[mljdeckard]

I thought I was so clever, I bought a set of Lee 9mm carbide dies for $24, and then I realized that it doesn't have a crimping die. At least it doesn't STATE that it does. Does the seating die have an adjustable taper crimp like the RCBS ones do, or.....do I need to go buy a taper crimp die as well?

[rcmodel]

The seating die should also do the taper crimp if adjusted properly.

rc

[mljdeckard]

(Do you sometimes toy with the idea of sending me the answers to all of the questions you know I'm about to ask?)

[Legion489]

The Lee die sets should all have a depriming die, powder though die and a bullet seating/crimp die. The Deluxe sets have a separate crimp die (FCD) which I rather like.

[mljdeckard]

I like the combination when I'm using it, but I do find myself thinking it might be simpler if I didn't have to make two adjustments in the same die.

[rcmodel]

The crimp adjustment is a "set it once and forget it" thing if you throw away the Lee o-ring slip-nut and replace it with a locking lock ring.

I haven't touched any of my taper crimp die adjustment since the day I set them years ago.

The only time you need to change anything after that is the seating stem deph with different bullets.

rc

[Lost Sheep]

I like the combination when I'm using it, but I do find myself thinking it might be simpler if I didn't have to make two adjustments in the same die.
As others have posted, the 3-die set crimps and seats simultaneously. (taper crimp on the 9mm and most other semi-auto rounds, roll crimp on chamberings with rimmed cases)

These are the observations I have made with my sets (of both 4 and 3 die sets of both rimless and rimmed straight-walled cases, 9mm, 45ACP, .357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt).

It is simpler.

If using a single stage press the 4-die set will increase your stroke count 33% over the 3-die set.

If using a Lee 4-station Turret press AND auto-indexing, your stroke count will be the same, but with the 4th die you will take a little longer with it and if you don't use the 4th die that fourth stroke can be done just on the twisted part of the indexing rod, so a small amount of time can be saved.

The separation of the operations (in addition to being simper to adjust) allows a better crimp to be made. When the operations are combined, the bullet is being pressed into the case as the crimp is being applied. Crimping on a moving bullet sometimes creates problems. Judicious adjustment of the combination die prevents those problems. But separating the operations to seating and crimping is simpler, and if you want to apply a REALLY STRONG roll crimp might be the only way to go.

Note: Do not confuse the Crimping operation with the post-sizing operation featured by the Lee Factory Crimp Die. The post-sizing operation is accomplished by a carbide ring in the FCD and sizes the loaded round to SAAMI specs INDEPENDENTLY of the crimping operation. Many people who object to the post-sizing knock the carbide ring out of their FCD.

Also note: If you want to separate the crimping operation from the seating operation and you don't want the post-sizing function of the FCD you can simply get an extra seat-crimp die and unscrew the seating post of the extra seat-crimp die. Take the original seat-crimp die and adjust it so no crimp is applied, but the bullet seated properly.

So many choices.

Lost Sheep

[cfullgraf]

Also note: If you want to separate the crimping operation from the seating operation and you don't want the post-sizing function of the FCD you can simply get an extra seat-crimp die and unscrew the seating post of the extra seat-crimp die. Take the original seat-crimp die and adjust it so no crimp is applied, but the bullet seated properly.

So many choices.

Lost Sheep

Also, there are just crimp dies available without the Lee FCD post sizer.

Even more choices.