Does anyone use these, and if so are you satisfied with the results that you are getting? I use them for several rifle calibers as well as 45acp. They are most useful for the 45acp since they resize the reloaded cartridge as well as taper crimp. This seems to make the cast bullet loads that I shoot in my 1911s more reliable. They also work well for heavy 45-70 reloads for my Guide Gun. I also use them for 223, 270, and 30-06 reloads but have not tested them enough to see if there are any differences. What do you guys think?
Lee Factory Crimp Dies
- Thread starter Gary
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
I only have one set that I use in .223 since my RCBS competion dies do not have a crimping feature built into the seating die. Not a problem for match loads but for tactical loads, I like to have a crimp if there is a cannelure.
Black_Sheep
Member
Even though it adds an extra step to the reloading process, I use the FCD for both .45 ACP and .38/.357 for the nice crimp it puts on LSWC loads. I really like the final resize step too, finished rounds are very uniform...
Lee Factory Crimp dies
Hello,
I am primarily a handgun reloader; I use the Lee Factory Crimp dies in .45 ACP, 10mm/.40 S&W, 9mm, and .357/.38 Special. I seat the bullets (both cast and jacketed) with the factory (usually RCBS) seat/crimp die set to seat the bullet only, then use the Factory Crimp die as my final step. I love these dies, and especially in the semi-auto calibers I do believe they greatly enhance feeding and reliability. I highly recommend them in all handgun calibers.
Jim (kean57)
Hello,
I am primarily a handgun reloader; I use the Lee Factory Crimp dies in .45 ACP, 10mm/.40 S&W, 9mm, and .357/.38 Special. I seat the bullets (both cast and jacketed) with the factory (usually RCBS) seat/crimp die set to seat the bullet only, then use the Factory Crimp die as my final step. I love these dies, and especially in the semi-auto calibers I do believe they greatly enhance feeding and reliability. I highly recommend them in all handgun calibers.
Jim (kean57)
Love these dies! I only wish I had tried them years ago.
retiredsquid
US Veteran
I am a believer in the FCD, too.
bobsdad
US Veteran
For several years, I've been using the Lee 4 die sets (with the FCD) for 38/357 mag, 44 spec./44 mag, and 45 Colt. Also using the FC taper die for the 45 ACP (bought the die separate years ago for some reason). I've never done a "scientific" study of the benefits of the Lee FCD, but using them produces a fine looking product and makes me feel good! I would think there has to be a real benefit in just using it to make sure the rounds will fit like they are supposed to. I've never had a problem with the reloads I've produced using the factory crimp dies. I recall some discussion here a few months ago? about whether or not they are worth it, but can't recall if there was any resolution.
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
I use them in several different calibers, including .243, .30-06 and .45-70. I usually use Dillon's standard taper crimp die for handgun calibers, and for loads I want a heavy crimp on, like my .357 carbine load, I use a roll crimp. Nonetheless, I have never had a single complaint with the Lee FCD. In .30-06 and .243, especially, my handloads have been extremely accurate.
I've heard and read from a lot folks that run them down as unnecessary, not as good as other dies and other observations from THEIR own personal tests. May be so, but being not as learned or experienced as they, I use them most times with good results on full power .44 mag, heavy .45 Colt loads in my Ruger Blackhawks and especially for my .45 ACP cast loads. They work for me.
shovelwrench
Member
I have em for every caliber I load and I like em.
webley green
Member
I have only used one for my lead 45acp loadings. I'm impressed. I'll likely get a couple more.
I have them for .45 auto and .38 special, I don't use them much any more. I like the crimp function, it is easy to adjust and does a good job at it.
I'm less thrilled with the post-sizing part. If the previous steps have been done correctly, post-sizing should be unnecessary.
I once had some .38 lead bullets (lasercast) that must have been slightly oversized. They would bulge the brass enough that they wouldn't chamber in my 686. The FCD squeezed out the bulge, but they were horribly inaccurate.
IMHO, the post sizing is just covering up problems elsewhere which are best solved rather than applying the FCD as a bandaid.
I'm less thrilled with the post-sizing part. If the previous steps have been done correctly, post-sizing should be unnecessary.
I once had some .38 lead bullets (lasercast) that must have been slightly oversized. They would bulge the brass enough that they wouldn't chamber in my 686. The FCD squeezed out the bulge, but they were horribly inaccurate.
IMHO, the post sizing is just covering up problems elsewhere which are best solved rather than applying the FCD as a bandaid.
true fire
Member
have been using them for 5 years have not had any problems with them
Beemer-mark
Member
I used / tried a large number of name brand bullet seater / crimp dies hand never had repeatable results. On rifle and magnum loads requiring a firm crimp I could never eye-ball what was considered a good crimp. Every time I changed dies in my press I got different results. The Lee dies not give the correct crimp for the caliber being used, it is the same each and every time and requires a bare minimum of skill to use.
BruceM
Member
"I'm less thrilled with the post-sizing part. If the previous steps have been done correctly, post-sizing should be unnecessary."
"I second what Mr. Galt said. If they are fixing anything, it is an underlying problem that itself should be corrected. "
Roger that!
That boils down to one or two things. The sizing die is not reducing the size of the cases enough (rare). The expanding die is expanding the case too much (most common) causing inadequate neck tension (bullet pull) which allows the bullets to move under recoil or feeding and also chambering issues.
There are probably legit reasons for using the FCD but buying one tool to remedy a problem with another isn't one of them.
Bruce
"I second what Mr. Galt said. If they are fixing anything, it is an underlying problem that itself should be corrected. "
Roger that!
That boils down to one or two things. The sizing die is not reducing the size of the cases enough (rare). The expanding die is expanding the case too much (most common) causing inadequate neck tension (bullet pull) which allows the bullets to move under recoil or feeding and also chambering issues.
There are probably legit reasons for using the FCD but buying one tool to remedy a problem with another isn't one of them.
Bruce
snowman
Member
I didn't even know the FCD did any post-sizing; not paying attention I guess. I got one for two reasons: I bought a turret press with 4-hole turrets and thought if I had to go through the extra station anyway I might as well use it; but the more important reason is that I always had trouble getting the seating/crimping die adjusted properly; it's a pain in the bottom end as far as I'm concerned. The FCD remedied that in a hurry.
Andy
Andy
The FCDs for handguns and rifles are two completely different animals.
I don't have any for handguns, and don't want any because I have no use for them.
I have some for rifle calibers and will use them occaisionally, but not for accuracy loads.
I don't have any for handguns, and don't want any because I have no use for them.
I have some for rifle calibers and will use them occaisionally, but not for accuracy loads.
Has anyone done a head to head test? It would be interesting to load several identical rounds both with and without the factory crimp, shoot them in the same rifle, and compare the results for accuracy. If this were to be done with several loads and calibers there could be a pretty good case made either for or against any accuracy improvement from using them.
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
- Locked
