45 ACP Crimp with Lee Dies

Need help with the crimp on a 45 ACP 180 gr Lead SWC FB bullet with brass that has .010 to .011 thick walls. I am reloading with a Lee Turret press and Lee 4 piece die set. When the shell case is expanded for the bullet to fit inside of it, the diameter of the cartridge is .452 plus the shell wall thickness of .022 (2 x .011) for a total of .474 with no additional flair.   

My question is how much of a crimp should I use, and which die should I use to crimp it. Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die or the Lee Bullet Seat and Feed Die.

One reason that I ask is because I am told by Lee Tech Support that the carbide piece in the Carbide Factory Crimp Die has a diameter of .471 to .472. That means that the carbide piece will swage down the bullet and case (total of .474) even before they reach the insert used for crimping inside Carbide Factory Crimp Die.  Since I don't want to swage the bullet smaller should I use the Seating die to make the crimp. 

There must be something I am missing of don't understand correctly. 

Thanks

Remove the resizing portion of the FCD. Use just the crimp portion.

Unless I'm missing something again.....the resizing portion of the Lee factory crimp die is a carbide ring pressed into the mouth of the die.
So it may be difficult to remove without special tooling or destroying the die,
If I was worried about the resizing portion of the lfc die I would just trade or sell for a conventional crimp die.

Hmmmm.. maybe true. In that case I'd just get another crimping die.
Took another look. I got another seating die, use one for seating, the other for crimping.

On the other paw...I'm more concerned about 100% reliability at this point.  The "only" thing holding me back is a lack of dedication plus the attention span of a squirrel.

Hmm, You didn't ask the right question. Or I guess I should say there is a third choice. Lee makes a taper crimp die that would be the one I would use. It is neither one of the two you listed. I crimp them enough I can see a very visible crimp line.

Die.    http://www.ebay.com/itm/90785-LEE-TAPER-CRIMP-DIE-45-ACP-45-WINCHESTER-MAGNUM-45-AUTO-RIM-/321673936828?epid=671123568&hash=item4ae542bfbc:g:lXUAAOSwuLZY38Fw

My crimp.

I've got the Lyman 4 die set.   Comes with a separate taper crimp die.

Don

All rounds must pass the "plunk" test. When dropped into a vertical barrel they should fully chamber and make the " plunk" sound :-)
I use a Lee FC die for jacketed bullets and an RCBS taper crimp die for swaged or cast bullets. Also use a .456" expander plug for non jacketed  bullets. Works for me.

I think the Lee FCD is definitely the way to go.  I've been using them for years and I'm very happy with them.  The crimper floats so case length isn't critical, and the taper is nice and smooth.  Adjust the crimp to .468 and your ammo should function just fine. 

I have found with Lee dies that the sizer reduces case diameter just a bit more than the FCD. The FCD is meant to ensure your ammo will meet factory specs.  So if your bullet gets sized down a hair in the FCD, it's usually not enough to make any significant difference.  My loads will shoot sub 2" @ 50 yd.

Thanks to all for the information. There is a lot to consider and all the additional information and your perspective helps. I will try adjusting the crimp down to .468 with and without using the FCD and see what kind of a difference I get with groups.