Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
- Ranch Dog
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6458
- Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
- My Press Choice: Progressive
- Location: Inez, TX
- Has thanked: 1617 times
- Been thanked: 2851 times
Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
I was digging through the Lee web site and noticed on the Custom~Factory Crimp Die page that have a complete stock now of the FCDs that I offered through my store: 357 Mag, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, and 45 Colt. These are a must have for the levergun reloader!
Michael
- akuser47
- Moderator & Supporter
- Posts: 1397
- Joined: 30 Jun 2013 09:16
- My Press Choice: Single Stage
- Location: ohio
- Has thanked: 666 times
- Been thanked: 266 times
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: 30 Jun 2013 10:11
- My Press Choice: Turret
- Location: CT
- Been thanked: 19 times
Re: Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
I just heard about these on another forum and am waiting for the .357 Mag version I immediately ordered, even though I wasn't exactly sure why I needed it.Ranch Dog wrote:I was digging through the Lee web site and noticed on the Custom~Factory Crimp Die page that have a complete stock now of the FCDs that I offered through my store: 357 Mag, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, and 45 Colt. These are a must have for the levergun reloader!
I do load for my levergun. Could you tell me why this die is a special advantage for that? I load plated bullets exclusively, and mostly use Xtreme Bullets with cannelure but I still have a bunch of Berry's that I thought this would be good for crimping, both for levergun and revolver. Any other situations where it is better than roll or taper crimp?
Thanks.
- Ranch Dog
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6458
- Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
- My Press Choice: Progressive
- Location: Inez, TX
- Has thanked: 1617 times
- Been thanked: 2851 times
Re: Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
I use the FCD in place of the roll crimp. Small variations in case length do not matter and from the shooting I did many moons ago, the die tightens up the velocity variations. The only FCD I do not have right now is for my Rossi R92 chambered in 480 Ruger. The last time I ordered it Lee told me they couldn't make it. I ordered it again because the diameter and case length is inside the maximum specification and that has been several weeks ago so I should be good to go.Skinnedknuckles wrote:I do load for my levergun. Could you tell me why this die is a special advantage for that? …Any other situations where it is better than roll or taper crimp?
I personally see no reasons to use a roll over the FCD. Of course, any case headspacing on the case mouth needs a taper crimp.
Michael
- Fyodor
- Founding Member & Supporter
- Posts: 1516
- Joined: 04 Jan 2014 05:45
- My Press Choice: Progressive
- Location: Gernsbach, Germany
- Has thanked: 794 times
- Been thanked: 504 times
Re: Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
For straight walled cases the factory crimp doesn't have any use, I think. It is like a post loading resize die, that can cause bullets become loose, especially soft lead bullets. I have a lever gun in 38spl but don't use the FC die and never missed it.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
- Evelyn Beatrice Hall, often misattributed to Voltaire
I think I'm thinking, therefore I may possibly be.
- Evelyn Beatrice Hall, often misattributed to Voltaire
I think I'm thinking, therefore I may possibly be.
-
- Founding Member & Supporter
- Posts: 1099
- Joined: 21 Jan 2014 20:57
- My Press Choice: Progressive
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Has thanked: 182 times
- Been thanked: 357 times
Re: Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
I use Lee FCD on 40 s&w, and 380 auto. The bullets are hard cast, it does swag the bullet further but they do not come loose.
I did get some cast bullets for the 380 from a diferent source once, they were soft and were too loose in the case after passing through the FCD. I had to adjust the die so the carbide ring just started on the case enough to remove the flare. Worked ok for that batch of bullets.
I did get some cast bullets for the 380 from a diferent source once, they were soft and were too loose in the case after passing through the FCD. I had to adjust the die so the carbide ring just started on the case enough to remove the flare. Worked ok for that batch of bullets.
- Ranch Dog
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6458
- Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
- My Press Choice: Progressive
- Location: Inez, TX
- Has thanked: 1617 times
- Been thanked: 2851 times
Re: Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
Fyodor wrote:For straight walled cases the factory crimp doesn't have any use, I think. It is like a post loading resize die, that can cause bullets become loose, especially soft lead bullets. I have a lever gun in 38spl but don't use the FC die and never missed it.
Skinnedknuckles was asking about the Collet FCDs rather than the handgun Carbide FCD which is a different animal. The Collet FCDs are for use with rifle cartridges and uses a collet that moves in horizontally to crimp the case mouth. These dies do not post-size the cartridge as it leaves the die. A few years back, I talked Lee into making them for the handgun cartridges that are common to leverguns and Lee has continued to make them, offering them on their Special Order pages. Lee's initial objection to the dies was that the they felt the shorter collet for these rimmed cartridges would only last 150,000 cycles. My reply was "So, I will take 100 of each!"Steve wrote:I use Lee FCD on 40 s&w, and 380 auto. The bullets are hard cast, it does swag the bullet further but they do not come loose.
I did get some cast bullets for the 380 from a diferent source once, they were soft and were too loose in the case after passing through the FCD. I had to adjust the die so the carbide ring just started on the case enough to remove the flare. Worked ok for that batch of bullets.
Michael
- RBHarter
- Founding Member
- Posts: 2048
- Joined: 13 Mar 2014 19:45
- My Press Choice: Single Stage
- Location: The green hell 90 miles north of Texarka
- Has thanked: 76 times
- Been thanked: 673 times
Re: Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
Golly thats only 3x what I plan on shoothing in the next 40yr or so...... If I can adjust it to just hit the RBH w/brass from the 92' Ross-chester in 45 Colts .
Just a Red neck,White boy, Blue blood American.....
- Fyodor
- Founding Member & Supporter
- Posts: 1516
- Joined: 04 Jan 2014 05:45
- My Press Choice: Progressive
- Location: Gernsbach, Germany
- Has thanked: 794 times
- Been thanked: 504 times
Re: AW: Collet FCD Dies for Short Cartridges
Yes, I know the difference between the handgun and the rifle type factory crimp. I never liked that they use the same name for these completely different dies.Ranch Dog wrote: Skinnedknuckles was asking about the Collet FCDs rather than the handgun Carbide FCD which is a different animal.
I didn't know they made collet type dies in these calibers. Sorry for the confusion.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
- Evelyn Beatrice Hall, often misattributed to Voltaire
I think I'm thinking, therefore I may possibly be.
- Evelyn Beatrice Hall, often misattributed to Voltaire
I think I'm thinking, therefore I may possibly be.