Lee FCD for .45 acp strange behavior

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Tacoma said:
Sounds normal to me. It's just the die contacting the case after the bullet stretch's the case diameter on seating. ( Assuming it's not catching on an overly flared case mouth too. Worth checking. If it is, you can dial that out on the seating die.) . FWIW, I reload all my handgun calibers with the lee set and FCD ( on a LCT). Some cases interact the FCD more than others depending on components chosen for that run. For me, all I really want out of the FCD is a good crimp and for it to act as a G0/NOGO gauge.
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Well stated. I too use a LCT and the Lee 4 die set on all my handgun loads. Works great. The FCD is easy to setup.
 
I took my Lee 45 ACP FCD and cut the carbide ring off it and use it for crimping only which it is extremely effective at. Unless your sizing die isnt doing its job, its completely unnecessary.
I shoot alot of coated bullets, and there is no reason to effectively size the bullet on the up stroke of the press. It also creates more work in a progressive press as the press tends to jerk a little bit as you pull the case from the crimp die on the down stroke.
 
Harriw said:
Hey guys,

Thanks for the feedback. This is happening while the cartridge is going IN to the die, not coming out. Indont recall the headstamp off the top of my head, but these are hornady 230gr XTPs, so they're copper jacketed.

Thanks!
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This is the explanation-->
Tacoma said:
Sounds normal to me. It's just the die contacting the case after the bullet stretch's the case diameter on seating. ( Assuming it's not catching on an overly flared case mouth too. Worth checking. If it is, you can dial that out on the seating die.) . FWIW, I reload all my handgun calibers with the lee set and FCD ( on a LCT). Some cases interact the FCD more than others depending on components chosen for that run. For me, all I really want out of the FCD is a good crimp and for it to act as a G0/NOGO gauge.
Click to expand...

Set your seating die to remove all (or most all) of the flare, and use the FCD to give the exact crimp you desire. Easy to change crimp without changing seating when you do this as a separate step. I too, use the FCD on a LCT and love the results.
 
Ok folks.... I did some more tinkering tonight. Built up quite a few dummy rounds, tore them down in various stages, etc. It looks like my Lee FCD is indeed "swaging" these jacketed bullets by 0.0005" - 0.001" in some cases (not all, but more than half). I did tear a few down after seating (before FCD) to verify that seating them wasn't having any effect. I think I could live with the 0.0005", but I plan on loading mostly coated lead bullets, in .45acp, not jacketed. If the jacketed bullets starting at a nominal 0.4505" - 0.451" are being swaged, then I'm a little worried about how much impact this die will have on 0.452" cast (and coated) lead bullets.

So... I'm taking a rather unconventional approach here. I hopped on Amazon, confirmed they have the FCD in stock in .45, and ordered 3 of them. They'll be here Thursday. Thursday night I'll go over them all with a pair of calipers, and see if I can confirm that THIS one's sizing ring is on the low end of their tolerances. Might even try them out and see if one of those new 3 will crimp without swaging bullets. Once I (hopefully) have one I'm happy with, I'll return the other 3. I'll update the thread once I've looked over all 4 dies side-by-side.
 
243winxb said:
The proper setting for this die is with the adjustment knob turned all the way up, turn the die into the press until it touches the shell plate or shell holder which should be in the raised position. Then, raise an empty case into the die and begin to turn the knob inward until you feel it stop on the top of the case. Another 1/2 turn will apply a good crimp and you can adjust from there to suit your specific need.
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I'm not saying your process is incorrect, but I have used the Lee FCD for a while now, but never "raised an empty case". I always start the loading process, then after I seated the first round, will then do the "begin to turn the knob inward until you feel it stop on the top of the case". During the load process you get a feel for the FCD, so when it feels more or less sticky, I will then just reset the knob again based on the round where I just seated the bullet. I wonder what the difference is between setting the knob on an empty case vs a loaded case.
 
Here's my 2 cents, the Lee FCD solves a problem that should not exist. I have never used a Lee FDC and I have NO need to do so. I do use the Lee collet crimp for magnum pistol and rifle loads, these two crimp dies are very different.
If you need a Lee FDC die you are doing something wrong. JMHO
 
This thread went just about like every other “I’ve got a Lee FCD…” thread.
Harriw said:
So... I'm taking a rather unconventional approach here. I hopped on Amazon, confirmed they have the FCD in stock in .45, and ordered 3 of them.
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Do you have a case gauge, or, have you tried using your barrel(s) to check the rounds after bullet seating but before crimping? It could be you’re solving a problem that doesn’t exist. If you’re in need of a slight TC, and don’t have just a crimp die, that’s why some remove the carbide sizer ring from the FCD, or, industrious souls open up that carbide ring a tad more. In your case it’d be about a thou or so. Good luck.
 
I've only been reloading for 14 months now.

I load 6 pistol calibers so far and haven't found the need for the Lee crimp die.

I like keeping a hole free on my Lee turret for a quick powder inspection also.
 
What is described strikes me as a case having relatively thick walls, made evident when the bullet expands the ID. The headstamp would then be very relevant here. That assumes the XTP is true to diameter.
 
RealGun said:
hat is described strikes me as a case having relatively thick walls, made evident when the bullet expands the ID. The headstamp would then be very relevant here. That assumes the XTP is true to diameter.
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Agreed. Back when I was having problems and first started using the FCD (see post #15, first paragraph) PMC brass gave me most of my issues. Running a RP brass through hardly even touched the sizing ring.

irishlad said:
FCD and wet vs dry tumbling threads are always amusing to me.
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5.56 vs. .223 and case lubes are some others :) I make myself mad when I get sucked in for the umpteenth time!
 
RealGun said:
What is described strikes me as a case having relatively thick walls, made evident when the bullet expands the ID. The headstamp would then be very relevant here. That assumes the XTP is true to diameter.
Click to expand...
Yes to both. Try another bullet mfr. and sort headstamps for consistency at least for this experiment.

I have a heck of a problem with Acme 230gr RN which are supposed to be .452”. From now on, if I do use them again that it is, I’m resizing them to .451”. Acme says no problemo with the resizing.
 
lordpaxman said:
This thread went just about like every other “I’ve got a Lee FCD…” thread.

Do you have a case gauge, or, have you tried using your barrel(s) to check the rounds after bullet seating but before crimping? It could be you’re solving a problem that doesn’t exist. If you’re in need of a slight TC, and don’t have just a crimp die, that’s why some remove the carbide sizer ring from the FCD, or, industrious souls open up that carbide ring a tad more. In your case it’d be about a thou or so. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Just how, exactly, do you remove the carbide sizer ring?
 
.45Coltguy said:
Looks simple enough, if needed. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I just dont see a need to size the brass again after sizing it with the sizing die. And I dont need to size the bullet either. And I figured if I screwed the die up, they are like $20 to replace. The FCD I use for my 9mm is factory, but the 9mm is a tapered case, as it only touches the very base of the case.
 

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