Are all Lee Bullet Seat dies the same?

Status
Not open for further replies.
BigMacMI

BigMacMI

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2016
Messages
127
Getting .380 die set to load for my wife. I will add FCD later if i need it. Question is, is the seating die in the 3 die set the same as 4? I couldn't decipher from the Lee website. I guess if the 4 die is the same as 3, i didn't know I COULD crimp in my seating step. I use the FCD to BARELY kiss the bell off of the case on my 9mm. But figured I would start with simpler setup to start on hers. I do know that crimp/seating can cause case crumble in 380, so that may decide things as well.
 
Seating and crimping in one operation is "simpler" like walking and juggling at the same time is "simpler."
 
BigMacMI said:
Getting .380 die set to load for my wife. I will add FCD later if i need it. Question is, is the seating die in the 3 die set the same as 4? I couldn't decipher from the Lee website. I guess if the 4 die is the same as 3, i didn't know I COULD crimp in my seating step. I use the FCD to BARELY kiss the bell off of the case on my 9mm. But figured I would start with simpler setup to start on hers. I do know that crimp/seating can cause case crumble in 380, so that may decide things as well.
Click to expand...
The 4 die set has an FCD and the seating die only seats.
 
The best way to know for sure is to write Lee and ask them. They usually get back to you in a day or two. I thought they were the same but I'm not sure.
 
Wreck-n-Crew said:
The 4 die set has an FCD and the seating die only seats.
Click to expand...

Wreck I believe you are mistaken, the lee 3 die and 4 die pistol sets include the exact same seating dies. In order to make full use of the 4th die, the seating die should be set so that no crimp is applied and the bullet is seated to full depth, then the factory crimp die is used to crimp the case mouth and post-size the case body. It is possible to use the 4 die set with just 3 dies if you set the seating die to seat and crimp at the same time.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mdi
BigMacMI said:
Getting .380 die set to load for my wife. I will add FCD later if i need it. Question is, is the seating die in the 3 die set the same as 4? I couldn't decipher from the Lee website. I guess if the 4 die is the same as 3, i didn't know I COULD crimp in my seating step. I use the FCD to BARELY kiss the bell off of the case on my 9mm. But figured I would start with simpler setup to start on hers. I do know that crimp/seating can cause case crumble in 380, so that may decide things as well.
Click to expand...
All of my Lee pistol bullet seating dies incorporate a taper that can allow seating and crimping in one step. The problem with this, in order for this step to work well, all of the cases need to be the exact same length. If you are using range salvaged brass of various head stamps, chances are they are different lengths too. This is where the Lee FCD shines. It will put the same amount of crimp on each round even if the case lengths are slightly different case to case. What this means to you, you don't have to normalize case length to achieve a consistent crimp, and more consistent overall round length. For me it is worth the slightly higher cost to have the FCD die. Just my humble opinion.
 
Last edited:
Wreck-n-Crew said:
The 4 die set has an FCD and the seating die only seats.
Click to expand...
Only if you leave the seating die set high in the press. All of my 4 die sets have the same seating die as the 3 die set and will also crimp if you set it as such.

This is from the Lee 4 Die Pistol Set Instructions: "Bullets should be seated deep enough to work through the gun’s action. See maximum overall length on charge table. If a crimp is desired, screw the die in slightly and test until the proper crimp is formed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mdi
Load Master said:
All of my Lee pistol bullet seating dies incorporate a taper that can allow seating and and crimping in one step. The problem with this, in order for this step to work well, all of the cases need to be the exact same length. If you are using range salvaged brass of various head stamps, chances are they are different lengths too. This is where the Lee FCD shines. It will put the same amount of crimp on each round even if the case lengths are slightly different case to case. What this means to you, you don't have to normalize case length to achieve a consistent crimp, and more consistent overall round length. For me it is worth the slightly higher cost to have the FCD die. Just my humble opinion.
Click to expand...

Load Master, case length is still critical using a lee PISTOL factory crimp die, as it crimps in the same fashion as any other seat/crimp die. The lee PISTOL factory crimp die is somewhat tolerant of case length and over crimping because of the carbide sizing ring that irons out over crimps as the case is withdrawn from the die. The lee RIFLE factory crimp die is not dependent on case length for crimp consistency because the crimp is applied by a collet the squeezes the case mouth concentrically.
 
