Which Lee dies for 10 mm?

[Buck13]

Just pushed the button, at last, and ordered a 10mm pistol. Joining the panic buying! Now I need to load some ammo. I'm cheap, so I'm choosing between the Lee deluxe 4-die carbide set or the regular Lee 3-die carbide. Is the fourth die a must-have for 10mm, kinda nice, maybe useful or simply not needed?

I'll be using Starline brass and Rainier plated bullets to start with plinking loads, probably some 200 gr hard cast lead FP later for a half box of bear loads, then maybe some XTPs, so a variety of bullets...

 

[rcmodel]

I'd go with somewhere between "maybe useful" to "simply not needed".

People successfully reloaded auto-pistol ammo with three-die sets for well over half a century before the Lee FCD was invented.

rc

 

[Sky King]

I have the Lee .40 S&W 4 die set that has the factory crimp die. With the .40 S&W I can load for both the .40 and 10mm. I use Starline for the 10mm and whatever I find at the range for the .40 S&W

 

[GLOOB]

The FCD has only one use, for me. And that's one you might need for a 10mm. It can be used as a push thru sizer for debulging straight walled cases like 10mm.

I'd go ahead and spring for it, just in case you need it later. My 40SW FCD has certainly payed off. (Can't say the same for any of my other pistol FCD's). It can be used to save a batch of bulged (jacketed/plated, not cast) ammo even after it's loaded, and that can save a lot of work!

 

[Buck13]

It can be used to save a batch of bulged (jacketed/plated, not cast) ammo even after it's loaded, and that can save a lot of work!

Do you mean to squeeze the case down around the bullet, or below the bullet or ?? I'm new to reloading, and I haven't seen this in my couple hundred rounds so far. Not that I know of anyway. It could be sitting right in front of me without being recognized!

 

[hentown]

I load 10mm on a Dillon 650, using Lee carbide dies. I do use the FCD, not for the post-sizing feature, but because I really like the way the FCD is adjusted and the way it applies a crimp. I rarely feel the post-sizing ring doing anything. Whether using the FCD or simply a taper crimp die, I'd recommend seating and crimping separately. I recenlty loaded a bunch of Rainier h.p.s. You just need to not crimp very much, when using plated bullets, or you'll cause the plating to separate and adversely affect accuracy.

 

[readyeddy]

A lot of folks don't use the Lee FCD for handgun cartridges, but I do use my FCD for 40 S&W (the same Lee 3 die set as the 10mm) because I came upon a batch of 180 grain hard cast bullets that are out of spec and stretch the case. So the Lee FCD not only crimps, but squishes the whole case back into spec so the cartridge will feed. This would not be necessary if I had jacketed bullets or cast bullets properly sized.

 

[dirtengineer]

I am a FCD fan. Get the deluxe.

 

[frankt]

I like the four die set also, especially in a semi auto.

 

[steve4102]

Get the four die set.
Like many handloaders I like to Seat and crimp in separate steps. A fourth dedicated crimp die is the most convenient way for me.

The Lee die has a post sizing carbide ring at the base. If you find you do not like the post sizing ring, just remove it with a punch and turn your Lee Factory Crimp Die into a standard run of the mill taper crimp die.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like the FCD because I like to seat and crimp is a separate operation. I use a 4 hole turret press for handgun ammo so I have the space for the 4th die.

 

[plateshooter]

Another FCD fan here. Not so much for jacketed bullets, but for lead bullets, I use it in 9, 40, 45, and 10mm.

 

[Hondo 60]

Is the fourth die a must-have for 10mm, kinda nice, maybe useful or simply not needed?

Kinda nice!

You can seat & crimp with the die that seats the bullet.
But I think it's easier to seat & crimp in 2 steps.

 

[SSN Vet]

I like the LFCD

 

[Starter52]

I don't use a FCD for my 10mm handloads. The three-die set (.40 S&W) works fine for me.