pistol reloading dies

[L_10_shooter]

I bought the Lee carbide 4 die set with the factory crimp die for 9mm and love having a separate crimp die. I have been reading that many people dont like the way the FCD resizes the case/bullet and how it crimps. I will need a ..40 die set soon and want to upgrade my 44mag dies. So my question is do you think the lee's dies are a bust and what dies do you use. I want to keep seating and crimping separate.

 

[Walkalong]

Lee dies work fine. I use some myself.

I personally don't like the post sizing feature of the carbide crimp die, but it crimps just fine.

The die is supposed to size only rounds that are too big, but in my experience they size too much.

Some folks think they are the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[lordgroom]

I have not compared other crimping dies to the FCD, but I like the FCD and crimping in a separate step.

 

[Farnorthdan]

Redding dies

seem to be the best dies out there to me, quality wise. I've never tried the lee dies. I have some RCBS dies and they work ok but just seem to be less stout than the redding.


DS

 

[ants]

Well, you own the dies. For heaven's sake, why don't you just use them and see for yourself?

As you can see, you ask one question on these forums and you get a dozen different answers, both pro and con. In the end, there is nothing more certain than learning for yourself.

I'll bet you load a couple thousand rounds and every one of them shoots just fine. Your question will fall silently into the achives of forum history.

 

[Walkalong]

I'll bet you load a couple thousand rounds and every one of them shoots just fine. Your question will fall silently into the achives of forum history.

Agreed

 

[L_10_shooter]

Well it sounds like the lee dies work fine so I will keep on buying/useing them. I was fishing for anyone that had problems with them, none so far.

 

[Bozo]

I use both Lee and RCBS. I bought the Lee because the store was out of RCBS at the time, I have no compaints.

 

[Galil5.56]

Well it sounds like the lee dies work fine so I will keep on buying/useing them. I was fishing for anyone that had problems with them, none so far.

If you use cast bullets sized a bit over nominal diameters, use thicker brass, or worst a combination of both then you might hate a FCD made for pistols/revolvers.

The sizer can ruin the bullet diameter you like, causing the bullet to be undersized. I found this out with their 44 mag FCD, and exchanged it for an over sized model. Some folks just hacksaw the sizing ring off, and in my experience if you initially size the case correctly, there is absolutely no need for a FCD. Nice idea I guess, but I think better money spent on a cartridge gage, or what I have used for decades... My own pistols chamber as a go/no-go gage.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I use the LFCD for 9mm and .45acp - every so often a round gets 'resized'. I like it since I began useing not a single FTF.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

My experience with Lee seating dies has not been good; there is too much lateral play in the seating plug, and if bullets start crooked, they are not straightened out. I like Hornady New Dimension pistol dies, their sizers are titanium nitride coated (same function as carbide), and their seating dies have a sliding alignment sleeve that gets and keeps the bullet aligned with the neck prior to insertion.

I tried a 45 colt (roll crimped) Lee CFCD, and did not like it. Seating and crimping simultaneously with the Hornady seating die is easier with better results in one step instead of two.

Andy

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've used only Lee dies because when I first started reloading money was tight and they didn't cost a lot. I was happy with them so I bought more.

 

[Sunray]

The only downside to Lee kit is the warrantee. It's limited and they want you to send any damaged kit to them for service. RCBS just fixes any issues. Even if you buy used or caused the damage. Never had any problems with any Redding kit I've had for eons.

 

[tasco 74]

i broke my LEE reloader press last summer so i told them lady there what no. part i needed which was the whole cast press body and a money order for the fee and about a week later i got my part and the check back UPS... i reload .357 mag -.38 spl with a LEE speed loader wih a custom swc bullet seater they made for me... i reoad off two single stage presses so i had the send my an extra die body so i can use both presses on my bench at the same time for different steps.... I LIKE LEE!!!!