I'm ignorant and have question

[Pitmaster]

I want to load some .44 mag rounds and have Mav Dutchman .44 bullets with black powder. I just noticed I don't have a factory crimp die with the Lee Carbide die set. Is it necessary to crimp the bullets? Do I need to adjust the seating die if I don't. I'm loading on an LCT but if I have to I could set up my Dillon 650 and use that to crimp if necessary. I would prefer not to though. I have some factory BP rounds to get me by tomorrow.

Thanks,

[Noz]

The bullet seater-crimp die is sufficient.  You can put a crushing roll crimp on a 44 mag case with the provided dies.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I cannot speak for the specific dies you are using, but most die sets come with a combination seating/crimp die. It is designed to both seat the bullet and crimp the case in one step. Most folks who use the Factory Crimp Die back the die out of the press enough that the case never contacts the constriction in the die that forms the crimp, they just screw in the seating plug enough to seat their bullet where they want it, and move on to the Factory Crimp Die for crimping. But properly set up, a standard seating/crimp die will form a crimp on the brass just as the bullet reaches its final position in the case.

Yes, you should crimp your 44 Mag BP loads. See if you can find the instructions that came with your die set, they should be able to take you through the proper setup of a seating/crimp die.

[Boomboom]

You can seat an crimp in one step by adjusting the die body OR seat in one step an crimp in another by backing the seating stem off.

I prefer the two step (i can foxtrot and tango too) approach cause you're not pushing the bullet in the case while yer crimpin is happening, my opinion two step makes better ammo cause you're isolating the seperate functions.

Take empty case, put in shell holder, back your seating stem way off, loosen the ring on the die, back it off, then with case all the way up into die, screw the die in till you get reistance (Lets you know ya hit the crimping shoulder in die) lift the press handle, turn die  1/2 turn more, lock in place with die ring, should be pretty darn close to what you need.

Any questions jus pm me, happy to help!

Boom

[Boomboom]

HI Driftwood, ya beat me to the post!

[Dick Dastardly]

I agree with you pards, mostly.  Because I load a mixed lot of 44 Mag brass with Mav Dutchman bullets over Holy Black, I like to finish them with the LEE Factory Crimp Die.  The small differences in case length I get make it easier to get a snug crimp that way.  I do it on a separate single stage press before I box and label the ammo.

DD-DLoS

[Pitmaster]

Thanks for the help. The rounds went BOOM and the SMOKE flowed. I'm alive and uninjured but still a tad chilled from shooting a match this A.M. 2/7 of the shooters were shooting the Holy Black today. There should be a couple of videos on You Tube soon.

The rounds I loaded seemed to get caught while loading into the magazine. No chambering problems. I'm guessing I need to crimp a little more. I wish my backyard was a little more isolated so I can do a little pre-test experimentation. The Pearl Lube worked fine.