Over the average case length that you set the die for, NOT over the max allowable. THAT never happens.
I have never, ever seen a piece of .45 ACP brass anywhere near max length. If 98% are around
one length, you set the step type crimp for that, it will seriously over crimp the occasional case
which is .010 or more longer.
Yes, excellent catch, Ian. Old type separate TC die. Old style RCBS TC dies from 70s and 80s did
it right, somewhere along the line they change to a long taper, like 1" long which will just
remove a bit of the expansion flare. You want a die with a TC taper over about 1/8-3.16 of
an inch when you look into it. If you see no particular step, just a long smooth, constant
taper - that is wrong. The very, very long taper type dies cannot provide the proper short
taper crimp you need.
Ian and I went through this over time, and I had several old TC dies in stock, just said - taper crimp,
and Ian kept saying it was impossible to get a TC to .465, can't be done, which I KNEW was not true....
with old style TC dies. New dies are a mess, IMO for .45 ACP. The type of TC die that Lee was supplying
a year or two ago was correct.
Glad Ian jumped it, hate to repeat that mess of miscommunication. If you find an old RCBS die on
eBay in the old style green plastic box, with the little flip over toggle/latch it is likely correct.
The Lee #: 90785 is likely correct, although the die makers keep changing designs, so not 100% certain.
In any case, .467 is .003 tighter than straight case, and I prefer .004 to .005 tighter. Just don't stop at
"just straighten out the flare" as recommended by many sources. It does NOT provide most reliable
ammo. Right, Ian?
Bill