Need more help 40 s&w Lee FCD

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glaizinman

glaizinman

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Hey guys I really appreciate all the help here. I started loading those 40's and checked my crimp and after running it through the lee fcd it comes out to be .421 instead of .423. Before I run it through the fcd it's.423. I'm using RMR 180 grn rnfp plated and have the Lee 4 die set. Funny thing the round passes plunk and spins in barrel & gauge and I'm using a Dillion 550. Should I just leave that station empty? I heard over crimping kills your accuracy. Again guys thank you
PS I'm just learning the pc & tablet lol I can browse but typing ...lol
I don't know how to use hardly anything on this site yet my kids said they will help.
 
The FCD does 2 things.

1) It post sizes the round to make sure it is the right size to chamber in a SAMMI spec gun.
2) It crimps.

Those are two different things and the crimp is adjustable with that little adjustment at the top of the die. If you are getting a crimp more than you want, adjust the die to get less crimp.


Years ago when I was shooting lead, I hated the FCD since it could resize a lead bullet. These days I load jacketed and plated. I use the FCD for auto pistols since it reduces the chance that I have an out of spec cartridge that won't chamber. Especially in pistol games where time is of essence.
 
Jeff H said:
The FCD does 2 things.

1) It post sizes the round to make sure it is the right size to chamber in a SAMMI spec gun.
2) It crimps.

Those are two different things and the crimp is adjustable with that little adjustment at the top of the die. If you are getting a crimp more than you want, adjust the die to get less crimp.


Years ago when I was shooting lead, I hated the FCD since it could resize a lead bullet. These days I load jacketed and plated. I use the FCD for auto pistols since it reduces the chance that I have an out of spec cartridge that won't chamber. Especially in pistol games where time is of essence.
Click to expand...
Jeff
I adjusted the fcd as directed it was crimping.421 the manual says .423 that is what it is before the round goes through the fcd . I backed out the adjustment knob 2 turns with the same results. I can feel a lot of resistance when the round first enters the fcd. Some say there is a sizing ring you can remove will that wreck the die?
 
Blue68f100 said:
Check to see if you've lost neck tension from the FCD, check before and after. If your sizing the bullet down, and lost neck tension, loose the FCD.
Click to expand...
Blue68f100
I checked neck tension before & after fcd no lose of neck tension. I took the fcd apart just to make sure the sleeve was in the right way (tappered end down towards round) I even backed out the adjustment knob out. It's that ring. When I had it apart I can clearly see that with a dummy round. I'm worried this might be a accuracy killer.
 
Loosen the FCD collett slightly for less of a crimp, or stay off the Wheaties and apply less pressure. You don't need uber crimp wit 40 S&W. But also, no need to obsess over.. 002. Plunk it. If the post FCD rounds are chambering properly and headspacing on the case mouth correctly, no problemo. If they are dropping in, back off the Wheaties.
 
LRDGCO said:
Loosen the FCD collett slightly for less of a crimp, or stay off the Wheaties and apply less pressure. You don't need uber crimp wit 40 S&W. But also, no need to obsess over.. 002. Plunk it. If the post FCD rounds are chambering properly and headspacing on the case mouth correctly, no problemo. If they are dropping in, back off the Wheaties.
Click to expand...
FYI semi auto pistol FCD don't use the collet like the rifle FCD. Semi auto FCD is simply a taper crimp die with a carbide sizing ring at the bottom. i like them quite a bit. To the OP, stop worrying and try shooting some loads. I wager you'll find accuracy is fine. It's handy to seat in one step or just remove the flare, and crimp in another.
 
Dudedog said:
The Lee Seater also crimps.
What is the dia after they come out of the seater? (without using the FCD)
Click to expand...
Dudedog
The Dia is .423 like the manual says then after the round goes through the fcd the Dia is .421 that's even with the adjustment knob backed way out. I took the fcd apart tried to push a dummy through and it won't go through. The built in sizing ring is the problem I think or is it a problem?
 
I don't load .40 but you might give Lee a call/open a ticket online. Either it is in spec or it isn't.
My Lyman 50 shows .423
If it is out of spec I would imagine they would replace it.
(I do use Lee dies for .380/9mm/.357 and .45)
 
1KPerDay said:
FYI semi auto pistol FCD don't use the collet like the rifle FCD. Semi auto FCD is simply a taper crimp die with a carbide sizing ring at the bottom. i like them quite a bit. To the OP, stop worrying and try shooting some loads. I wager you'll find accuracy is fine. It's handy to seat in one step or just remove the flare, and crimp in another.
Click to expand...

