A poll on how we use the FCD on handgun brass

.38 Special said:

The other thread on FCD use got me curious about how folks do it themselves.

Click to expand...

There was another thread??

Not sure you choices are clear or cover JUST crimping with it. What’s the reliability piece?

I don't think any of the options apply to me, but I checked the first because it was the closest. I crimp separately with my RCBS seater with the plug removed.

I plunk my .45 acp cast reloads and any that fail I run through the FCD. I've worked at my process and the failure rate now is probably 1%, thanks mainly to a Redding competition seater. I don't load much jacketed in .45 ACP but can't remember ever having a problem when I did. Likewise with 9mm where I only load jacketed.

I started off using the FCD with my 230gr lead 45 ACP rounds. Since then I have switched to 200gr SWC and only taper crimp on the last station. No FCD needed.

Dillon 550C w/Dillon Dies
Station 1: Deprime(if needed)/Resize/Prime
Station 2: Powder/Bell
Station 3: Bullet Seating
Station 4: Taper Crimp

I picked the second choice, my loads don't interact with the ring so I have no need to remove it. In a moment of honesty I have swaged 3 or 4 rounds and shot them but it's not a normal practice and that's out of thousands.

.38 Special said:

Yeah, I wasn't quite sure how to word it. Lee advertises the FCD partly as insurance against oversized or otherwise out-of-spec rounds which might tie up the gun, and I assume at least some people use it for that purpose. So I'm wondering if people use the die purely as a crimp die, or purely as a post sizer, or both.

Click to expand...

99% of the time, when I use it, it’s for taper crimp only. No extra mumbo jumbo (technical term).

I use the Lee FCDies for all the straight wall pistol cases I shoot not because of the sizing ring but because I had the occasional buckled case with the T7 when using the 3 die set up. Since I had a set of Lee dies that I liked I just purchased FCD for all the sets of dies (mostly Hornady Carbide) to go to the 4 step process on the T7s.

Haven’t had a buckled case since, I’m happy with the crimps I’m getting and the sizing ring is just gravy. I could just as easily live without it but it’s there and I can occasionally feel it working so it must be taking care of the odd sizing discrepancy that occurs for whatever reason. Happens so infrequently I haven’t felt the need to investigate it further.

If I were to use one, I would use it as designed; a crimp die with a sizing ring (for consistent cartridge diameter)...

Lately I've been thinking on getting an FCD for 38/357 and knocking out the carbide ring. Setting crimp seems like it would be easier just turning a knob...

I use the Lee FCD die VERY carefully! Always making sure the bullets are not getting swaged.

The only FCD I have is for .40 / 10mm and the only way I use it is in the Lee APP for bulge busting the cases during case prep.....

mdi said:

If I were to use one, I would use it as designed; a crimp die with a sizing ring (for consistent cartridge diameter)...

Lately I've been thinking on getting an FCD for 38/357 and knocking out the carbide ring. Setting crimp seems like it would be easier just turning a knob...

Click to expand...

I think you will like it. It's seems the semi autos is where the issues and hate seem concentrated. On the way in you may feel a slight bump from brass flare and nothing on the way out. If your swaging with the ring you feel it both directions.

I follow the instructions included with the Lee FCD. There is a reason they come with instructions. Been doing that for at least 75,000 rounds of pistol cartridges.

kidneyboy said:

I follow the instructions included with the Lee FCD. There is a reason they come with instructions. Been doing that for at least 75,000 rounds of pistol cartridges.

Click to expand...

Instructions, blasphemy!!!!!

.38 Special said:

The other thread on FCD use got me curious about how folks do it themselves.

Click to expand...

I can't answer. I don't use the FCD for reliability, I use it for looks. Pure cosmetics. It makes a nice, clean, even crimp and irons out any wrinkles in the brass the sizing die leaves behind or the seating/crimping die introduce. I'm not even sure it improves reliability but I am sure it makes my loaded ammo more purty.

AJC1 said:

Instructions, blasphemy!!!!!

Click to expand...

The first page of every instruction manual should read, "Now that you have retrieved these instructions from the trash..."

GeoDudeFlorida said:

The first page of every instruction manual should read, "Now that you have retrieved these instructions from the trash..."

Click to expand...

That's about an accurate statement.

AJC1 said:

Instructions, blasphemy!!!!!

Click to expand...

I know. If something comes with instructions I read them.

kidneyboy said:

I know. If something comes with instructions I read them.

Click to expand...

It's a wonder you're still alive.

Seat with the seater and only “crimp” enough to flatten any flare, then crimp with FCD without the carbide sizing ring.

I firmly believe the sizing, expanding, and seating processes should produce functional ammunition, without causing any case buckling or bulging which would dictate a need for a final draw on the case size. So I don’t care for the sizing ring. I don’t use a lot of FCD’s any more - and only for handgun loads when I do, but I don’t have the carbide ring in any of my straightwall dies.

I’m also in the “none of the above” category.

The only FCD die that I have is for 38 Special.

I load wadcutters primarily for plinking with mixed head staped cases occaissionally I’ll get one that will not chamber. Instead of forcing it or disassembling it, I run it through the FCD die and shoot it the next time.

I’d guess I get less than 2 or three cartridges in a 500 round run that won’t chamber.

Otherwise, I gave not found a need for an FCD die.

I have them, like them, and use them.
The main benefit for me is how easy it is to set or adjust the crimp on the fly. I usually run small quantities of different bullet shapes and weights.

AJC1 said:

I think you will like it. It's seems the semi autos is where the issues and hate seem concentrated. On the way in you may feel a slight bump from brass flare and nothing on the way out. If your swaging with the ring you feel it both directions.

Click to expand...

If I got an FCD, the first thing I would do is knock our the carbide ring. I have no need to resize any handload, revolver or semi-auto, after crimping. I had an FCD for 44 Magnum years ago (curiosity only) and used it once. It swaged my perfectly sized cast bullets down so I knocked out the ring. The resulting crimp was just so-so and I already had a Redding Profile Crimp die so the FCD now resides in a landfill somewhere in So, Oregon. I am back to reloading 38/357after a 5 year layoff (other calibers came into my life) and guessed crimp adjusting would be easier with an FCD just turning a knob. If I dig deeper in my "junk stash" I might find a decent roll crimp die, but the FCD modified was just a thought...