In this video I use the Lee factory crimp die to fix a problem with some 40 S&W rounds. I show you what this die is designed to do, and discuss what it won’t do.
i reload a lot of 9mm. With a Browning hi power, a sig sp2022, a EAA Witness Match Elite and a Smith Shield 2.0 EZ CT I need a lot of fodder. With a hi tek coated 124 gr lead boolit I had problems in that the completed round would not fully enter the chamber of the case gauge. Not every round but at least 1/3 of them. It was frustrating and changing the oal did nothing good. Messing with the seating/crimping die also did not solve the issue. However the Lee FCD did fix the problem.
I've been reloading a long time and have never used one. I've been told how much it's almost magical, but this is the first time I've seen the benefit of it explained. Out of curiosity, has anyone used a LFCD with cast bullets and pulled the bullet to see if it got resized along with the brass?
Like you, I used to have a super-tight match grade barrel for my 1911, and the LFC solved it. For all other calibers, I just use the RCBS 3-die set with regular combined seating and taper. You’re right though; so many people push the LFC like it’s an absolute necessity and it’s gotten a little out of hand. Sometimes I wonder if the LFC has reinforced bad loading habits and incorrect technique.
This is a great tool, The only problem with it is if you are seating purposely oversized cast lead bullets, this will swage them down a bit and accuracy can suffer. I use mine in 38 special and 32 S&W Long when loading Hollow base wadcutters. I skip the initial resizing step since that necks down the brass too much to seat a long wadcutter bullet in some cases without deforming them - then I seat and crimp the wadcutters flush with the case mouth, and then run them through these carbide factory crimp dies to make them feed through my various revolvers of the same caliber. It makes all the rounds uniform and any slight deformation in Hollow base wadcutter diameter caused by the carbide fcd does not seem to affect performance and I avoid messing up the nose of the soft wadcutters by trying to force them into a too-narrow case.
I found with my rifle load’s that annealing fixes the problem of brass springing back after you pull it out of the die . It seems that the brass gets hard and acts like spring steel.
I've learned in life that I gravitate towards people that are capable of explaining the things that they preach over people who can't. I also tend to listen to older folk as they've " been there and done that" long before I've come along. If you don't have a n explanation as to why I'm having an issue you don't have answer worth hearing.
I was having the same “bulge” problem with my .40 s&w. After a couple hours messing with the the die settings I got it figured out. I bought a factory crimp die but I agree, if you set the seating die correctly it takes care of everything
I use this for the sole purpose of processing once fired range brass. Glock chambers are oversized and creates the "Glock Bulge" The Lee crimper sizes all the way to the base unlike most resizing dies.
I use the factory crimp die for. 38 and. 357. Used it for 9mm but it seemed to undersize the round slightly and I had light strikes from headspace issues in one pistol. Went back to crimping with bullet seating die cor 9mm and problem went away. My Lee sizing die for 9mm has always fully fixed 'glock' bulges by itself.
Interesting that you're not using it for 9. I have a hell of a time getting the coke bottle shape out of my reloads with how much I have to flare it to run hi-tek rounds through my bullet feeder
The problem with this factory crimp from Lee is he stretch the bullet size too, so he reshap the bullet as well. Example eu use 9mm when i seat the bullet i use some thing as 28,7mm of height after that i pass throw the factory crimp and he reshape the bullet compressing when a measure the height it is more then the original 28.7mm some time more them 29.5mm, what i had to do was seat very low and use more then a turn on the factory crimp to keap at least a similar height.
I have on problems with the case bulge but occasionally and only occasionally drop my 9mm in my case gage and the rim stays out of the gage by the thickness of the rim. Any ideas as to whats going on? Good video by the way.
I load 9mm and have had no problem with the MULTIPLE forearms that i shoot it out of, until i bought a new barrel for my PCC. It has a tight chamber, and one out of every 15-20 rounds that will not chamber in that one barrel. I am hoping that the Lee Factory Crimp die will help me.
