Factory Crimp Die

[ak4777]

Factory crimp die...is it worth it? I'm about to get the Lee Pro 1000 (First time reloading, spending 450 500 on a RCBS 2000 or Dillon 550 is not worth it, esp when dillon only accepts dillon dies (now how much will that run me?!).

Now I know that theres only 3 steps, depriming, priming then case widening + charge, then bullet set and crimp. Now is this crimp good enough for me to skip factory crimp for lee? I heard wonderful things about the FCD but also herad that the normal crimping is plenty. What do you guys think?

I hear da lot of bad things abou tthe loadmaster...so I decided not to get that, even though its 5 station.

[spencerhut]

For a first time or infrequent hand loader the FCD will break the reloading process into smaller chunks. Instead of seating and crimping you can seat and then crimp in two separate steps. After a while you will learn how to properly setup your seat/crimp die and the FCD will become unnecessary.

Think of it as training wheels or a crutch if you never move away from it.

[bubbapug1]

A coupe of observations and comments.

Why would you need a FCD when a normal crimping die does the trick? More Lee misinformation...is it a crimping die or a sizing die? What exactly is he trying to sell you??? It adds one more additional step.

First, I never used a dillon die on my dillon 550b machine. The only company that plays that game is Lee. I use RCBS and Redding.

Second, I never used a FCD, and perhaps if Mr. Lee made his crimp/seating die correctly you wouldn't need a secondary die to make the crimp tighter. I have had to smack a kinetic bullet puller over ten times to get a 75 gr 223 round loose from a RCBS crimp without a cannulure...thats a hell of a lot of recoil...that bullet is not going anywhere...and yes, I backed that off a bit so now I only need six blows to break it free.

Third, you don't really own a reloading machine, you just kind of are in their life for a period of their existance. if you want to pull on a hollow flexing handle, glued on wood knob, and deal with rube goldberg devices made of pot metal go for the Lee, but if you want to have a nice solid machine that won't flex under pressure and will hold its value (or apprieciate over time) go with a Dillon, RCBS, or a Hornandy. You will always get your money back when its time to sell.

And last but not least, stay away from the Lee book, its crap, its 90% slamming rcbs, dillon, lyman, and hornandy. Get the ABC's of reloading or some other respectable document that acutally deals with reloading and not tearing down dillon, RCBS, Hornandy, or MEC...

Lee is the black sheep in the industry, read the reviews on midway from some poor suckers who actually bought his machines. They have their place, but for prolonged output in heavy cartrdiges you will be sorry.

Watch craigslist for a used machine. I bought a almost new 550b once for $200.00 with two full set of dies and 500 used primed 45 acp brass....not a bad deal, and they pop up from time to time.

Factory crimp die...is it worth it? I'm about to get the Lee Pro 1000 (First time reloading, spending 450 500 on a RCBS 2000 or Dillon 550 is not worth it, esp when dillon only accepts dillon dies (now how much will that run me?!).

Now I know that theres only 3 steps, depriming, priming then case widening + charge, then bullet set and crimp. Now is this crimp good enough for me to skip factory crimp for lee? I heard wonderful things about the FCD but also herad that the normal crimping is plenty. What do you guys think?

I hear da lot of bad things abou tthe loadmaster...so I decided not to get that, even though its 5 station.

[mif_slim]

^ You have to smack it 7 time to break free??!!?? Thats a little too tight. I can usually smack it free with 1-3 strikes.

[XDRoX]

Bubba speaks the truth.

The LFCD is a clever marketing ploy to sell something to a bunch of people that they don't need.

And in regards to dies, Dillon presses will take other brands of dies. It's just the SDB that only takes special dies.

ak4777,
this will be my last plea to consider a different press. Lee makes great cast single stage and cast turret presses. Their progressive presses are not in the same league as Dillon or Hornady. Not only that, but they will give you years of trouble and headaches.

The Lee Classic Turret is a great press for the price/speed/quality. I read complaint after complaint regarding the loadmaster and pro1k. Consider a LCT.

[Southpaw45]

Lee Factory Crimp Dies are a great addition to your reloading. I use one for every pistol caliber I reload and for rifle ammo with cannelures. Seating bullets and applying a crimp at the same time didn't work for me. Especially with lead bullets.

[ojisan]

FCD or not, I prefer a separate die to crimp as the separate final step on my 550.
I find that when loading lots of lead handgun rounds, combining the seat and crimp operations in the same step tends to scrape off bullet lube and some lead.
This scraped off lube and lead ends up being packed up inside the seating die, resulting in inconsistent seating depth and angled bullets.
Crimping as the final step eliminates this problem and allows faster, higher volume loading since you don't have to stop and fix bad rounds or clean dies out every 100 rounds or so.

[Divernhunter]

One good thing if he buys the lee press. He may give up reloading fast and then there will be more supplies for the rest of us.

[ak4777]

Okay thanks. You seriously hate the lee presses that much? I don't understand...have you all owned one? Or you just talking smack? To be honest I was pretty set on the Lee press. I know several people who own one, and they seem to be really happy with the results. So whats the deal? Lee has an unconditional 2 year warrantee, wouldn't that be fine? I don't know...500 for a press...hmmm

Oh...and I'm 21...maybe thats why I'm watching my budget. Please stop being rude about me not having enough money. I guarantee though, when I graduate with my degree, Ill be making more than you. Some people just don't make as much too, luckily I'll have a mechanical engineering degree so thats fine money. So seriously, there are guys on this forum who have Lee Pro 1000's and they love them. What you guys are saying is kind of rude to them, so please. I respect your feedback and honestly consider your stuff, but don't tell me oh maybe he'll get out of reloading so there's more supplies. That kind of crap won't do man. We're here to support each other, not to take each others stuff. You're on the wrong forum for that.

