Round stuck in Lee FCD...help

[MoreIsLess]

I have Lee dies on my Dillon 550b. This morning, I decided to lower the OAL on the 9mm rounds I was loading by increasing the seating depth on the bullet seating die. On the very next cycle, the round got stuck in the Lee factory crimp die and I can't get it out.

Any ideas before I call Lee

 

[Sam1911]

What exactly is stuck? Can you not pull the press arm down? Did it tear off the rim? Can you unscrew the turret on the FCD?

Most folks would say you could unscrew the FCD out of the tool head and drop it and the stuck round in the trashcan -- problem solved.

I do still use one with the 550B in 9mm, as a kind of substitute for chamber-gaugeing all my 9mm rounds, but they aren't really otherwise very helpful. Any problem it is solving for you can (should) be fixed other ways.

 

[MoreIsLess]

What exactly is stuck? Can you not pull the press arm down? Did it tear off the rim? Can you unscrew the turret on the FCD?

Most folks would say you could unscrew the FCD out of the tool head and drop it and the stuck round in the trashcan -- problem solved.

I do still use one with the 550B in 9mm, as a kind of substitute for chamber-gaugeing all my 9mm rounds, but they aren't really otherwise very helpful. Any problem it is solving for you can (should) be fixed other ways.

I've already unscrewed FCD from the toolhead with the round still stuck in the die. I've tried grasping the round by the lip with a pair of channel locks but I can't get it to budge. I thought about spraying some One Shot or WD 40 in there to try and loosen it but I didn't have time, had to leaave for work.

 

[Sam1911]

If nothing else, grip the body of the die with your channel-locks padded with a little leather or something, and then use another set of pliers to unscrew the top stem. Should come free.

 

[hentown]

I just can't visualize a round's getting stuck in a FCD. I've loaded a few hundred thousand rounds using FCDs, and never had a stuck round in one. Hit's befuddlin!!!

 

[1KPerDay]

Sounds like it must have ripped the rim off. Twist off the top and use a punch to drive out the round from the top, IMO.

 

[Certaindeaf]

It sounds like your shellholder was/is improper? Lee shell holders often are ill fitting as they use/offer an abreviated number of shellholders.. picking a sweet spot between quite a wide range that'll probably do the job. never know

 

[Sam1911]

It sounds like your shellholder was/is improper? Lee shell holders often are ill fitting...

He's using a Dillon 550B, so he's using the Dillon 9mm shell plate.

 

[Certaindeaf]

^
Ah, I hear you.

 

[hang fire]

This is what inside the die looks like. Speaking only for myself, at this stage with adjusting screw removed, I would drill through the bullet (use of a little water might be prudent) and dump the powder out. Then take a punch and drift the cartridge case out of die.

 

[Walkalong]

I wonder if the carbide ring slipped and is crooked now? The brass should come out of the carbide ring relatively easily.

I stuck a bullet in a seater die not long ago. I drilled a hole in the bullet and ran a screw in it. I clamped the screw in a vice, gave the die a little tap, and presto.

Perhaps something similar with the case. You already have a flash hole to start a screw in the case.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Perhaps after you take out the seater assembly, soak the thing in some serious bore cleaner.. then do the poundage with tongs and armor.

 

[FROGO207]

How about sending the thing back to Lee so that they can see that it failed and let them replace it for you.

 

[Uniquedot]

Twist off the top and use a punch to drive out the round from the top

Your answer was right there in post number six. The crimp ring is hollow in the FCD's so all you have to do is remove the adjusting plug and drive the round out.

 

[MoreIsLess]

How about sending the thing back to Lee so that they can see that it failed and let them replace it for you.

I did talk to them a short while ago and they told me a couple of things to try and told me to send it back if that doesn't work. Problem is, it has a live round stuck in the die, so I can't put it in the mail

 

[1KPerDay]

Sure you can. Ammo ships all around the country every day. ORM-D sticker on the package. Or did you mean MAIL when you said mail?

 

[ranger335v]

"How about sending the thing back to Lee so that they can see that it failed and let them replace it for you."

Improper use does not constitute a "failed" tool.

 

[243winxb]

a live round stuck in the die

Waiting for KABOOM

 

[FROGO207]

IMHO there is a problem with SOMETHING. Lee if they get it back can see IF it is a die problem and if not be in a better position than the posters here are IMHO to explain to the OP what the problem is if they actually have the die. I have used several FCD's and never had that type of problem in any of mine either rifle or pistol dies. You DO NOT want to start hammering a live round that is stuck in ANY die EVER. Yes the die may not be defective but it sure is not any good the way it is now. FWIW I only use a Lee FCD for tube fed firearms ammo these days as that seems to be the only one time it is an advantage to me, now I do not have to trim the 30-30, 32 WIN SPL, etc. brass every time if I use FCD to crimp and that saves some time.

 

[MoreIsLess]

I've given up on trying to get the bullet out of the FCD. I am just going to order a new one from Midway.

How can I dispose of the one I have now since it has a live round in it.

 

[john16443]

How can I dispose of the one I have now since it has a live round in it.

I'm guessing that the suggestions in posts #6 & 10 didn't work fo you. Live round, maybe call your local PD or Sherrif's office, ask them to dispose of it or tell you how to properly/safely do it.

 

[Flintknapper]

I've given up on trying to get the bullet out of the FCD. I am just going to order a new one from Midway.

How can I dispose of the one I have now since it has a live round in it.

How much of the base of the cartridge is showing? I'm guessing not a lot?

If there is enough case showing (above the primer/rim) you simply hack-saw the bottom of it off. You might even be able to salvage the die after that.

If you can not do that you would need to drill out the bullet from the top.

 

[kingmt]

If you could get a air nipple to seal against the top maybe compressed air. Drilling out the bullet seems like the best way tho. Did that fail?

 

[Sam1911]

I've given up on trying to get the bullet out of the FCD.

The pliers trick didn't work? That's surprising. If nothing else, the top adjuster piece is aluminum and hollow. You could hacksaw through that in about 20 seconds and drive the round out. The replacement part would be only a couple of bux from Lee.

I am just going to order a new one from Midway.

And, why? What's to say this won't happen again? What are you using the FCD to do, exactly? Again, conventional wisdom says it is an almost completely unnecessary step.

How can I dispose of the one I have now since it has a live round in it.

Trash can. It's one cartridge, not a bomb or a mason jar full of nitroglycerin.

 

[FROGO207]

Heck send it to me and I'll deactivate it and send it back if you want. Just let me know and I'll PM my address. I still think sending it back to Lee is best, at least they will do what needs to be done with it to make it safe after they get it.