FCD for 380
- Thread starter chief99
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When I first started using the 9s, I resized some plated bullets.
ljnowell
Member
That's the issue. If you are loading bullets that are too fat for the carbide ring you can't do anything except quit using it. Or take out the ring and it's no longer the same thing.
Kimber Micro 380.
Cast Lee 102gr Lead.
Coated and sized to .356.
Powder, 231.
Distance 15 yards rested.
Crimped with the Lee Factory Crimp die.
This is my wife's carry gun. It runs flawlessly and shoot darn good even though I use that evil Factory Crimp die.
I will not let her carry (or myself) carry any handloads that have not been run through the LFCD.
For those that say it degrades accuracy, I say Hogwash. If that is what it does for them ,then they are doing something drastically wrong.
Cast Lee 102gr Lead.
Coated and sized to .356.
Powder, 231.
Distance 15 yards rested.
Crimped with the Lee Factory Crimp die.
This is my wife's carry gun. It runs flawlessly and shoot darn good even though I use that evil Factory Crimp die.
I will not let her carry (or myself) carry any handloads that have not been run through the LFCD.
For those that say it degrades accuracy, I say Hogwash. If that is what it does for them ,then they are doing something drastically wrong.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
I am almost tempted to start a poll about the FCD but I am sure it would make Walkalong waste a bunch of time editing posts form people who don't behave so I won't go there knowing it would cause a problem. sigh........
I will just leave it at some people like it and some don't, usually no middle ground.
I will just leave it at some people like it and some don't, usually no middle ground.
ljnowell
Member
Kimber Micro 380.
Cast Lee 102gr Lead.
Coated and sized to .356.
Powder, 231.
Distance 15 yards rested.
Crimped with the Lee Factory Crimp die.
This is my wife's carry gun. It runs flawlessly and shoot darn good even though I use that evil Factory Crimp die.
I will not let her carry (or myself) carry any handloads that have not been run through the LFCD.
For those that say it degrades accuracy, I say Hogwash. If that is what it does for them ,then they are doing something drastically wrong.
I guess all the people who have pulled bullets and found them resized by an undersized FCD were doing something wrong?
As I posted earlier, if the die is undersized, send it back.
Yes, using an "undersized" die would indeed be doing something wrong.
Would you continue to use a case gauge that was undersized? After all, the carbide ring is nothing more than a press mounted case gauge.
NINEX19
Member
OK. I have not seen factory ammo being loaded in person. I have only seen a few youtube clips of it being done. This statement is based on what appears to be a die that all rounds go through after they have been seated. If it is not a FCD, than what is it? Perhaps a 2 stage seating process?
ljnowell
Member
And when the ring is fine but a thick piece of brass and a lead bullet cause it to size the bullet? You still gonna send it back?
I'll just continue to load the way it has worked for over 100 years, without an unneeded "post sizing."
ljnowell
Member
A case gauge is for slipping a finished round into to see if it "passes". If so, it should fit all SAMMI chambers. The FCD squeezes a "finished" round down to make sure it "fits". After being squeezed down then it should fit into any SAMMI chamber.
The debate here is how much does it get squeezed, does it hurt anything (Reduce neck tension, size the lead bullet down etc), and then does that cause leading or accuracy loss in your application with your brass, your bullets, your gun, and your reloading technique.
It isn't a press mounted case gauge. That doesn't make it good or bad, just different. Without testing one cannot know for sure if it helps them, hurts them, or makes no difference.
buck460XVR
Member
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- Feb 6, 2007
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- 10,083
While I have never used a Lee FCD, I don't see how using one that is properly adjusted could possibly do any harm whatsoever when using jacketed bullets. I could see an issue when using lead bullets oversized for certain bores.
ljnowell
Member
That's the key, jacketed bullets. Unless, of course, you get an undersized one that squeezes jacketed bullets too. Which gas happened with some frequency.
lauderdale
Member
steve that's a nice grouping. The FCD's rank high on some cites (Mid.Way. Guess I just skipped them in the process when starting out. Did not get the results Looks like they sure have there use. When looking for 40 s&w redding dies for my t-7 I took a gander of the folks that rate them? Dude dog a poll would be great lead/jacketed? Teach me I want to learn! All in fun.
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All you really need to do is remove the flaring just enough to get the case mouth into spec for the bullet being seated. Since cast boolits are generally .001-.003" greater than jacketed bullets, their case diameter will be a smidgen larger than that for jacketed bullet rounds. I've been doing that for decades, separate from bullet seating, with near 100% success.
I do occasionally use a Lee FCD on bottleneck cartridges but even then it's more of an OCD thing than a necessity.
I do occasionally use a Lee FCD on bottleneck cartridges but even then it's more of an OCD thing than a necessity.
I do not have much use for the Lee handgun FCD. I feel it is a solution looking for a problem for the most part.
There are folks that like them and if it makes them feel better about their reloads, they probably will shoot better. Never under estimate the power of the psychological factor.
But, I have found a use for one Lee handgun FCD.
Recently, I have been have a great time plinking with 38 Special wadcutter rounds. I've been loading mixed cases by the 1000's.
Occasionally, maybe one every 500 rounds or so, I run into a cartridge that will not chamber. I suspect from the case wall thickness at the base of the bullet is a wee bit thicker than than most other cases hence causing the interference.
The Lee handgun FCD corrects the problem and I can shoot the rounds.
If i was shooting competition for record, no way would I accept these "corrected" rounds for my match ammunition.
There are folks that like them and if it makes them feel better about their reloads, they probably will shoot better. Never under estimate the power of the psychological factor.
But, I have found a use for one Lee handgun FCD.
Recently, I have been have a great time plinking with 38 Special wadcutter rounds. I've been loading mixed cases by the 1000's.
Occasionally, maybe one every 500 rounds or so, I run into a cartridge that will not chamber. I suspect from the case wall thickness at the base of the bullet is a wee bit thicker than than most other cases hence causing the interference.
The Lee handgun FCD corrects the problem and I can shoot the rounds.
If i was shooting competition for record, no way would I accept these "corrected" rounds for my match ammunition.
Gravedigger56
Member
I put a light crimp with a FCD on every round I have ever reloaded, pistol or rifle and have never had a single issue. All I have ever used though are Hornady FMJ and I have never even noticed any marks left on the bullet or brass after using the FCD that would indicate shaving/resizing. Maybe I'm just lucky.
ljnowell
Member
I put a light crimp with a FCD on every round I have ever reloaded, pistol or rifle and have never had a single issue. All I have ever used though are Hornady FMJ and I have never even noticed any marks left on the bullet or brass after using the FCD that would indicate shaving/resizing. Maybe I'm just lucky.
You won't see any marks. It will just squeeze down the bullet inside the case. If you feel the resistance as the case goes in and then back out, it's sizing.
The issue wasn't the ring, but that I had it set too deep, the carbide had nothing to do with swagging the bullet.
Gravedigger56
Member
Thanks, I'll watch for that. I've never felt any resistance, especially with pistol rounds, in fact sometimes I wonder if its even crimping until I check.
Good for you.
That means you are loading correctly and not relying on the carbide ring to fix your mistakes.
Those that find "resistance" are doing something wrong, or their die is out of specs and they are unable or unwilling to correct that problem. Instead they demonize the entire tool, as they simply could not get it to work.
ljnowell
Member
So, people that receive a defective product "demonize" said product? It couldn't be Lee's fault that the product is "demonized" could it? You know, since they made the defective product.
ljnowell
Member
Yeah, you were seriously over crimping. The truth is that it had nothing to do with the FCD. You could have done he same thing with a regular crimp die.
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