Using the Lee Factory Crimp Die

[Corner Pocket]

I'm just getting into reloading and am loving it! I've made several hundred rounds of .38 that have fired flawlessly, and the same for .357. No problems at all with any of them.

Last night, I decided to build a few "dummy rounds" for .45 ACP before building "real" ones with powder and primer. (BTW, those little help videos at leeprecision.com are indeed very helpful.) Things seemed to go well until I got to the Lee FCD. I had to put a lot of pressure (pulling hard on the handle) on the single stage press to get the case to go up into the die. It was also somewhat hard to pull back out when I lowered the ram.

So, is the FCD supposed to work this way? (All the other dies work smoothly and don't seem to need much pressure applied to them.) Thanks for any ideas/insights/suggestions!

Corner Pocket

 

[pinkymingeo]

Depending on the caliber and bullet used, the FCD can require a good bit of pressure. Loading .452's in 45acp, mine requires a pretty good tug on the handle. Same with .358's in 357. In 45Colt, however, the die doesn't seem to do much of anything.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

On all the pistol calibers I use the FCD simply for piece of mind. I have been using them for about 5 years now.
45acp
38spl
357mag
44mag
45colt
454Cas
40S&W

Unfortunately I have not had this issue. I would say make sure that you have your sizing die adjusted correctly, the die you use before running it through the FCD. The FCD is just there from what I can see to resize the bottom of the case back to factory specs or at least as close as possible. On my 45acp FCD I usually do not get much friction at all except from the blazer brass. I think this is because they seem to be loaded a little hot causing the case to expand more. When I measure the once fired blazer brass compared to my other once fired they are usually a hair larger. Now I do get a lot of friction on the 40S&W which is one reason I refuse to load the brass more than 4 times before recycling. The friction is the resizing action which over time weakens the brass. I say take brand new brass and measure it, then compare it to the brass you are having the issue with and see what you get. I would say it is more because of the brass than the dies.

 

[Walkalong]

I see absolutely no need for the FCD in pistol calibers unless one is loading crooked ammo or cheap over sized bullets. Some folks will definitely disagree.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Walkalong

It depends on the situation. I had a terrible time chambering my 38spl and 357mag for my Puma Carbine. I tried a number of different type bullets. I tried the FCD and no more problems since they made a believer out of me. When I shop here locally carries them for a buck cheaper than midway and if you include shipping a few more bucks off, then LE gets 10% off everything in the store there was no reason for me not to.

Plus for me it makes it easier on me for die adjustment. I am not trying to get one die to seat and crimp at the same time. Seat with one then taper or rol crimp with the FCD. Like you said though I have been reloading for 18 years now and did without them that long until about 5 years ago, so it is a debatable topic.

 

[stubbicatt]

I love the FCD in rifle calibers when the bullet has a canellure. I like a taper crimp die for autoloading pistols a little better, to assure that the case mouth is brought back "straight." I had really good luck in 357 mag with the FCD, but I had Lee custom make a crimping collar to accommodate the 358 bullets. Else I'd shave a lot of lead.

For autopistols, *IMO* the purpose of the crimp isn't so much to get a grip on the bullet, but rather to assure that the mouth is ironed out enough to chamber reliably. The grip should be supplied by a good sizing die, and just enough belling to allow ready seating.

YMMV.

 

[tkcomer]

I use the FCD in .357, 30-30 and .223 and love it. But then, I needed to load .431, oversize cast bullets for my Puma lever in 44 mag. And the troubles began. First FCD wouldn't even let the round go in. So I bought an over size FCD for cast bullets from Lee. Now, this die will seat the bullet deeper as it crimps. No amount of fiddling with it will get it to stop. The bullet will not fit into the carbide ring and so that ring shoves the bullet into the case. I like the factory crimp die when it works. I like seating and crimping in two different steps. I just can't get it to work for my 44 loads for my rifle. Works fine with standard bullets for the pistol.

 

[MMCSRET]

I find it very interesting that the term "factory crimp die" is used interchangably with "carbide crimp die". They are critters of different stripes and do not serve the same purpose by design. Both good tools, but not interchangable.CCD is for pistol and revolver loading and FCD is for rifle loading. This has caused me to reread several threads in order to pick up the full context. Can be confusing and misleading to say the least. I know; I'm just picking Knits!!!!!!!!

