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Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: netcoyote on March 12, 2012, 11:15:42 AM

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Title: Crimping Hornady FTX bullets
Post by: netcoyote on March 12, 2012, 11:15:42 AM

I'm building up loads for my Marlin 444P and want to try the Hornady FTX 265 gr bullet. I've got a few cartridges loaded and had to get a special seating stem for my RCBS seating die. Now I realize that I am going to have to get some specialized crimp die. My Lee Factory Crimp Die can't be adjusted to work since it is designed for standard length cases and these cases had to be trimmed shorter to accommodate the longer ogive on the FTX bullet. So now I'm committed with this hardware but I need to figure out this crimp problem since this is required for this tube feed rifle.

Anybody ever get into this? Looks like I may have to order a custom crimp die from Lee, but I was wondering if there is another solution. Any ideas?

Title: Re: Crimping Hornady FTX bullets
Post by: wraithen on April 01, 2012, 09:12:07 AM

tagged.

Title: Re: Crimping Hornady FTX bullets
Post by: wraithen on April 08, 2012, 08:01:01 AM

After reloading my own ftx's my only advice is not to crimp. I can't get those things to sit with the cannelure low enough anyway. I'm about .005" from it so I'm not going to bother with crimping.

Title: Re: Crimping Hornady FTX bullets
Post by: netcoyote on April 08, 2012, 08:18:25 AM

I'm using these in a tube feed magazine; a Marlin 444P. Don't think I want to load rounds in the tube that aren't crimped. I think my only option at this point is to order a custom Lee crimp die ($25) or modify my standard  444 Lee crimp die. I don't want to ruin my standard die so I'll keep that and someday order the Lee custom. Just another expense that I hadn't planned on.

Quote

I'm about .005" from it so I'm not going to bother with crimping.

According to Lee, you don't have to be in the cannelure to use the factory crimp die.

What caliber are you loading for?

Title: Re: Crimping Hornady FTX bullets
Post by: wraithen on April 08, 2012, 08:33:10 AM

30-30. Less kick than you're dealing with. I'm currently working up loads so I'll keep a close eye on the ones in the mag and see if they move. I'm more perturbed that the lee dies won't seat the bullet lower for me than anything else. They will still chamber but I'm over the manuals coal by a bit and I wanted to start at book coal. Let me know how the crimp die works out for you. I may have to get one myself if my gun loosens bullets too much.