Quite right. "D'uh" moment my end. ;-)
 
I set my Lee FCD crimps around .421 a lot, but I have never been concerned. I did adjust it out to .423 one time years ago and had a couple of my barrels misfeed sometimes with the case lips hanging up on the feed ramps so I moved it back to .421 and have never had the problem again, I have pulled bullets and checked the bullets for marks from the case lips and there are none an no tension issues. They plunk test fine in all my 40 barrels and have no issues with accuracy. But I would call Lee and talk to them, they are great people, and I would question why you cannot adjust it out to .423 because you should be able to.
 
snakeye said:
I set my Lee FCD crimps around .421 a lot, but I have never been concerned. I did adjust it out to .423 one time years ago and had a couple of my barrels misfeed sometimes with the case lips hanging up on the feed ramps so I moved it back to .421 and have never had the problem again, I have pulled bullets and checked the bullets for marks from the case lips and there are none an no tension issues. They plunk test fine in all my 40 barrels and have no issues with accuracy. But I would call Lee and talk to them, they are great people, and I would question why you cannot adjust it out to .423 because you should be able to.
Click to expand...
Snakeye i even took out the crimping sleeve (not sure if that's the proper name) and the crimp still comes out to .421 . I will give. Lee a call tomorrow. I just have read in some forums that over crimping can cause you to lose accuracy I know it's not much. I think I will go test a few some that are crimped to .423 and .421 and just see what happens. Only problem lots of snow on the ground at the range and it's cold lol l know suck it up right
 
The carbide ring at bottom of die sizes as case is pushed in the sizing is not adjustable.
I have not measured mine but never had any trouble with my loads also use it for 10mm.
 
1KPerDay said:
Stupid question but what does the crimp measure after you seat the bullet but before it goes into the FCD?
Click to expand...
Englishmn
The crimp measures .423 the round passes the plunk & spin in the barrel (plunk test) and the gauge. There that occasional round that won't pass until I run I through the fcd. When I get home in the morning I'm going to pull one to see if it's damaging the plating.
 
Englishmn said:
The carbide ring at bottom of die sizes as case is pushed in the sizing is not adjustable.
I have not measured mine but never had any trouble with my loads also use it for 10mm.
Click to expand...
Englishmn
I have the Lee FCD for 45acp , & 9mm with no issues
 
The .423" diameter has me confused a bit. I created a dummy round yesterday and had to bell/expand the case a bit more just to get it to .423", at the end it measure .4235". With the case expanded to .423" and a bullet seated, the round did stick before I was able to push it into the FCD by hand. The sticking was due to the expanded case and not the bullet seated in the case.

I reload on a single stage and now Lee turret and can feel when the FCD is doing something to the case/bullet. Most of the time is when I reload pulled bullets and things are not as round as they should be.

You indicate that the manual indicates that crimping should be done to .423". Which manual is this? I have always worked with a crimping of .421" as my target, but really never measures it since cases and bullets are not the same. What I do now is use my caliper to determine if I have enough crimp. Take the caliper and place the jaws below the case mouth applying pressure and then slide the caliper up toward the case mouth and over it. I normally would do this check before the FCD to get the feeling of how it feels when it can't slide over the mouth, then adjust the the FCD, do the test again until it slide over the mouth. This has worked for me for a while now and I don't have any deeding issues.

What is the diameter of the plated bullet you are trying to load?
 
All this worrying about 0.002" without shooting the ammo?
Sometimes we get caught in little things that mean nothing. Shoot the ammo and if it's accurate and functions 100% don't worry about 0.002". Are you sure the tool you are using to measure that small a difference is correct? User error is possible as well as mechanical error. Shoot the ammo, that is the test.
 
.002? Ive not seen many handloaders (nor dial calipers for that matter) that are that accurate. Even those who think they are. I have full sterrit micrometer sets that are checked yearly for work about 10 ft from my reloading bench but usually just use my dial caliper. Especially for handgun loads. I've loaded many thousand 10 and 40 rounds. I've used a FCD for about half of those. (Since I got a press with an extra hole for one). I only use it for a final sizing and to seat and crimp on two stations. I use about 10 different 40s and half as many 10s. Never had any issue.
 
crestoncowboy said:
.002? Ive not seen many handloaders (nor dial calipers for that matter) that are that accurate. Even those who think they are. I have full sterrit micrometer sets that are checked yearly for work about 10 ft from my reloading bench but usually just use my dial caliper. Especially for handgun loads. I've loaded many thousand 10 and 40 rounds. I've used a FCD for about half of those. (Since I got a press with an extra hole for one). I only use it for a final sizing and to seat and crimp on two stations. I use about 10 different 40s and half as many 10s. Never had any issue.
Click to expand...
Crestoncowboy
I l hear what you are saying and others are saying. And I agree .002 is nothing really like you said operater error or just not a accurate dial calipers. Like I had said before I read that over crimping can kill accuracy. And with my eye sight and unsteady hands I figured I needed all the help I can get. I want to test them out but like I said in the earlier post too much snow and it's cold outside...lol I'm not a guy that worries about the little things but there is some difference in the measurement but probably not enough to make a difference.
 
No. I get it. I shoot long range rifle. I've measured every little thing with micrometer precision before. Concentricity, weighed cases etc. In a handgun though .002 wont hurt.. .01 likely wont either.... it will not make a difference. As long as you have enough tension to not get setback, and you aren't maring up the bullets too bad, your good. I'm sure some of my very accurate lead loads are pushing into the bullets a little much.... they are still more accurate than anything I cam but. I used to be more picky on my handgun loads. Nowdays I throw them through the progressive and cant tell any appreciable difference in accuracy at all. Other than near max hunting cartridges loading where I weigh every charge. And even then I'm loading then single stage to be safer with my powder. Not so much the other stages
 
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