Author Topic: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?  (Read 5252 times)

Offline Little Dalton

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Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« on: January 21, 2015, 08:49:08 PM »
I'm looking to set up my classic turret (4-holer) for BP-only .44WCF. I'm getting a standard set of lee dies, so that I have the correct powder-thru/expander die to work with Lee's powder measure. I'm trying to decide what to get for the fourth die. Here are the factors:

I'm cheap. Or just poor, whichever way you wanna look at it. ;D

I want volume loading.

I will normally be stuffing in as much BP as I can get away with.

I cast a lot of fairly soft boolits.

I will not be using a drop tube or any other hand-settling method.


Options:

1. Lee Factory Crimp Die. Why or why not?

2. Powder Compressing Die.

Others?


My thoughts:

While loading .45 colt, I just compressed the HB with the boolit. This resulted in deformation of the soft boolits at first. So I made a new seating plug that matched the nose profile of the boolit. This greatly reduced deformation, if not eliminating it altogether. I would do this for the .44 seating die if I went for the FCD. Still limitations on how much compression you can get without boogering a soft boolit.

Are there other/better options? What are y'all's thoughts?

Jordan Goodwin, Blacksmith

Offline wildman1

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2015, 06:01:37 AM »
I would go with the factory crimp die because a regular crimp die in 44/40 is case length sensitive as far as getting a good crimp without getting a few cases crumpled. wM1
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Offline cpt dan blodgett

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2015, 08:26:59 AM »
Unless you are planning to seriously compress the powder, which could result in bulged cases and chambering difficulties, you probably will not need a powder compressing die. 

With 1-16 to 1-8 compression you probably will not deform the bullets much.

The lee factory crimp die for the 44-40 does not operate like the LFC dies work on straight walled pistol cases.  It only crimps the neck and does not resize (for lack of better term) the case itself.
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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #3 on: Today at 01:23:47 AM »

Offline Little Dalton

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2015, 11:14:28 AM »
thanks guys.



The lee factory crimp die for the 44-40 does not operate like the LFC dies work on straight walled pistol cases.  It only crimps the neck and does not resize (for lack of better term) the case itself.

I had heard that somewhere else, now that you say it. I like the idea of being able to make sure the round doesn't exceed max tolerances when it leaves the last die. is there another collet-type crimping die out there for the .44/40 that does have that feature?
Jordan Goodwin, Blacksmith

Offline cheatin charlie

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2015, 06:54:00 AM »
There is no such die because this is a bottle neck case.  I compress the powder maybe 1/16" with the bullet and use the Lee
factory crimp die.  Then check all the rounds thru this gage. http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25580/catid/3/EGW_Chamber_Checkers
Been doing it for years for my cowboy loads.  Never a problem to feed.

Offline jimbobborg

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2015, 11:14:48 AM »
Are you loading only 200gr bullets?  I ask this as I load both 200 and 165gr bullets in my 44-40 and they both have different OAL.  I'm using a Lee 4-hole turret press, too, and I'm going to snag another seating/crimp die from RCBS so I don't have to keep changing the seating depth on my seating die.

Offline cheatin charlie

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2015, 01:40:50 PM »
Yes I am just loading 200 g big lube bullets that I cast.  Be aware that different brands of brass are different length and that is why
I went to the Lee factory crimp die.  I do not have bulged cases below the crimp when I have some long brass.

Offline Rowdy Fulcher

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2015, 10:22:55 PM »
Howdy
The factory crimp die ,money well spent .

Offline Cliff Fendley

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2015, 10:31:27 AM »
ditto on the LFC die.
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Offline Cliff Fendley

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2015, 10:33:26 AM »
With the Big Lube Mav 44 bullets I compress the powder about an 1/8 inch with the bullet on the third stage. Then use the LFC die on the forth stage.
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Offline Little Dalton

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Re: Lee Classic Turret .44WCF die setup for BP?
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2015, 11:20:44 AM »
Thanks everyone. Lee FCD it is. I will use my revolver's cylinder as a gauge to check finished rounds with.
Jordan Goodwin, Blacksmith

 

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