Which dies do you use and why? How do you make sure your crimp is tight enough?

RJ,

I use RCBS that I may have picked up at FA. The deal is that the crimp is only to supplement VERY GOOD neck tension. With my RCBS dies when I load big cast bullets, I can almost see the wrinkles from the grease groove. I can definatley see the bottom of the bullet in the case. I flare only enough to get the bullet started and not shave lead when I seat, and I always seat and crimp as two steps. And I generally do not do a super mondo two handed press stroke crimp.

Your neck tension and crimp is good when the last round in the cylinder that has had the recoil from all the rest does not move appreciably.

Craig

+1 on the above. I do it the same with RCBS dies.

I use Redding, RCBS, Hornaday and LEE, they all do fine except I hate the lock nuts on the LEE's. Basicly they are all quality dies it's more in how you do your part that really makes the difference. I do some of my big bore stuff with the crimp as a separate step and others I do it with the seating die. It's definitely easier starting out to do it separately with a crimp die but anymore I don't have any difference in appearance or performance of my crimps from either method.

I use all Lee dies and find them satisfactory. There have been no problems with the .454 and the ammunition is accurate.

RCBS. I once read use a bathroom scale and push the bullet on the spot where you stand and if you can do this till 30 pounds won't pull? I always seat and crimp in two seperate steps.
Steve

I too use RCBS dies but I have also purchased a Redding profile crimp die and I also have the Redding competition seater for my 44 and 454. The comp die makes it really easy to fine tune the seating depth and allows me to change bullets easily.

Used Lees ever since they came out for 3 different .454s. 0 problems with accuracy or crimping. Very reasonable cost.