Confused about lee factory crimp die 357

[Rule3]

Jacketed bullets don’t have crimp grooves, they have cannelures to facilitate crimping without undermining the structural integrity of the jacket.

Gee, thanks again

 

[mdi]

If you know how to adjust your dies and make ammo that will properly chamber, there is no advantage to a "post crimping sizing die". I have been reloading revolver ammo since 1969 and never needed to resize my handloads when they were done. I have been reloading semi-auto ammo since 1988 and have never had to resize my handloads when they were done. If there were a chambering problem, I found out why and fixed it...

Out of curiosity I got a Lee FCD for 44 Magnum. It ruined mt perfectly sized cast bullets and the resulting ammo leaded the barrels and was not as accurate. I knocked out the carbide ring and the resulting crimp was so-so, no better than what I got with the seating die, so I went back to my Redding Profile crimp die and my FCD now resides in a landfill somewhere in So. Oregon...

Rereading the above posts, I believe the OP will probably be more confused than before he started this thread. So many "opinions", half facts, plain old ignorance and BS outweigh any truth about Lee FCD. First, many don't specify which FCD they are talking about and lump all them together in their comments. I would suggest to the OP to take this thread and all it's replies as entertainment only and go back to his reloading texts and use the info there.

 

[joneb]

For heavy 357 Mag with 158gr bullets I use the Lee collet crimp die(this is not the Lee FCD die) to prevent bullet jump in my revolver, it works well with cannelured jacketed and plated and non-cannelured bullets.

 

[FROGO207]

The only time I use a Lee FCD is for loading 30-30 ammo. It is nice not having to trim the necks every time and still get good crimps/ammo. My revolver ammo is just fine with the seat/crimp die supied with the set whether it is Lee, RCBS, Herters, Lyman or Ideal. For the record I have the FCD for 357 and tried using it. An extra step with no improvement so it sits collecting dust. YMMV

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've been looking at them for 44mag, I took my calibers the last time out with them and measured the last round each time and noticed a little jump. I was thinking 44mag, 357mag, 30-30 and 45-70. I've never noticed jump with 40, 45, 38 or 30-06, but I've never measured before. I can also see with a full mag of 556 they could also jump and also hit the feed ramp when chambering.

 

[drband]

I successfully use the FCD with .44mag

No issues leading, jumping crimp, or otherwise.

Ruger SBH, 7.5” barrel.