AMP Crimp Dies
Printed From: AMT Guns information
Category: Auto Mag Pistol
Forum Name: Pet loads
Forum Description: Shooters loads and results.
URL: http://www.amtguns.info/forum_posts.asp?TID=884
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 11:29pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: AMP Crimp Dies
Posted By: schwammy
Subject: AMP Crimp Dies
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2011 at 12:36am
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While I expect there to be naysayers when I say Lee, I've found their Factory Crimp Dies to work extremely well. My reloading bench is a mix and match of equipment from a variety of manufacturers; I use what works best for me. I've had a positive experience and wanted to share for anyone who might be interested... For kicks I went to Lee's site and looked up custom crimp dies. At $30 and $35 for the dies I figured I'd give them a try. Three weeks after stamping the envelope I received dies for .357 AMP and .44 AMP. I tried out a variety of crimps from moderate to very heavy and all cycled and performed extremely well. I like a lot of crimp when using 296/110 and found it easy to crush the bottleneck on the .357 if I went too far - especially on Starline brass. With these dies I could apply as much crimp as I wanted on the .357 without deforming the case. The pic below is with the dies set to the best groups for each, though as accurate as the Auto Mag's are it was hard to choose  (Bullets are 158gr and 240gr Hornady XTP; cases trimmed to 1.298"; 1.6" OAL)  |
Replies:
Posted By: jw4570
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2011 at 12:27am
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There was no setup fee? Wondering what we could do if we bought say 5-10 of each? Looks pretty good....
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Posted By: schwammy
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2011 at 2:25am
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No setup fee on the crimp dies. Don't know what they would do on a batch. I know some of my other forums do group buys to get deals on custom services. If there is enough interest it sure wouldn't hurt to ask. I know they don't charge setup fees other than on the first for die sets and waive it at 25 sets. That could/would be a huge savings if/when Brian is producing barrels in 41 JMP and/or we have a 40 KMP revival. The .44 was for kicks since I have an RCBS crimp die and it is not a bottleneck. It doesn't hurt that it works great The .357 I consider to be a true asset to my reloading bench.
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Posted By: Mohillbilly
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2012 at 6:45pm
| schwammy Those look real good I'd like to get .357 , .41 , .44 , and the 45 Winmag . |
Posted By: omie01
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2012 at 10:47pm
| Let me know if you guys do a batch buy, I'll get in on it too! |
Posted By: jw4570
Date Posted: 29 Feb 2012 at 3:31am
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schwammy, What did you include in the envelope? A couple of dummy rounds? Thanks, Jason
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Posted By: Pontiaker
Date Posted: 12 May 2012 at 3:28am
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I want to buy some of these too, do you have to give them any info? Will check out the site now. Thanks! Matt |
Posted By: wbautomag
Date Posted: 12 May 2012 at 11:40am
I ordered a set of these in .44 & .357 about 10 weeks ago have not got them yet called them wednesday again and they said they are runing about 8 weeks behind and said they are just now starting on my order date.
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Posted By: Pontiaker
Date Posted: 13 May 2012 at 12:46am
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So i was ready to buy a pair of these seat dies but had an idea, I trimmed down one of my seat dies, just took off like a 1/16 th of an inch and it worked perfect! I can get my 44 crip as tight as I want it now. Matt |
Posted By: wbautomag
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2012 at 12:03am
| Man I ordered these Lee Factory Crimp dies back on March 7 and finally got them today and Iam ready to see how good they work. |
Posted By: AutoMagyar
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2012 at 11:29pm
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Please excuse an AMP newbie's ignorance here, but I was wondering if these Lee factory crimp dies are more desireable than the "taper crimp" dies you get with the standard RCBS 4-die set for the .44 AMP (RCBS #19226), which I already have. Is there a major difference in the way they crimp the case? Not having used my .44 AMP die set yet (as I'm just acquiring the .44 AMP and its accessories, not taken delivery yet), I just wanted to know if there was a problem with taper crimping, as opposed to "factory crimping", which I'm assuming is the typical shorter, more abrupt radiused end crimp you see on a lot of commercial ammo(?). I have reloaded other calibers with my other dies, so I know the general routine. Are you guys buying these factory crimp dies just because of crimp die availability, or pricing, in general, or is it due to a specific advantage of this "factory crimp" type die? If it would do a better job than my RCBS taper crimp die, I'd consider adding one to my collection, but don't know of I'd really need to bother. ------------- "Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?" |
Posted By: Travis Morgan
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2013 at 11:38pm
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Good day gentlemen. This is my first posting here so excuse me for just diving right in. I have a question regarding the use of taper crimping for the .44 cases. I am working up a load using Starline brass, Winchester Silver Tip WB44ST210 - 210 grain hollow points, with H110 (so far I can get 22.5 grains to reliably function and lock back on last shot). The cannalure is pretty much buried (you can just see the very last edge) when seated to OAL @ 1.610". I am using a newer RCBS 44 AMP carbide die set that has the taper crimp capability but have not lowered it beyond just touching - with no taper taking effect. The reason I have not used the taper is because, to my understanding, the .44 AMP cartridge is supposed to use the shoulder of the case mouth to seat against the lip inside of the chamber and to do this it is supposed to be @ a diameter of .460" and that is what these rounds mic out to once the bullet is seated. I would love to use the taper crimp feature, but would I be running the risk of having the cartridge travel too far forward? So far the groupings haven't been all that spectacular, could it be because I am not using the crimp or haven't found the 'sweet spot' for grains of powder? I sent off three bullets to RCBS and had them make a custom bullet plug for the die, matched to these Silver Tip bullets so that they now sit nice and square when seated (used a dial indicator and the farthest out (tipped) from rim to rim of the hollow point cavity is no more than .004 out) I seen this picture in an earlier post; it shows the chamber in relation to the cartridge, but unfortunately when you zoom in, the case mouth/chamber contact area is still blurry:  |
Posted By: automagluvr
Date Posted: 16 May 2016 at 6:49pm
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Yes, Lee has the die. Hard to find. They told me 1 month wait through mail order. |
Posted By: John Nada
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2021 at 12:47am
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So, some says Taper crimp is not needed, other says it is mandatory. Now, what about the Lee factory crimp? Should I get one of them (taper or Lee factory)? It's very confusing (like everything related to Auto Mag  ) |