Recently while browsing Lee Precision's web site, I came across a die I had not seen previously. The description can be found at this link: 45 Colt (collet style) custom factory crimp die
(That web page is incorrectly titled "45 Colt Custom Carbide Factory Crimp Die" and the catalog lists the die on an index page misleadingly titled "Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Dies". There's no carbide on this die.)
Just in case the link is broken later, here's the full description of the die: "Non-cataloged custom factory crimp die in 45 Colt (Collet Style). This product is available for immediate shipment. This item is made to SAAMI specifications." Lee's SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) number for the die is 80337.
For about four years the 450B Reloading Forum has offered descriptions about how to modify a Lee 45-70 Collet-Type Factory Crimp Die and use it to apply a side crimp to reloaded 450B cartridges. From the Lee web description, this non-cataloged 45 Colt collet-type FCD seemed to resemble the modified 45-70 FCD. So I ordered one of the 45 Colt dies to find out.
When it arrived it was obvious that this Lee 45 Colt collet FCD very much resembles the 45-70 die as modified for use with the 450B. Here are a couple of photos that show the 45 Colt die along with my modified 45-70 FCD. (I described how I made the modifications a post on 13 Dec 2009 in this thread: The "modifying a Lee 45-70 factory crimp die" thread).
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- lee45-whole_labl.jpg (58.62 KiB) Viewed 20591 times
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- lee45-dis_lbl.jpg (65.03 KiB) Viewed 20591 times
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In the 45 Colt die, the collet stem is shorter and the die body is longer than on my modified 45-70 die.
The 45 Colt die could be converted readily to apply a side crimp to 450B reloads. The only modification needed is a reduction in the width of the internal ridge in the collet that contacts the case. Such a reduction is common with most conversions of the 45-70 die; without the reduction the crimp groove is too broad to be effective. Except for this needed modification, the 45 Colt die should be ready to go, not needing length changes required for the 45-70 die.
As with the modified 45-70 FCD, it will be necessary to use washer-type spacers between the shell holder and the die collet stem to adjust where the side crimp will be located on the cartridge. The spacer technique has been described in several threads on this forum.
It may be that the 45 Colt collet die will permit applying a heavier crimp to the 450B cartridge, because it is designed for a .452 bullet and a thinner case wall than the 45-70 crimp die. I'm not quite ready to modify my copy of the die to check whether this is so.
Lee has labelled this as a custom die, and because it's uncataloged it may not be usually available; perhaps the current listing is a one-time offering.
LEE 45 CALIBER CRIMP DIE SUMMARY
The Lee catalog lists several dies that have obvious possibilities as crimp dies for the 450B, applying either a taper crimp or side crimp. Here's an annotated listing of such Lee dies in 45 caliber. Some of the dies are known to be useful, and others show potential usefulness in reloading the 450B. Others are useless in my current opinion. The links below are active as of the time of posting.
#90785 Lee 45 ACP/45 Auto Rim/45 Schofield/455 Webley Mark 2/45 Win Mag Taper Crimp Die
(LINK to #90785 listing on Lee web site )
This is a steel die that applies a taper crimp. Like the Hornady taper crimp die, it has no moving parts. I described its possible usefulness for reloading the 450B in this thread: Notes about the Lee .45 Taper Crimp Die
#90786 Lee 45 Colt/454 Casull Taper Crimp Die
(LINK to #90786 listing on Lee web site)
Like the above, a steel die that applies a taper crimp. I have not yet seen or used one. As a guess, it may have a bore that is .001 larger in diameter than the above #90785, and so may be better adapted to use with .452 bullets in the 450B.
#80337 Lee 45 Colt (Collet Style) Custom Factory Crimp Die
(LINK to #80337 listing on Lee web site)
This is the uncataloged collet die described above in the photos and text.
#90864 Lee 45 ACP/45 Auto Rim/45 Schofield/45 Win Mag/45 GAP Carbide Factory Crimp Die
(LINK to #90864 listing on Lee web site)
This die seems useless for reloading the 450B. A description of the die and its problems is found in a sticky thread I started about two years ago: A Note on the Lee 45 Carbide Factory Crimp Die #90864
#90865 Lee 45 Colt/454 Casull/455 WEB MARK 2 Carbide Factory Crimp Die
(LINK to #90865 listing on Lee web site)
This is another die that seems useless for reloading the 450B. It's almost identical in construction and materials to the #90864 die immediately above.
In addition to the above dies sold separately, Lee's three- and four-die sets include a bullet seating die that can apply a crimp to the seated bullet. Lee currently makes such die sets for nine different cartridges taking .451 and .452 bullets:
- 45 ACP
- 45 Auto Rim
- 45 GAP
- 45 Winchester Magnum
- 45 Colt
- 45 Schofield
- 454 Casull
- 455 Webley Mark II
- 460 S&W Mag
The above may be unclear or muddled. Please ask questions, and I'll try to respond helpfully.
--Bob
