FCD help

[cypher]

I have done a number of searches and could not find my answer.

Trying to load 9mm, spree brass, hornady 115 HP/XTP bullets

I am new to reloading (working on my first 50 loads). I have RCBS single stage and I am using the Lee 4 die set. All the dies have work fine and make perfect sense to me as far as how the function, until I got to the FCD.

I get how it works but i can not get mine to work. I used Lee's set-up instructions and the trouble I am having is the adjuster screw bottoms out in the back of the die and never touches the head of the case.

I pushed the ram up (w/ shell holder), inserted FCD till it hit the ram, tightend lock ring, backed out crimp adjuster, lowered ram, inserted round, pressed round into die (got resistance, round not fully inserted into die, did not want force), turned adjuster in to hit head of case but adjuster goes all the way in and never hits.

should the ram fully extend, inserting the round into the die completely?

I sized all my brass using the sizer die

Not sure what to do.

[Bobshouse]

Sounds to me like you might have your bullet seating die adjusted improperly and it is also crimping your rounds.

Check the setup videos here and make sure your's is identical...

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/HelpVideos/video.html

[Bug Splat]

Your round shouldn't go all the way in. All you are doing is just pushing the case rim back in from its flare. When you pull down on the arm and the round goes in you will feel a little bump kind like going over a speed bump. That's it. The case should not go all the way in but maybe just 3/4.

[Fjold]

Your round shouldn't go all the way in. All you are doing is just pushing the case rim mouth back in from its flare. When you pull down on the arm and the round goes in you will feel a little bump kind like going over a speed bump. That's it. The case should not go all the way in but maybe just 3/4.

Fixed

[Beelzy]

Throw out the FCD and use a Taper Crimp die.

[cypher]

I tried when I got home. Round goes in all the way fine but feels like when it is run through the resize die. Tried the same thig with my 45 ACP die set and same result. Adjuster will not ever touch the case mouth and does appear to even be possible base on die length. Am I missing something here???? Both 9 & 45 don't seem to work. Followed all lee instructions and tried various times always same result.

[XDRoX]

Throw out the FCD and use a Taper Crimp die.

+1000

[Bug Splat]

Fixed

D'oh Brain fart! Yeah I meant to say mouth not rim.

[Bug Splat]

I tried when I got home. Round goes in all the way fine but feels like when it is run through the resize die. Tried the same thig with my 45 ACP die set and same result. Adjuster will not ever touch the case mouth and does appear to even be possible base on die length. Am I missing something here???? Both 9 & 45 don't seem to work. Followed all lee instructions and tried various times always same result.

ok I just tested mine out. It does go all the way in but I just realized that I never take it up all the way in. I have found that I get enough of a roll crimp just from the carbide ring. I'm so used to just feeling the bump and bringing the round back down never actually going all the way up

The way I set it up was to lower the press arm bringing the shell case holder all the way up. Screw the die down until it makes contact with the case holder. lower the case holder and give the dies another 1/2 turn and lock it down. Now put in a round and bring it all the way up into the die. Screw the die adjustment down until it makes contact with the round. Lower the round and give the adjustment screw another 1/4-1/2 turn. That should be it.

So are you saying that the adjustment screw never comes in contact with the round as you adjust it down? The screw just hits the top of the die?

[TestPilot]

Hummm, 9mm case isn't straight, it tapers from .380" at the case mouth out to .391"...Not sure how you get the case mouth back to .380 from the bell if you only insert it part way through the FCD resizer ring and not up to the crimper. Admittedly, the crimp is only to remove the bell introduced for seating, but the resizer ring won't do that I don't think...Similar issue with the 45 which needs case mouth to be .473 or less to chamber/drop into/out of the case gage, while the case at the bottom is .476...

[cypher]

So are you saying that the adjustment screw never comes in contact with the round as you adjust it down? The screw just hits the top of the die?

This is exactly what I am saying. The screw never hits the round no matter how i adjust everything it never hits.

[Fishslayer]

Throw out the FCD and use a Taper Crimp die.

LFCD IS a taper crimp die.

Dunno about 9mm but .45ACP headspaces on the mouth of the case. A roll crimp wouldn't be a great idea.

[gotsig]

The loaded round must be fully inserted into the die. If it is in the die, the LFCD will hit the case mouth. If your getting too much resistance to fully insert round into die then you probably have too much flare (or bell).

[cypher]

okay this may be a stupid question, should my LFCD have three pieces?

One - the outter housing (the part the threads into the press)
Two - the crimp adjuster at the top
three - a lose part inside the die (i think this is call the Floating Crimper)

Attached is a photo for the 380 auto. Is my 9mm or 45 ACP FCD the same design?

My 9mm and 45 ACP FCD do not have the third piece.

Do I have some parts missing? if the dies is fully assembled and i shake it should it rattle? like the case flare die?

[gotsig]

okay this may be a stupid question, should my LFCD have three pieces?

One - the outter housing (the part the threads into the press)
Two - the crimp adjuster at the top
three - a lose part inside the die (i think this is call the Floating Crimper)

Attached is a photo for the 380 auto. Is my 9mm or 45 ACP FCD the same design?

My 9mm and 45 ACP FCD do not have the third piece.

Do I have some parts missing? if the dies is fully assembled and i shake it should it rattle? like the case flare die?

Yes they all should have 3 pieces. Pull your 380 die apart (Its simple) to see how they should look .