 

[mswestfall]

MMCSRET
It the only distinction between the two that one is for pistol and the other for rifle?

 

[tkcomer]

Well guess what? While trying to figure out my problem with the new oversized 44 mag FCD, I noticed the carbide ring in the standard die was thinner. The bullet will go into the carbide ring of the old die, but the round will not fit into the body of the die. The round will go into the oversize die, but the bullet won't fit into the carbide ring. So, I swapped the carbide rings and NOW I have a FCD that will work for my oversized cast bullets. The only thing I can figure is, somehow the wrong carbide ring got put into the new die.

 

[MMCSRET]

The fcd does not have a carbide insert. The ccd does, it was specificly designed to size loaded straight wall handgun cartridges back to original outside dimensions after an oversized lead bullet as seated in the case. I use .431 dia. cast bullets in my 44's. They will not chamber in my carbines that way, so they are run into the ccd and then they chamber smoothly but the bullet will slug up to fit the bore tightly when they are fired..Nice tool to have on the bench.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

You have a point MMCSRET probably should not interchange these terms probably causes confusion. As already discussed,

Lee Factory Crimp Die = Rifles and no carbide ring
Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die = Straight Wall Cases, Carbide Ring

 

[Walkalong]

Interesting. True they are very different. I just never heard them referenced other than FCD. Now we know. I still stand by my earlier post about the CCD, while I have no problem with the FCD. There did I get the terminology right this time.

If you have to squeeze your rounds to fit, something is generally wrong that can be fixed a better way, IMHO anyway.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I like a taper crimp for .45 ACP. I use the Lee FCD for revolver rounds -- especially those that need some resistance (like the .45 Colt) to generate a proper burn.

 

[Steve C]

The fcd does not have a carbide insert.

The Lee Factory Crimp die for pistol cartridges definitely has a carbide sizer that does a post sizing to maximum factory diameters. The following is directly off the Lee web page on this die.

I had to put a lot of pressure (pulling hard on the handle) on the single stage press to get the case to go up into the die. It was also somewhat hard to pull back out when I lowered the ram.

If the case is bulged from using a cast bullet in a thick walled case and/or a lot of case mouth belling, the post sizing can be a little stiff and is not unusual. Be assured that your ammo should chamber properly even in a tight chamber. You can remove the barrel from you pistol and use it as gage to compare with a factory round.

 

[robertbank]

We cast, then size our .45acp bullets .452. The bullets tend to bulge the case as they should given jacketed bullets are .451.

You come along with a FCD and smooth out the case. Would someone tell me what they think the size of the cast bullet is after you squeeze the case down.

Pretty cartridges no doubt but....

Take Care

Bob
ps I use the FCD in rifles for my cast bullets. Works great.

 

[bluetopper]

I use the carbide FCD on my 38 and 45acp cartridges, sometimes it's difficult getting the case in and out and sometimes it seems the case never touches the die. I think this is normal, maybe not.

My Taurus 45acp revolver has very tight chambers and the FCD is very much necessary for it.

 

[birdbustr]

You don't want to crank down so much that you have a huge crimp of 1/4" or something crazy. Just enough to crimp the case mouth a little.

 

[Corner Pocket]

Thanks for all the responses. I suspect that the issue I'm having with the FCD is simply a matter of adjustment that can be overcome by gaining some experience on my part...

CP

 

[IDriveB5]

As others have mentioned, you may have it cranked down too hard or it may be a matter of the components you are using or youve put way to much bell in the case with your expanding die.
If you are using .452 bullets with Federal cases (generally thicker, and I believe the thickest in .45ACP) youll have to puch harder to squeeze all that into the die. Most important thing is that your finished round fits your chamber properly(pull out your barrel and check).

Hope this helps.

 

[Doug b]

Cast bullet shooters , give the Lyman M expander die a try.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Cast bullet shooters , give the Lyman M expander die a try.

Amen!

 

[zxcvbob]

Cast bullet shooters , give the Lyman M expander die a try.

Lee also makes a die like that; I can't remember exactly what it's called. "Universal cast bullet expanding die", or something like that. It works great, and it's quick and easy to adjust.

 

[robertbank]

I use the Lee Universal Expander die. Works really quite well for all my rifle and pistol needs.

Take Care

Bob

 

[TennVOL]

How much of a crimp are you putting on the rounds? Take a measurement with some calipers.