Lee carbide dies $26.99

[the86d]

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?promotionid=655605

Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 9mm Luger Product #: 140349
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 38 Special, 357 Magnum Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 38 Special, 357 Magnum Product #: 418312
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 ACP Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 ACP Product #: 661032
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 40 S&W, 10mm Auto Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 40 S&W, 10mm Auto Product #: 280965
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 30 Carbine Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 30 Carbine Product #: 447911
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 Colt (Long Colt) Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 Colt (Long Colt) Product #: 159803
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 44 Special, 44 Remington Magnum Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 44 Special, 44 Remington Magnum Product #: 703076
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 32 H&R Magnum Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 32 H&R Magnum Product #: 307299
Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 500 S&W Magnum Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 500 S&W Magnum

[BomarFab]

Thanks for the link, I will probably order the 9mm and 38/357 dies. What is the difference between 3 and 4 die sets? Will this do everything I need on a Lee press?

[Colt562]

thanks for the link, ill prolly order some 45 dies tomorrow

[Colt562]

Thanks for the link, I will probably order the 9mm and 38/357 dies. What is the difference between 3 and 4 die sets? Will this do everything I need on a Lee press?

3 die set has a sizer, expander, bullet seater

4 die set has a sizer, expander, bullet seater, factory crimp die

if you have a newer lee press you will also need a few breech lock bushings as well, they are like 8 bucks for 2

[the86d]

I would have liked to save >50% when I was in the market:
Dillon carbide pistol die set: 9mm 14406 $63.95

[BomarFab]

3 die set has a sizer, expander, bullet seater

4 die set has a sizer, expander, bullet seater, factory crimp die

if you have a newer lee press you will also need a few breech lock bushings as well, they are like 8 bucks for 2

Don't you need to crimp? So a 4 die set is necessary? Sorry I am new to this. But I want to load 357 for my lever action, and I feel crimping would be pretty important in a tube magazine. And I want to get a Lee turret most likely, or the Pro 1000.

[the led farmer]

The three die set has a bullet seating/crimping die included as does the 4 die.

However with the fcd you can seat then crimp in a different station which is preferred but not required

[the86d]

In my Dillon sets I have a 1) Size/Deprime, 2) Seat, and a 3) crimp die.

I don't know where a 4th comes into play...

[rsrocket1]

The 4th Lee die is the "Factory" die or FCD. In pistol rounds, it has a resizing ring and a taper crimper for auto loader calibers (40/9/45ACP) and a roll crimper for revolver calibers (38/357/44/45LC). The Lee seater/crimper die also crimps.

The FCD resizing ring "irons out" any bulges in the case that may form with oversized bullets. I won't go into the arguments for/against its use, but I found it helpful in some circumstances. I always buy the 4 die set when I buy the Lee pistol dies.

You could buy the FCD separately, but it wipes out any savings you get with the 3 die set compared to simply buying the 4 die set to begin with.

[Cowboy T]

I used to buy the FCD as well, when I first started. It's been several years since then,and I use the 3-die sets all the time. That experience has taught me that if you as a reloader are doing your job right, the FCD is not necessary.

For me, the biggest "bug-a-boo" was oversized cast boolits, since I do cast my own. If I don't size my boolits, occasionally a round is too fat to chamber. But I want the fattest boolits that will physically fit, to get a good gas seal. So, I called up Lee and ordered a boolit sizing die of the diameter that I actually needed for my firearm. This completely solved the problem.

Also, some folks do the "taper crimp" thing too much on their rimless rounds (e. g. 9mm, .40, .45 ACP). When that happens, there's no place for the case to go, so the brass buckles up. The resulting bulge makes the round too fat to chamber. *ALL* that you need to do here is flatten out the bell. You do not need to actually crimp at all. If the projectile doesn't have a crimp groove, I don't crimp. If it does have a crimp groove, then I crimp.

[the86d]

Oh, so this 4th die does similar to this crimping on some reloads I bought before I start with my press?: