Lee Collet-crimp bushing for .44 Colt?

[Tinker Pearce]

Lee makes a collet-crimp die for .44 Magnum. Several people have shortened Lee's .357 CC die for .38 Special. I wonder if anyone has tried this with the .44 Magnum die for .44 Colt with Heel-base bullets? Or for that matter modifying the .357 die for .38 Colt? It's only $12.95 from Midway, so I am tempted to give it a whirl...

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings My Dear Tinker -

I believe you are correct

over here
http://1858remington.com/discuss/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8675.0;attach=5266

is a treatise by AntiqueSled Man showing how he did it using .44 special dies and 

"a 44-40 Lee Factory Crimp Die. I removed the collet, shortened the die body & built a new collet for the 44 Colt.
Not to be mistaken with the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die which is used for handgun cartridges, this is the
Collet Style used for rifle cartridges. This seems to be quite a hot topic on many of the forums, so I decided
to show the difference."
 


If you have not seen it, our very own "Hoof Hearted" put up a tutorial here
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=41633.0

and his web page for products is over here
http://www.cartridgeconversion.com/Heel_Base.php

Hopefully he will chime in, or you can PM or email him.

yhs
prof marvel

[pony express]

As the Professor has said, you can get one of .38 from Hoof Hearted, or get the same die from the maker, Bernie at Old West Bullet Molds. I have one for .38, it has an adjustable shell holder, so it can crimp Heel Base Bullets in any length .38 case. I don't know if he makes one for the .44s, though.

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[Professor Marvel]

Just make certain as AntiqueSled Man pointed lout in his treatise that you get the right collect crimper -
it apperas the pistol versions are a different animal and will not produce a harmonious outcome

yhs
prof marvel