Lee factory crimp die

[wbrosha]

I have always been partial to lee died and use several rifle dies. I am starting to reload for my pistols now as well and really want to know the difference in the 3 and 4 die set? The difference is the Factory Crimp Die? what exactly does it do and is it important to have or just over kill? I will be loading specifically for target shooting and training. For self defense I have other stuff
Thanx for your input!!
Wylie B

[iareConfusE]

It crimps, and resizes the entire finished cartridge to "factory spec". I use it to crimp as a separate operation from the seating/crimping die. When I was using the combination seating/crimping die I had a lot of brass getting shaved off from the case mouth, so I now crimp in a separate step.

A lot of people will tell you that the 4th die is unnecessary, and they may just be right, but I like to crimp separately for peace of mind. I don't want to be removing more material from the brass than necessary.

[Latigo]

I use the Lee factory crimp because its a taper crimp, and without it 44-40 cases won't chamber.

[Cowboy T]

Most of the problems I've seen with brass and/or bullet shaving tend to be the result of a misadjusted seating/crimping die. After tens of thousands of rounds with Lee's 3-die sets, I've found no real difference with my revolver rounds (I don't use a super-duper crimp, though--medium is my max). This might be different for semi-autos, but with semi-auto rounds, you really shouldn't have to crimp, only flatten out the belling that the powder-thru-expander die makes.

[checkenbach]

I use one in 9mm(late model)and .45ACP(early model). The 9mm unit is a must due the case bulge produced by Glocks(I have a G34 and M&P), it straightens it out pretty well. The .45 one is used for the taper crimp aspect.

[wbrosha]

So the question I have is will the 3 die set do the job in an XD40, beretta 96 in 40 and an XD45 and several different 1911's?

For the 4 die sets im looking at about $45 a piece as upposed to the 3 dis sets at $27 a piece?

[Chief-7700]

Most of the problems I've seen with brass and/or bullet shaving tend to be the result of a misadjusted seating/crimping die. After tens of thousands of rounds with Lee's 3-die sets, I've found no real difference with my revolver rounds (I don't use a super-duper crimp, though--medium is my max). This might be different for semi-autos, but with semi-auto rounds, you really shouldn't have to crimp, only flatten out the belling that the powder-thru-expander die makes.

Cowboy is offering up some very valuable information.
Semi-autos need a tapered crimp.

[Cowboy T]

I use one in 9mm(late model)and .45ACP(early model). The 9mm unit is a must due the case bulge produced by Glocks(I have a G34 and M&P), it straightens it out pretty well. The .45 one is used for the taper crimp aspect.

Hmm...I didn't know that Glock 9mm's gave the "Glock Bulge", too. I thought it was just the .40 S&W's that did that, so that's good info to know. Thanks!

Another option to un-bulge cases is Lee's new Bulge Buster, which does use the Factory Crimp Die for that round, and it does a total and complete resizing-down of the case, thus eliminating the bulge. It operates on exactly the same principle as their cast boolit sizer die setup. It comes in the following cartridge types.

380 ACP
40 S&W
45 ACP
45 Win Mag
10 mm
41 AE
45 GAP

- T

[iareConfusE]

Can the Lee FCD roll crimp as well, or can it only be adjusted for a taper crimp? What do you use to roll crimp revolver rounds? Just the standard seating/crimping die?

[Bill Steele]

I use the Lee FCD on my .357/.38 and .44, both with a roll crimp, works great.

[4D5auto]

Can the Lee FCD roll crimp as well, or can it only be adjusted for a taper crimp? What do you use to roll crimp revolver rounds? Just the standard seating/crimping die?

Lee is just a taper crimp die, I now use these in my RL550, obviously in the last station, excellent addition to have. Roll crimp will be in the standard dies you use and made in the adjustment.

[Bill Steele]

Here is the explanation of the Lee FCD.

Read the second paragraph to eliminate any confusion.

http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Lee-Carbide-Factory-Crimp-Die/