What did you do at your reloading bench today?

[CT_Shooter]

I crimp with the Lee FCD that came in the four die set, so I never had to deal with crimping with the seating. In an earlier post, I read that you bought the Lee three die set. Unless it is different for your caliber (and I'm not misunderstanding the instructions) you shouldn't need a "round to copy" in order to set the crimping die. Here are the instructions that came with my die set. I hope it helps you get back to the bench!

Raise the ram to the top of its stroke and hold. Screw the bullet
seating die in until it touches the shell holder, then back it out
three full turns. Lightly finger tighten the lock ring. Bullet depth
is adjusted by screwing the adjusting screw in or out to suit. Bullets
should be seated deep enough to work through the gun’s action.
See maximum overall length on charge table. If a crimp is desired,
screw the die in slightly and test until the proper crimp is formed.
Cases must be trimmed to the same length to provide a uniform crimp.
Excessive crimp causes the bullet seater to deform soft nose bullets.
CAUTION: Seating bullets excessively deep will reduce the case capacity and
increase the pressure. It is extremely important that full wadcutter bullets be
used with light loads only. You can select these by their reduced velocity.

Today I bought bullets primers and powder. Then I tried to figure out how to adjust the expander die and the seater/crimper die. The expander die was fairly easy. When I looked at the instructions for the cimp/seater, I hit a snag. I don't have a round to copy to set the crimping die. I stopped right there.

[TMB]

Thanks CT_Shooter. My instructions require a round to copy. I want to get a FCD so I may wait until I do to continue.
I did find a YouTube video that showed how to adjust the seating die to crimp also. The dude went through about a dozen cases and crushed two or three. But I did get the general idea. I also can see where a turret press would be handy as he didn't have to keep switching threaded dies all the time. That video convinced me to get some Hornady locking rings.

[CT_Shooter]

Lee sells bushings for each die that eliminate the problem of switching dies. I use a single stage press and the bushings allow me set up the dies once and then quickly remove or insert them. Very helpful.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B001GG8ET ... 0DER&psc=1

Thanks CT_Shooter. My instructions require a round to copy. I want to get a FCD so I may wait until I do to continue.
I did find a YouTube video that showed how to adjust the seating die to crimp also. The dude went through about a dozen cases and crushed two or three. But I did get the general idea. I also can see where a turret press would be handy as he didn't have to keep switching threaded dies all the time. That video convinced me to get some Hornady locking rings.

[TMB]

Lee sells bushings for each die that eliminate the problem of switching dies. I use a single stage press and the bushings allow me set up the dies once and then quickly remove or insert them. Very helpful.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B001GG8ET ... 0DER&psc=1

I've seen these but for the life of me can't figure how they work. My dies thread directly into the top of the press and are somewhat snug. If I put them into those bushings won't the whole thing be too large to fit?

[fortyshooter]

Finished up loading various .357 Mag loads for the new Henry to come!

[CT_Shooter]

Well, that's a good question. If you look into the press, you'll see two sets of threads separated by an unthreaded space. One of them fits the bushing, the other fits the die. Ingenious. It makes swapping dies as simple a quick twist... in and out.

I've seen these but for the life of me can't figure how they work. My dies thread directly into the top of the press and are somewhat snug. If I put them into those bushings won't the whole thing be too large to fit?

[clovishound]

Remember the breech lock bushings only work on breech lock presses. If you have a standard threaded press it's not an option. ''

The turret presses don't use them as the die plates are quick change and you simply slip another plate with all the dies for another caliber into place. Caliber changes can be made in seconds, if you don't have to swap a powder measure from one plate to another.

[TMB]

Finished up loading various .357 Mag loads for the new Henry to come!

Nice! Maybe someday mine will look as good.

[Rifletom]

Thanks CT_Shooter. My instructions require a round to copy. I want to get a FCD so I may wait until I do to continue.
I did find a YouTube video that showed how to adjust the seating die to crimp also. The dude went through about a dozen cases and crushed two or three. But I did get the general idea. I also can see where a turret press would be handy as he didn't have to keep switching threaded dies all the time. That video convinced me to get some Hornady locking rings.

TMB, crimping CAN be done with the seater die as you noted. But, a simpler and ease of mind solution is the Lee FCD[Carbide]. Super easy to set up, will not crush cases. It simply makes the process easier. Been doing this for years.

[BigAl52]

Just got done loading 200 rounds of 40 S&W for the PC Carbine.