FCD for 380

Not in my opinion, and I'm a lee fanboy. I won't use them on any caliber. They are unneeded and mask poor reloading habits.

ljnowell said:

Not in my opinion, and I'm a lee fanboy. I won't use them on any caliber. They are unneeded and mask poor reloading habits.

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Maybe this is true, but I use them for all calibers I load and have had nothing but good results.

I do on .380, but it is more because I would have an empty hole on my 4 hole turret press and I would have to cycle through that station anyway, so I just run them through the FCD lightly.

I won't use them on any caliber. They are unneeded and mask poor reloading habits.

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Um... OK, why not? How does this "mask poor reloading habits"? Factory loaded rounds usually go through this process on most every round that I know of. Are they doing an unnecessary step and trying to cover up their bad ammo? You don't crimp on revolver loads, or are you separating out using the FCD from a roll crimp?

You are correct, it is often unnecessary. I do find that it gives uniformity to how round chamber at the very least and since some bullet manufactures do not have as tight of tolerances as we would like, it gives a firm hold on those that are off by .001" or so. I have no complaints using the FCD.

I happen like the FCD and use it.
Some don't like it to each his/her own.

You already have the FCD, so I would load some rounds with it and some without it.
Shoot both for accuracy.
The results should help you decide if you want to use it for ammo for that pistol or not. The results may go either way or it may not make any noticeable difference.
Only your load, the way you load it with your pistol can tell you if it helps or hurts.
The FCD is adjustable and can be adjusted for to much crimp so bear that in mind.

NINEX19 said:

I do on .380, but it is more because I would have an empty hole on my 4 hole turret press and I would have to cycle through that station anyway, so I just run them through the FCD lightly.



Um... OK, why not? How does this "mask poor reloading habits"? Factory loaded rounds usually go through this process on most every round that I know of. Are they doing an unnecessary step and trying to cover up their bad ammo? You don't crimp on revolver loads, or are you separating out using the FCD from a roll crimp?

You are correct, it is often unnecessary. I do find that it gives uniformity to how round chamber at the very least and since some bullet manufactures do not have as tight of tolerances as we would like, it gives a firm hold on those that are off by .001" or so. I have no complaints using the FCD.

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No, factory rounds do not go through that post sizing step. I've seen factory rounds being produced. In a pistol it doesn't produce any different crimp than the standard seat/crimp die does, it just post sizes the loaded round at the same time.

As far as masking poor reloading habits, it's fairly obvious. People who aren't flaring properly, don't have sizing dies set properly, etc, use it to "iron out" the mistakes.

It will do nothing more than a properly set up die set.

What bullets are you using? i run 100g RMR and don't have to flare or crimp and make fine ammo.

The Lee crimp dies are a constant source of confusion. Many people don't realize that they come in two flavors: the Factory Crimp Die, mostly for rifle calibers, and (what the OP is using) The Carbide Factory Crimp Die, for straight-walled pistol calibers. Inside the latter is a carbide sizing ring that (if needed) sizes the finished round down to a diameter that will comfortably fit most chambers.

If you are doing everything right with your reloading, and using nominal size jacketed bullets, the carbon sizing ring does nothing...your rounds are already the correct size. However, if you're using slightly oversized cast bullets designed to obdurate and fill the entire groove diameter of the bore, the carbide ring has an undesirable result: it sizes your entire round so that the bullet is effectively swaged down to the size of a jacketed bullet.

So, when people tell you that the Carbide Factory Crimp Die isn't needed, or masks poor reloading habits, or produces undesirable results, they're right. If your jacketed rounds are being resized, you're doing something wrong upstream in your reloading process; they shouldn't need resizing. If your cast rounds are being resized (and they are), you're losing the advantage you were attempting to gain by using slightly over-diameter bullets in the first place.

FCD is almost a must when crimping .30-30. Anything else...Not so much.

It does two things. The first (Non adjustable) thing it does is "post size" the round which in theory will make sure it gets squeezed straight enough to chamber 100% of the time. It will do that for the most part. I prefer to use other methods to achieve this.

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To be more accurate, it "May" post size the loaded round and only if it is out of spec.

I use the LFCD on all my handgun ammo and it rarely if ever makes contact with the case walls and post sizes.

My 40/10 did it with everything I loaded.

I sent it back to Lee as it was out of spec.

I use my LFCDs with both lead and jacketed with out issue, even in 380.

If one is having trouble with their LFCD post sizing every round,(even lead) then they are doing something wrong or the die (like my 10/40) is out of spec.

Get the LFCD.
If you don't like the post sizing ring, just punch it out, then you have a great inexpensive Taper crimp die that will do everything all the others will do only better.

As you can see, mention Lee's FCD, for handgun cartridges, an you'll wind up with every conceivable answer. Personally the only time I tried an FCD, it ruined the accuracy of my lovingly loaded .44 Magnums. I have been reloading .45 ACP for prolly 23 years and 9mm for about 16 years and have never had a need for an FCD. If run into a chambering problem, I'll find out the reason and correct it, not hide it with a post searing sizing. Jes my experience/opinion...

I'd say nope, don't use an FCD on your 380 ammo, just learn to correctly adjust your dies and troubleshoot any problems that may arrive (like everybody did prior to Lee's introduction of their handgun FCD)...

Mine in .45 ACP squeezed the heck out of everything.

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Then your ammo is out of spec or the LFCD is out of specs. My guess would be that your particular 45 LFCD is the culprit.

Have you taken the time to measure the diameter of the carbide ring?

Might be a good idea, dontcha think?

steve4102 said:

Then your ammo is out of spec or the LFCD is out of specs. My guess would be that your particular 45 LFCD is the culprit.



Have you taken the time to measure the diameter of the carbide ring?



Might be a good idea, dontcha think?

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It happens all the time. It appears to be something lee has an issue making "in spec."

The easiest thing to do is throw the junk in the trash and go back to loading pistol ammo the same way people have for well over 100 years.

Delete, don't want to stray from the High Road.

I've got a .380 FCD that's gathering dust if anyone want to trade for it. I had considered knocking out the carbide sizing ring and turning it into a true crimp die but I never got around to it. I'd be happy to trade it for some .380 brass. It's in like new condition

I have 380/9mil./40/45 FCD's collecting dust to. Just don't like the pro's and con's of them.

I use mine in 9mm and 38/357. With proper set-up, I don't get resized bullets, whether lead or plated.

To each his own.

kcofohio said:

I use mine in 9mm and 38/357. With proper set-up, I don't get resized bullets, whether lead or plated.



To each his own.

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It isn't an issue of setup. There is no way to setup the carbide ring wrong. Either the round goes though it or it doesn't.

steve4102 said:

Then your ammo is out of spec or the LFCD is out of specs. My guess would be that your particular 45 LFCD is the culprit.

Have you taken the time to measure the diameter of the carbide ring?

Might be a good idea, dontcha think?

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If my semi-auto ammo feeds, chambers, and fires, it's within spec. If I seat oversize cast bullets and the brass swells to a couple thousandths over Lee's "spec.", but stills works in my guns, an FCD will ruin my ammo...

I like having a separate crimp step. I have the space for it on the tool head, and it makes adjustments easier. For 380, I happen to be using the Dillon die set that comes with a separate crimp die. For 45acp, I have the Lee FCD and like it, but I don't do cast bullets.

If you don't like the FCD, but you want to have a separate crimp operation, you can simply use another seating die with the seating stem removed.