Lee Factory Crimp Die

[Floppy_D]

I guess I'm in the minority, and there are definitely some folks here with more years reloading than I have years walking, but I like the FCD in 9mm, 40sw, 223 (out of an AR), and 44mag. It isn't for every application, but I sure like it. Where rcmodel's arguement makes sense (as do most of his arguements, since he knows what he's talking about) I haven't seen any leading caused by the FCD. I'm sure you can get by without them, as I have before I owned them, but I likey.

 

[The Bushmaster]

You are not the minority here (no matter what Walkalong says)...I use the Lee FCD for .30-30 and .38 special. They tend to give much more uniform crimps when the cases are all trimmed to the same length.

 

[Texastbird]

I use the FC die on 45ACP. I have a Colt that came from the factory with a "tight" chamber. It is finicky about ammo. But with the die set right it feeds my reloads without protest. Easy to set up the two different operations of seating the bullet and then crimping.

 

[Walkalong]

I can't get my buddy The Bushmaster to understand I am not against the FCD in rifle calibers where it does not MASH the loaded round with a carbide ring, but I also can't talk him out of using it for the .38 Spl either.

He does have case trimming right. He could set an example for some folks who get lazy and don't trim their brass to a uniform length.

 

[moooose102]

hmmmmm, are they NEEDED? well, needed, no. but i do like the ones i have. and do plan on buying a couple more of them. either way, you have to set the crimp die up seperatly anyway. and in the BIG WHAMPUM (300 win mag, 45/70, etc.) calibers, i think they do a better job than the standard crimp. i also think they are easier to set up than the standard crimp, it might be because i can see what is going on. just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Walkalong]

The big whampum calibers are precisely where you don't want them ruining neck tension. If they do, no amount of crimp will make up for it.

I have a Colt that came from the factory with a "tight" chamber.

Get a better sizer, or get an undersized die from EGW if it is a auto round.

I have an EMP with a very tight chamber. I have to gauge every piece of sized brass. I have to cull about 10%. That same culled brass will work in all my other 9MM's, but I go ahead and cull it anyway. I don't want two stashes (EMP vs Everything else :banghead.

 

[David Wile]

Hey folks,

I wish I could say that I said it first, but someone else here once described the Lee Crimp Die as "a solution looking for a problem." I have never had any requirement for one since all my die sets include a seater and crimper die. If you learn how to use the seater & crimper die, chances are you will never think of a Lee Crimp Die.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[lgbloader]

Good discussion.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I use a Lee FCD with my .454 casull rounds and can see a difference in performance with or without ,especially with slower powders like LilGun ! I was under the impression that the FCD for revolver cartridges is a roll crimp and the one for auto cartridges is a tapered crimp ! Kevin

 

[threefeathers]

I use taper crimps for all handguns. But, I tend to use Redding for handgun. For rifle with cannelure I use the Lee crimp.

 

[mkl]

I've got one of Bowen's 5-shot "hand cannon" conversions in 45 Colt.

I got the LFC die because my 300 grain bullets were backing out of the case under recoil when crimped with my RCBS die. The Lee die solved the problem, but this is probably a unique situation.

I also bought a PAST Handgun Glove which also helped with another recoil problem (pain).