@@redneckreloader if you start out with new brass or factory loads it shouldn't have a bulge...because factory barrels are oversized for function reliability....pro series barrels are tight and have better rifling to spin the bullet, sharper edges on the land cut of the barrel
It’s a chamber gauge, it’s intended to check reloads to insure they will chamber ok. I’ve found that it’s great for most guns. I have a 45 acp that has a tight chamber. When I’m reloading for it I have to use the barrel to check rounds for it, because it’s chamber is tighter than my gauge.
@@redneckreloader I do use my barrel for the plunk after I make a lot of 500pcs. as well. I also have a Carbide ring gage at .374 from work...shhhhh lol ,and mic all my case lenghts keeping them between .670 to .675 I'm in the process of grabbing some gage pins from .375 to .385 to see exactly what my chamber is, the gage pins will give me exact measurement. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this I am brand new to reloading 🍺
I have a Remington 45acp. The barrel on it has next to no throat before the bullet gets into the lands and grooves. I suspected this, but took it to a gunsmith and had it confirmed. So the gun didn’t want to go into battery. He couldn’t fix it for me because he didn’t have a chamber reamer for 45 acp. I will get it fixed someday, but until then I have to seat my bullets very deep in the brass to get them to cycle. But my brass fits in the chamber just fine. That’s why the FCD wouldn’t help the problem.
It's sad part about it if you can't deal with somebody.They claim they've been loaded forever but they don't know what they're doing and you don't know what you're doing
i reload a lot of 9mm. With a Browning hi power, a sig sp2022, a EAA Witness Match Elite and a Smith Shield 2.0 EZ CT I need a lot of fodder. With a hi tek coated 124 gr lead boolit I had problems in that the completed round would not fully enter the chamber of the case gauge. Not every round but at least 1/3 of them. It was frustrating and changing the oal did nothing good. Messing with the seating/crimping die also did not solve the issue. However the Lee FCD did fix the problem.
Lee FCD is not a must have but its a great addition to any handloader.
I appreciate the lesson!
I've been reloading a long time and have never used one. I've been told how much it's almost magical, but this is the first time I've seen the benefit of it explained.
Out of curiosity, has anyone used a LFCD with cast bullets and pulled the bullet to see if it got resized along with the brass?
Best die for loading 9mm is the lee fcd. It fixes any little wrongs in the process!!
Thanks man 👍🏼
@@wilsonrodrigues3548 you’re welcome
Like you, I used to have a super-tight match grade barrel for my 1911, and the LFC solved it. For all other calibers, I just use the RCBS 3-die set with regular combined seating and taper. You’re right though; so many people push the LFC like it’s an absolute necessity and it’s gotten a little out of hand. Sometimes I wonder if the LFC has reinforced bad loading habits and incorrect technique.
This is a great tool, The only problem with it is if you are seating purposely oversized cast lead bullets, this will swage them down a bit and accuracy can suffer. I use mine in 38 special and 32 S&W Long when loading Hollow base wadcutters. I skip the initial resizing step since that necks down the brass too much to seat a long wadcutter bullet in some cases without deforming them - then I seat and crimp the wadcutters flush with the case mouth, and then run them through these carbide factory crimp dies to make them feed through my various revolvers of the same caliber. It makes all the rounds uniform and any slight deformation in Hollow base wadcutter diameter caused by the carbide fcd does not seem to affect performance and I avoid messing up the nose of the soft wadcutters by trying to force them into a too-narrow case.
Great information, thank you
I found with my rifle load’s that annealing fixes the problem of brass springing back after you pull it out of the die . It seems that the brass gets hard and acts like spring steel.
That will make the brass resist cracking and last longer too. Just be sure not to anneal too far down the case.
I've learned in life that I gravitate towards people that are capable of explaining the things that they preach over people who can't. I also tend to listen to older folk as they've " been there and done that" long before I've come along. If you don't have a n explanation as to why I'm having an issue you don't have answer worth hearing.
I was having the same “bulge” problem with my .40 s&w. After a couple hours messing with the the die settings I got it figured out. I bought a factory crimp die but I agree, if you set the seating die correctly it takes care of everything
Thanks great video so helpful, looking forward to seeing more videos.
I use this for the sole purpose of processing once fired range brass. Glock chambers are oversized and creates the "Glock Bulge" The Lee crimper sizes all the way to the base unlike most resizing dies.
