These comments are for semi-auto pistol FCD.
I believe the FCD was originally meant to be used with jacketed bullets and jacketed bullet diameters as many posted the inside diameter of the carbide sizer ring won't affect finished round that's spec'd for jacketed bullets.
K96771 said:
Mine does it with lead bullets, but rarely if ever with copper bullets.
Personally, I make my jacketed diameter loads work without the FCD. Making the finished rounds reliably fit the tight chambers of Lone Wolf barrels does take some work, but have been happily doing it for quite a few years. My FCDs collect dust in the die box. For 40S&W, you could use it to reduce the bulged case base that regular resizing die can't reach by push-through sizing. But if your cases continues to bulge like that, I would reduce the powder charge/change powder or use a tighter chambered barrel that's fully supported instead of continuing to rework that part of the case which may weaken it.
I really don't see any problem of using FCD for
jacketed diameter bullets, especially if one wants to seat and taper crimp in separate steps.
However, some people who used the FCD for
larger diameter lead bullets have reported having issues with leading, neck tension and/or bullet setback along with decreased accuracy. Well, then don't use the FCD for larger diameter lead bullets.
If the carbide sizer ring post-sizes the lead bullet, brass case will spring back away from the lead bullet which remains in the post-sized diameter. This may lead to reduced bullet-to-barrel fit, reduced neck tension, increase bullet set back and inconsistent chamber pressures.
918v said:
The carbide ring does not touch the bullet. It touches the case. It swages the case and the case in turn swages the bullet wchich is sitting in the case. And Yes, my 45 ACP FCD reduced .452" bullets to .451"
Another issue raised is the swaging of lead bullets increasing the OAL. If you are using max load data and measuring the OAL
before the finished round is post-sized with the FCD, then you may have issues, especially if you are at Max OAL for your barrel.
918v said:
Chuck Perry said:
Check your OAL before and after running a round through the Lee FCD. It's been my experience, particularly with lead bullets, that the round will be slightly longer after it's been through the die.
That's because the bullet is swaged down in the case, thereby making it longer.
Many posted that they want to seat and taper crimp lead bullets in separate steps as to reduce the shaving of the bullet sides. I add .020" to the diameter of the lead bullets to determine the taper crimp to use (so for .356" bullet, .376" taper crimp; for .401" bullet, .421" taper crimp; for .452" bullet, .472" taper crimp, etc.) and rarely have issues with shaving of the bullets. But I do appreciate the rationale and for this, you can opt to knock out the carbide sizer ring so you can seat/taper crimp in separate steps without post-sizing the lead bullet.
RandyP said:
I would also suggest that when in doubt - ask the guy who made it - I have called and found Lee's customer service staff to be extremely courteous, friendly and helpful.
Yes they are and offer the service of enlarging the diameter and repolishing the carbide sizer ring for a nominal fee. This way you can use the FCD for lead bullets without worrying about post-sizing the bullet diameter and seat/taper crimp in separate steps.
k4swb said:
I got at least two large batches of plated bullets from two different mfgs. that were out of round. All the bullets in each batch were not OOR and I guess as I was checking things I was unlucky enough to miss all the bad ones.
Keep in mind that not all plated bullets are sized the same as jacketed. Berry's bullets are typically sized similar to lead bullet diameters and may get post-sized like lead bullets. X-Treme 9mm bullets are sized at .355"/.356"/.357" and PowerBond 9mm bullets are sized at .3555" so if you find yourself post-sizing these bullets, they may not be "out of round" but simply sized larger.
Now, if Lee Precision would offer FCDs with different sized threaded carbide sizer like in the discontinued Speed Dies, it would solve problems for reloaders wanting to use the FCD for both jacketed and lead diameter bullets.
BTW, John Lee of Lee Precision did say he may consider such a product if the market interest was sufficient. So, if you are interested in such a product, speak up on this thread so we can let Mr. Lee know.
Discontinued Lee Speed Die showing removable threaded sizer ring.