DownEaster said:
Load Master, case length is still critical using a lee PISTOL factory crimp die, as it crimps in the same fashion as any other seat/crimp die. The lee PISTOL factory crimp die is somewhat tolerant of case length and over crimping because of the carbide sizing ring that irons out over crimps as the case is withdrawn from the die. The lee RIFLE factory crimp die is not dependent on case length for crimp consistency because the crimp is applied by a collet the squeezes the case mouth concentrically.
Click to expand...
From the Lee website for 9mm factory crimp die: "Trim Length is not critical so this extra operation takes less time than it would if cases were trimmed and chamfered."
 
The Lee FCD for pistols crimp just like any other crimp die except for the fact that the crimp ledge is in an insert instead of the die body. The insert has a little play due to the threads and the o-ring so it will "give" or "flex"a little on longer cases and so I assume that is where Lee gets the "Trim length is not critical" for their advertising.

I haven't found trim length "critical" with any auto cases, including .32 ACP, .380 and 9MM where cases lengths vary a lot. I adjust the seater or the separate crimp die (Either way is easy, one is just easier) to just remove the bell on the shortest cases, which means the longest cases get a bit of inward crimp, generally .001, or .002 at most. (With a proper taper crimp ledge, not the compromise one in Hornady 9MM/.38 Sleeves, it's not very forgiving.).

The Lee FCD for rifle and some straight walled calibers which uses a collet that squeezes in sideways on the case mouth really is indifferent to case length.

Lee makes good stuff that works well and loads good ammo, but their advertising takes a little poetic license at times IMHO.
 
Walkalong said:
Lee makes good stuff that works well and loads good ammo, but their advertising takes a little poetic license at times IMHO.
Click to expand...
LOL, isn't that the job of the marketing personal? I think this is true with most products on the market. Also known as marketing fluff. :)
 
All my Lee seating dies incorporate a crimping feature, roll for revolver rounds and taper for semi-autos. I would highly suggest the OP learn to adjust the dies correctly and forgo the FCD. Many use the FCD, but I have found no need to iron out mistakes if there are no mistakes made (no case bulges), so a "post seating/crimp sizing die" is unnecessary. My FCD now resides in a landfill somewhere in So. Oregon because it ruined some carefully sized lead bullets with it's "sizing after crimping" feature...

FWIW; I reloaded many thousands of rounds before I tried an FCD, out of curiosity. Never had any failures to chamber, but I was curious as to the crimp. The sizing die , aka FCD, swaged the cased down to minimum and doing so ruined my carefully sized cast bullets. Since I am able to load ammo that chambers well in all my guns without "post sizing", an FCD is of no use to me...
 
To answer the OP as simply as possible

Yes the 3 and 4 die sets have the same seating/crimping die. The seating die will also crimp of you want it to.

The 4 die withe FCD lets you crimp as a separate step.
 
I use the Lee FCD on semi-auto ammo but not for the post sizing, just to crimp. I can't remember the die ever post sizing one of those rounds.
 
He wanted to know if the Lee seaters were all the same.

Being an FCD has nothing to do with it letting you crimp in a second step. Any extra crimp die will.
 
Walkalong said:
He wanted to know if the Lee seaters were all the same.

Being an FCD has nothing to do with it letting you crimp in a second step. Any extra crimp die will.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on how you read his post. He wants to buy a set of 380 dies and then asks about crimping. So I took it has might as well buy the 4 die set.

Whatever


"Getting .380 die set to load for my wife. I will add FCD later if i need it. Question is, is the seating die in the 3 die set the same as 4? I couldn't decipher from the Lee website. I guess if the 4 die is the same as 3, i didn't know I COULD crimp in my seating step. I use the FCD to BARELY kiss the bell off of the case on my 9mm. But figured I would start with simpler setup to start on hers. I do know that crimp/seating can cause case crumble in 380, so that may decide things as well."
 
Sorry but my post was a little off and what I meant to say was (as others noted) that the Seating die in that 4 die set seats and crimps if set up that way but you can set it to seat only and run the FCD to do it's job. Just wanted to correct that little error.

Note to self: no quick replies when tired and don't be in a hurry....end note. :oops:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
problem with 380 lee seating die
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
HOWARD J
H
A
  • Locked
Lee dies question
Replies
20
Views
688
Mark_Mark
Mark_Mark
V
  • Locked
Compatability with Lyman M die and Lee seating die
Replies
3
Views
650
243winxb
243winxb
B
  • Locked
9mm & 357 Bullet Seat Dies The Same?
Replies
4
Views
361
BBDartCA
B
S
  • Locked
Preferred .357 bullet seating and crimp dies
2 3
Replies
51
Views
5K
Walkalong
Walkalong
Back
Top