haven't been able to find this information anywhere, so I thought I'd post it here while I wait for a response from Lee's customer service.

I don't want to start an argument or debate on whether or not to crimp bottleneck rifle rounds, because there are plenty of those elsewhere on this forum and that's not the topic here, so if that's what your response is going to be, post it in one of the other threads where it already exists.

So! Here's my dilemma. I have a .30-06 and a 7mm-08. I just got the 7mm for my wife recently and so haven't reloaded for it that much yet. I have the same set of dies for both, the Lee Pacesetter dies that include the factory crimp die. I noticed that with the '06 the crimp is placed at the very tip top of the case neck, so that all it seems to do is put a bevel on the mouth edge. With the 7mm FCD, it places the crimp slightly lower on the neck so that the petals of the collet are clearly visible and it looks much more like a factory crimp, similar to what you would see on a box of Winchester power point cartridges. I trim my brass every time I prep, so the case length is consistent. I think I know the answer to this, because one of them looks like a factory crimp and the other doesn't. But, I think it's also possible that Lee may have designed it to where the crimp is at the very top of the neck. I have seen pictures of other peoples' FCD crimped rifle rounds that look like my '06 crimps.

Has anyone had any experiences like this and if so, what did you do about it? Did it seem to affect accuracy one way or the other?

 

[coop2564]

Mine crimp at very top. I have several calibers and all are very top.

 

[ButterBean]

I have FCD for everything I load and the crimp height varies, I would sayit's nothing to worry about but if it concens you ask 7STW he just bought a FCD for his 7-08, also i crimp, lower the round and spin it and crimp again to eliminate the petals although they don't hurt anything,

 

[Tac-O]

I stole these pictures off the internet for reference.

I would say my '06 looks like the middle picture, even if I go all the way to max crimp.

my 7mm looks more like one of these

 

[ButterBean]

I stole these pictures off the internet for reference.

I would say my '06 looks like the middle picture, even if I go all the way to max crimp.

View attachment 181165

my 7mm looks more like one of these
View attachment 181169

Its good to go

 

[Tac-O]

I have FCD for everything I load and the crimp height varies, I would sayit's nothing to worry about but if it concens you ask 7STW he just bought a FCD for his 7-08, also i crimp, lower the round and spin it and crimp again to eliminate the petals although they don't hurt anything,

I guess my concern is to do with consistency. If it's hitting right on the edge of the case for my '06, it might be much less consistent or possibly cause problems.

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

my 7mm looks more like one of these
View attachment 181169

Shot in the dark but, are the cases trimmed to proper length?

 

[ButterBean]

The 30-06 FCD is set to work wit a cannelure is why its so high, The 270 FCD is the same way

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

The 30-06 FCD is set to work wit a cannelure is why its so high, The 270 FCD is the same way

Not just the 30-06 crimp die though. I have the lee crimp dies for almost everything I reload for, that they offer at least. None of mine hit below the neck like he pictured, and I have the same 7-08 crimper. Something seems off...

Edit - another thought is if it's over crimped, it may leave marks farther down like that. Thinking back to when I first got one and trying to figure out how to get a consistent crimp every time and what too much of a crimp looked lit outside of something obvious like denting the bullet. Seem to recall it leaving marks like that when it's really getting cranked down and overly crimped.

 

[ButterBean]

Not just the 30-06 crimp die though. I have the lee crimp dies for almost everything I reload for, that they offer at least. None of mine hit below the neck like he pictured, and I have the same 7-08 crimper. Something seems off...

Edit - another thought is if it's over crimped, it may leave marks farther down like that. Thinking back to when I first got one and trying to figure out how to get a consistent crimp every time and what too much of a crimp looked lit outside of something obvious like denting the bullet. Seem to recall it leaving marks like that when it's really getting cranked down and overly crimped.

It very well could be, my 22-50 and 243 crimps low like that,and I agree it's a fairly heavy crimp

 

[ButterBean]

7STW is on the way

 

[7stw]

As Butterbean said, I just got one for my 7-08. Now, I also use the Lee trim gauge, and it keeps the necks in check, and the neck length definitely affects the crimp. I can tell you, that when you find your setting, the difference on paper, and chronograph are undeniable. Mine crimps to the very top of the brass, and I have it set so it barely leaves the collet marks into it. You have stated that your trim length is in check. It all has to do with your initial set up, and I tend to use the provided shell holder, each and every time, as any differences in step height.
Hope this is of help. Love the FCD, and any of the Lee dies for that matter.

 

[ButterBean]

As Butterbean said, I just got one for my 7-08. Now, I also use the Lee trim gauge, and it keeps the necks in check, and the neck length definitely affects the crimp. I can tell you, that when you find your setting, the difference on paper, and chronograph are undeniable. Mine crimps to the very top of the brass, and I have it set so it barely leaves the collet marks into it. You have stated that your trim length is in check. It all has to do with your initial set up, and I tend to use the provided shell holder, each and every time, as any differences in step height.
Hope this is of help. Love the FCD, and any of the Lee dies for that matter.

I didn't even think about the shell holder

 

[7stw]

I stole these pictures off the internet for reference.

I would say my '06 looks like the middle picture, even if I go all the way to max crimp.

View attachment 181165

my 7mm looks more like one of these
View attachment 181169

Ryan, I'll have to say that my crimps, end up looking like the factory crimp, to the right. On another caliber I load for, the band seems to be a little wider, there again, I think it depends on trim length, at time of crimp. If the trim length is slightly above what it was, initially, but in spec, the band will be wider.
But all of mine are all the way to the top. If your trim length is spot on, and crimp location, is other than top, you may need to call Lee. Their customer service is awesome!