Lee's Factory Crimp Die?

[Walkalong]

Other than the carbide ring does it put the same crimp as the seater / crimp die does that comes in their 3 die sets ?

The ones I had were taper crimp, and yes for those.

One positive thing about their crimp is the crimp is not cut into the die body like most, but into an insert which screws in and has an o-ring, so it has some give. I would think this would help when case length varies a little (a little), and maybe help center the insert and crimp more evenly around the case.

Dunno, but it makes sense to me

 

[.45Coltguy]

Walkalong is correct regarding the CFCD not being specific to cases length for crimping like a conventional seater/crimp die would be. I don't trim handgun cases and the Lee CFCD works for me and many others in this regard.

 

[9mmepiphany]

No chance of 45acp bullet setback with that sizing die!

My understanding is that a Lee Sizing die forms the case to SAAMI minimum, while the ring in the FCD forms it to SAAMI Maximum

 

[CQB45ACP]

My understanding is that a Lee Sizing die forms the case to SAAMI minimum, while the ring in the FCD forms it to SAAMI Maximum

My chart isn't handy, but that'd be somewhere near a .020" spread according to my measurements today. Can that be?

meaning chambers can vary that much?

 

[FROGO207]

I loaded several pistol rounds for years with no problems. Then Lee comes out with the CFCD and like all new tools I had to have a couple to try. After evaluating them on my bench they don't make a noticable difference with my reloaded ammo with jacketed or plated. The slightly oversized lead or coated bullets were post sized down enough that the bullets were often loose to the touch. So I figured no gain so why bother to use them. Now the rifle collet FCD is just the ticket for 30-30, and 32 SPL( Modified 30-30 FCD). On all my other rifles any type of a crimp was detremental to accuracy so none used there.

 

[Soonerpesek]

I have purchased 2 of them, 10mm and 45-70…
The 10mm gets used to “de”-bulge the exuberant brass..
I tried the 45-70, and for sure it did a fine job but I didn’t care for the way the crimp looked.
I prefer the Redding Profile Crimp die that came with the Comp set..
Just merely my meager opine and my only uses for them to this point, I have not had the urge to run a finished round thru the 10/40.

 

[vaalpens]

I learned to handload decades before the LFCD was on the market, so I had to find the source of the problem and correct it. I received a FCD in a 357sig from a friend that passed away. So when I started loading for the 357sig I decided to give it a try. For those that don't know the 357sig has a very short neck in which it has to hold the bullet. I developed a load using my std method and decided to see of the LFCD would help me. Crimping the neck with the LFCD actually reduced neck tension causing the group to open up almost twice from what i was getting. The crony data showed the inconsistenty too. So I put the LFCD in the drawer never to be used again. The Lee FCD in the 357sig is a crimp only die, does not touch the body like their rifle FCD. I was using jacketed bullets, TXP and RMR's. Any post sizing is going to cause problem. Yes, it may allow a round to chamber that would not other wise, but it changed something in the process that was not done properly to start with.

The 357sig FCD is not the same as the straight wall pistol FCD's. It takes a bit of time and feel to set it up, but I use it all the time. I also use RMR bullets, and the 357sig is my most accurate cartridge I load. My process with the 357sig is to sort my cases by length to make sure I get a consistent crimp. I dial my 357sig FCD in purely by feel on a Lee turret press.

 

[Blue68f100]

The 357sig FCD is not the same as the straight wall pistol FCD's. It takes a bit of time and feel to set it up, but I use it all the time. I also use RMR bullets, and the 357sig is my most accurate cartridge I load. My process with the 357sig is to sort my cases by length to make sure I get a consistent crimp. I dial my 357sig FCD in purely by feel on a Lee turret press.

I did a lot of playing with it before I shelved it. My procedure for 357sig utilizes a custom expander so I do not have to crimp. I too use RMR bullets with great results, as well as XTP's.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Since it appears that the thread has devolved into silly posts which weren't even tangentially related to the OP, I guess it's time to put it to bed