Round stuck in Lee FCD...help

[James2]

My recommendation would be to toss the die and stuck round in the garbage can.

(You can see I don't like that die?)

 

[dickttx]

I can see there are some people who don't know what the FCD is for, and how they work.

 

[Sam1911]

I can see there are some people who don't know what the FCD is for, and how they work.

Exactly -- and ironically, that can be taken two ways!

"... there are some people who don't know what the FCD is (not) for, and how they (don't) work."

 

[jim243]

A Lee FCD?? I would say there is No WAY you can get a stuck case in that die, but what do I know, I only have 14 of them.

If you were using cast lead bullets that were not sized or lubed properly, it might happen.

ALL Lee pistol (9mm) FCD's have a stem on the top that un-screw and should let you punch the round out of the die, the internal crimping stem inside will not pass through the die, but you could damage the carbide ring on the die doing this.

My suggestion is to get a "Stuck Case Removal Kit" (RCBS or Hornady) it will come in handy when you get a stuck case in the resizing die as well.

Jim

 

[Walkalong]

Anything can go wrong at any time. The finest machines in the world break sometimes. The simplest gadgets mess up occasionally.

Sounds like the OP doesn't want to fool with calling Lee, and is just going to replace it.

Saying he could not have possibly done what he did doesn't help.

 

[rcmodel]

My suggestion is to get a "Stuck Case Removal Kit"

I assume the case stuck in an FCD is a loaded round, or it wouldn't be stuck in an FCD.

As such, I would not recommend drilling into a live primer and case full of powder to use the RCBS kit on it.

rc

 

[918v]

The reason you stuck your round in the die is due to the cases not bring clean enough snd the carbide being too dry. The carbon fouling on the cases transferred to the carbide ring and imbedded itself in the pores.

While I never stuck a case this way, I almost stuck a case this way in a Redding sizer. I had to clean the ring with solvent and the lube it afterwards. I later traced the problem to dirty brass- I torture tested some 9mm brass and had to resize it without cleaning. Within a week the sizer started getting sticky, almost to the point where I had to hammer out the case.

I know this doesn't help your problem, but might prevent a repetition in the future.

 

[Sky King]

I had a similar problem with a Lee sizer die in my 650 only the base ripped off. The way I got the case out of the die was to get a small triangle file and file three notchs in on the case, then get a screwdriver and knock the sections to the center then knock the case out with a wooden dowel rod.

 

[rcmodel]

Still, it's hard to envision how a loaded round could get stuck in a Lee FCD crimp die.
There just isn't any friction to speak of when crimping.

Dirty cases or not.

rc

 

[MoreIsLess]

A Lee FCD?? I would say there is No WAY you can get a stuck case in that die, but what do I know, I only have 14 of them.

If you were using cast lead bullets that were not sized or lubed properly, it might happen.

ALL Lee pistol (9mm) FCD's have a stem on the top that un-screw and should let you punch the round out of the die, the internal crimping stem inside will not pass through the die, but you could damage the carbide ring on the die doing this.

My suggestion is to get a "Stuck Case Removal Kit" (RCBS or Hornady) it will come in handy when you get a stuck case in the resizing die as well.

Jim

I removed the stem from the die but the round would not budge. I tried a ball peen hammer and a brass rod to try to get it out to no avail

 

[rcmodel]

I'd unscrew the adjustment rod in the center by whatever means necessary and get it out of the way.

The set the die body on something with a hole in it, or open vice jaws and knock the round out with a punch and hammer.

rc

 

[1KPerDay]

Great idea!

 

[Uniquedot]

Still, it's hard to envision how a loaded round could get stuck in a Lee FCD crimp die.
There just isn't any friction to speak of when crimping.

Dirty cases or not.

What i have assumed from the start of this thread is that he adjusted the crimp stem down so far that he has actually swaged the case and bullet into the hollow crimp ring. I see absolutely no way for the carbide ring to have anything to do with it.

 

[Flintknapper]

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

There most likely is nothing wrong with the die (unless its new and he just started using it).

From his description, he most likely bulged the case below the bullet. The 9mm Luger case is tapered anyway and the LEE FCD can give you problems under certain conditions.

