Same here, I haven't crimped anything in standard rifle rounds, not that I wouldn't if I had the LEE FCD's for those cartridges. I really like that LEE FCD and it works excellent in the 30-30, 35 Rem, 45-70 and 44RM's I use. I have thought about trying it on a few others, but just haven't seen the need just yet. After pulling a few bullets, I think there is plenty of neck tension in order to keep the bullets in place. Scotty
I'll be odd man out here. I do use the Lee Factory Crimp Die on a number of cartridges. It has not hurt anything, and I believe it has served me well to standardise tension. I do not put a heavy crimp on non-cannelured bullets, however.
Yup, luv the lee fcd , use it in just about everything I load up except the ttsx bullets witch I give a slight roll crimp. Looking forward to them selling one for the 257 bee, had one custom built for me , was not impressed. Warning to all their, custom shop sucks, sent lots of stuff back, very poor workmanship yet anything straight from factory is great . Never again from their shop ever!!! :x
I use the Lee factory crimp die in most all my old military rifles that I collect and shoot. Most have looooooooog throats and I have found that with using the LFCD I get improved accuracy. My conclusion is it holds the bullet in the case just long enough to get the pressure up and start a good burn on the powder before the bullet leaves the case much like loading a bullet up close to shorter throat rifles where the bullet hits the lands before leaving the case neck and is retarded a moment until the pressure builds. I have used them on many make cup and core bullets even the match grade Sierra and Nosler and in every case except the 6.5X55 Swede the accuracy of all have improved greatly. I could tell no difference in those crimped and non crimped with the 6.5X55 Swede Mauser 96 which is just plain down right accurate with about anything you put in them. One thing I learned and will pass on is when trimming your cases leave them 5 thousands longer than the trim to length. This will give you enough case to get a good crimp on. If you trim them to the trim to length you don't have much if any case to get a bite on. I normally load my OAL so it will work through the magazine and them crimp with the LFCD and go shoot X's.
A couple bullets i have crimped that fit your question. 300 win mag with 180gr Etips,180gr AccuBond. Both without grooves. Both have shown improvement in consistancy with crimps. Both get serious tip flatening in the magazine. Both loads are a compressed powder load. both loads are long range hunting loads. both loads get about 4 uses out of new brass.
I've used them on a couple of lever action, tube feed calibers. The 307 in particular because they never made Leverevolution ammo or bullets for it and I had to crimp the bullets out longer than the 30-30 LE bullets canelure would allow. Worked great. Very accurate also.
Greg