Exactly
I use the factory crimp die for. 38 and. 357. Used it for 9mm but it seemed to undersize the round slightly and I had light strikes from headspace issues in one pistol. Went back to crimping with bullet seating die cor 9mm and problem went away. My Lee sizing die for 9mm has always fully fixed 'glock' bulges by itself.
Great video and great information, thanks
Thank you for your support
That offense from asking "why" and the "magical properties" is called narcissism.
Thank you for sharing.
So most of my friends and family are glock freaks so I pick up there brass and use the lfc die it's the only way I can get them to feed in my 1911's
If you use this die as part of your reloading process every time it will alleviate those sticky rounds that occasionally crop up.
Interesting that you're not using it for 9. I have a hell of a time getting the coke bottle shape out of my reloads with how much I have to flare it to run hi-tek rounds through my bullet feeder
The problem with this factory crimp from Lee is he stretch the bullet size too, so he reshap the bullet as well. Example eu use 9mm when i seat the bullet i use some thing as 28,7mm of height after that i pass throw the factory crimp and he reshape the bullet compressing when a measure the height it is more then the original 28.7mm some time more them 29.5mm, what i had to do was seat very low and use more then a turn on the factory crimp to keap at least a similar height.
I’ve noticed that too with softer bullets. That’s a good point.
Hey, I have a question about your iron C press. I have similar press and the ram is developing some play. is there a remedy that you know of?
Excellent, thanks again.
I have a lee fcd for 9mm, it causes more problems than it alleviates, I bought mine off of amazon,it may be a junk peice, IDK
Good to know
I have on problems with the case bulge but occasionally and only occasionally drop my 9mm in my case gage and the rim stays out of the gage by the thickness of the rim. Any ideas as to whats going on? Good video by the way.
Thank you, I really appreciate you. Check this video out. It might help you th-cam.com/video/LsDk0HU0LaM/w-d-xo.html
@@redneckreloader You hit it right on the mark! I'm off to Lowe's for the cloth.
Bulged case at the bottom
I load 9mm and have had no problem with the MULTIPLE forearms that i shoot it out of, until i bought a new barrel for my PCC. It has a tight chamber, and one out of every 15-20 rounds that will not chamber in that one barrel. I am hoping that the Lee Factory Crimp die will help me.
I know I’m late with this reply, but I’m curious if it fixed the problem with your tight chamber.
@@redneckreloader if you start out with new brass or factory loads it shouldn't have a bulge...because factory barrels are oversized for function reliability....pro series barrels are tight and have better rifling to spin the bullet, sharper edges on the land cut of the barrel
.380acp does it. I use my mics. For checking plunk.i don't own a gage like that. Is that OK to use?
It’s a chamber gauge, it’s intended to check reloads to insure they will chamber ok. I’ve found that it’s great for most guns. I have a 45 acp that has a tight chamber. When I’m reloading for it I have to use the barrel to check rounds for it, because it’s chamber is tighter than my gauge.
@@redneckreloader I do use my barrel for the plunk after I make a lot of 500pcs. as well. I also have a Carbide ring gage at .374 from work...shhhhh lol ,and mic all my case lenghts keeping them between .670 to .675 I'm in the process of grabbing some gage pins from .375 to .385 to see exactly what my chamber is, the gage pins will give me exact measurement. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this I am brand new to reloading 🍺
So what was the problem when people were telling you to use the FCD that wasn’t solved by it? And how did you solve it?
I have a Remington 45acp. The barrel on it has next to no throat before the bullet gets into the lands and grooves. I suspected this, but took it to a gunsmith and had it confirmed. So the gun didn’t want to go into battery. He couldn’t fix it for me because he didn’t have a chamber reamer for 45 acp. I will get it fixed someday, but until then I have to seat my bullets very deep in the brass to get them to cycle. But my brass fits in the chamber just fine. That’s why the FCD wouldn’t help the problem.
Gotcha! Thank you
There’s no such thing as a “re-sizing die.”
Geesh, get to the point!
It's sad part about it if you can't deal with somebody.They claim they've been loaded forever but they don't know what they're doing and you don't know what you're doing