It remains a useful tool however (though there are those who can't wait to disparage it).

I agree that in a 'perfect' world you should be able to taper crimp your rounds such that the FCD is not needed. BUT...case lengths vary, thickness varies, bullet diameters and length vary, you can short stroke the lever on your press.

Any of these things have the potential to produce a loaded cartridge out of minimum SAAMI spec, it happens.

So, by using a LEE FCD as a "check gauge", you accomplish two things.

1. You are alerted to the need to reset your crimp die (or look to see what the problem is).

2. The Die will correct oversizing, and IF 'slight'... the cartridge can still be used.

The FCD should not be used to correct gross over-sizing problems, I agree with that, but it is not a 'useless' tool as some suggest.

We can argue all day about taper crimps (which is somewhat a misnomer) but if someone wants to use a LEE FCD in conjunction with a reasonably set up Seating/Crimp die, then let them.

It speeds up the process especially when using mixed brass by eliminating the need to use a chamber gauge or do the 'plunk test' in your barrel.

If you don't like the LEE FCD for whatever reason, don't use it.

For the OP, I hope he gets his problem resolved and I would look carefully to see if when he readjusted his die, he didn't inadvertently set it so that it was crimping (too much) while seating the bullet. That is how you crush cases.

 

[918v]

Still, it's hard to envision how a loaded round could get stuck in a Lee FCD crimp die.
There just isn't any friction to speak of...

Oh yes there is. If you short stroke the press, the case won't be sized all the way down to the base. The FCD will then engage the case during crimping. Remember, we are dealing with a tapered case and a tapered carbide insert.

 

[rcmodel]

Well maybe it's just me.

But I have never torn the rim off a handgun case in 50+ years.

Even back in my steel sizing die days.

The unsized tapered 9mm case would release from a FCD sizing ring much easier then a straight wall revolver case from a steel sizing die.

It's just got to be more going on here then just case friction.

rc

 

[Tom488]

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

 

[Uniquedot]

we are dealing with a tapered case and a tapered carbide insert.

The ring in the FCD is not tapered so like rc said it should release easier than a straight walled case in normal carbide or steel sizer.

From his description, he most likely bulged the case below the bullet.

This is the only other possibility, and even to bulge the case that much it would take some serious misadjustment unless that die is severely defective. If this is the case the carbide ring won't survive pounding out the round...in fact it would be impossible to pound it out without disarming it first.

 

[Master Blaster]

Do you live near a really deep lake or the Ocean???

 

[T Bran]

Smacking the bullet with a hammer may just be making it wedge tighter in the case as it folds and wedges ever tighter in the die. Sounds like you just reinvented the rivet.
I have other unsafe ideas that I wouldnt post on a bet.
Send it back to Lee or continue with your plan of chuck it in file 13 and order a fresh one.
As an aside there is no way I could let it be. I would have to get it apart regardless both out of curiosity and stubborness.
Luck

 

[hang fire]

One thing to remember here. With the round firmly stuck (chambered) in the die, one would not merely shipping live ammo. Some headline grabbing prosecutor could say it was a loaded weapon, or even an explosive device that was being shipped.

 

[hentown]

One thing to remember here. With the round firmly stuck (chambered) in the die, one would not merely shipping live ammo. Some headline grabbing prosecutor could say it was a loaded weapon, or even an explosive device that was being shipped.

I must have missed the post where the OP said that he was going to mail the die to a prosecutor???

 

[Uniquedot]

I must have missed the post where the OP said that he was going to mail the die to a prosecutor?

You can bet that's who's hands it would end up in if the postal inspector discovered it if he indeed attempted to mail it. It would have to be sent by a carrier such as ups or fedex with an ORM D label on it.

 

[918v]

The ring in the FCD is not tapered so like rc said it should release easier than a straight walled case in normal carbide or steel sizer.

Unless it is tapered.

 

[higgite]

You can bet that's who's hands it would end up in if the postal inspector discovered it if he indeed attempted to mail it. It would have to be sent by a carrier such as ups or fedex with an ORM D label on it.

That's a 10-4. Ammunition is on the USPS list of non-mailable items. The fact that it is stuck in a die would be immaterial to a postal inspector.