I enjoy your feedback, and am really considering a Dillon 550, just worried about startup costs. I mean I want that damn press but I haven't even tried reloading yet, and it doesn't make sense to me that say I wanted to get into road racing for me to go out and get a Race ready ferrari when I haven't even tried it yet. Makes more sense to use that cheaper one, although it may give you more problems, maybe its a better learning curve? Plus, i herad if you keep the press clean and take good care, it'll last a long time.

[freonr22]

ak4777, I bet if you search Here on Calguns, you will find a couple of things. Possibly a reloading clinic in your area, or someone (more than one) who has different presses so you could put your hands on them and see how they work. I have seen more than one offer like that here on the forum.

I am too far away from you to be of service, but I am sure people are in your area. I agree it can be a lil chunk of dough. so BEFORE buying. put feelers out there

[freonr22]

you might contact some people in this thread and inquire as they may be in your area...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232460&highlight=clinic

[mif_slim]

Okay thanks. You seriously hate the lee presses that much? I don't understand...have you all owned one? Or you just talking smack? To be honest I was pretty set on the Lee press. I know several people who own one, and they seem to be really happy with the results. So whats the deal? Lee has an unconditional 2 year warrantee, wouldn't that be fine? I don't know...500 for a press...hmmm

Oh...and I'm 21...maybe thats why I'm watching my budget. Please stop being rude about me not having enough money. I guarantee though, when I graduate with my degree, Ill be making more than you. Some people just don't make as much too, luckily I'll have a mechanical engineering degree so thats fine money. So seriously, there are guys on this forum who have Lee Pro 1000's and they love them. What you guys are saying is kind of rude to them, so please. I respect your feedback and honestly consider your stuff, but don't tell me oh maybe he'll get out of reloading so there's more supplies. That kind of crap won't do man. We're here to support each other, not to take each others stuff. You're on the wrong forum for that.

I enjoy your feedback, and am really considering a Dillon 550, just worried about startup costs. I mean I want that damn press but I haven't even tried reloading yet, and it doesn't make sense to me that say I wanted to get into road racing for me to go out and get a Race ready ferrari when I haven't even tried it yet. Makes more sense to use that cheaper one, although it may give you more problems, maybe its a better learning curve? Plus, i herad if you keep the press clean and take good care, it'll last a long time.

Hey, since your 21 and into engeineering I have a buddy there that can help you with your setup. JT?! Where are you?! haha.

Anyways, maybe all three of us can meet up at the range and discuss this. Internet folks are always bashing on low end equipments. Many folks own Blue koolaid, but many shooters I know and met uses RCBS or the like... Wheres all the blue koolaid users?! Oh, on the net.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I use a pretty light crimp on everything I load. I don't really see the point in stressing my brass that heavily. As long as the projectile is secure and the round chambers, I'm good.

[Mikeb]

I use a Lee Loadmaster and I like it. I use the Factory crimp die and I like that too. It seems to iron out any wrinkles in the round after the bullet is seated. I load .45 acp and .44 mag on my Lee and use a Rockchucker for rifle rounds.
take care
Mike

[XDRoX]

Okay thanks. You seriously hate the lee presses that much? I don't understand...have you all owned one? Or you just talking smack? To be honest I was pretty set on the Lee press. I know several people who own one, and they seem to be really happy with the results. So whats the deal? Lee has an unconditional 2 year warrantee, wouldn't that be fine? I don't know...500 for a press...hmmm

Oh...and I'm 21...maybe thats why I'm watching my budget. Please stop being rude about me not having enough money. I guarantee though, when I graduate with my degree, Ill be making more than you. Some people just don't make as much too, luckily I'll have a mechanical engineering degree so thats fine money. So seriously, there are guys on this forum who have Lee Pro 1000's and they love them. What you guys are saying is kind of rude to them, so please. I respect your feedback and honestly consider your stuff, but don't tell me oh maybe he'll get out of reloading so there's more supplies. That kind of crap won't do man. We're here to support each other, not to take each others stuff. You're on the wrong forum for that.

I enjoy your feedback, and am really considering a Dillon 550, just worried about startup costs. I mean I want that damn press but I haven't even tried reloading yet, and it doesn't make sense to me that say I wanted to get into road racing for me to go out and get a Race ready ferrari when I haven't even tried it yet. Makes more sense to use that cheaper one, although it may give you more problems, maybe its a better learning curve? Plus, i herad if you keep the press clean and take good care, it'll last a long time.

I have never owned a Lee progressive, but I do own 4 presses (RCBS, Lyman, and Dillon). But on all the big reloading forums (this is not one of them), there are countless problem threads regarding Lee's progressives. I do not think you need to spend a lot to get a nice setup. There are many single stage and turret presses that are very inexpensive that will last you a lifetime with no problems.

An RCBS Rock Chucker is a great press and costs like $120. A Lyman would be a even less expensive. A nice Lee single stage is probably around $70 (guessing).

The Lee Classic Turret is one of the best presses available. And is like $90. And it'll load over 200 rounds an hour.

I'm by no means trying to make anyone feel bad or put down certain presses. I'm just trying to let you know that their are other options that IMO are better than a Lee prog.