Why no FCD with 380 dies?

gregjc9 · February 2, 2010, 09:20 AM

I will be adding 380 ACP to my reloading, and noticed the Lee carbide pistol dies do not include the FCD die. Wondering why. PLEASE - I already know there are a lot of conflicting opinions on whether or not a FCD is worth the cost, or effort, and I dont want to stir that pot. If the FCD isnt really needed with the smaller 380 caliber, and can be handled with the seater/crimper die, that's all I need. TIA

Sevens · February 2, 2010, 09:34 AM

I would think it's about demand, or Lee's slow reaction to demand?

My best theory is that there is no FCD for .380 for the same reasons there has been no .380 ammo to speak of since the Barackolypse. As in... everyone and their brother wanted it, but there was little (or none!) and the industry is slow to react.

I can tell you that when I bought my .380 dies more than a year ago, I had to order them from Lee direct because nobody, and I mean NOBODY had .380 dies in stock. They are easier to find now, because Lee ramped up production of them.

But if there was no .380 FCD before Nov 08, that was probably because there was little or no demand for it. And I'm sure that Lee has been killing themselves three times over simply producing as many die sets and presses that they are already tooled up to produce rather then sitting down and designing a whole new .380 FCD that they didn't already have in their lineup.

If you really want one and want to help the process, why not send 'em an e-mail or call them?

RidgwayCO · February 2, 2010, 10:00 AM

It is a mystery why Lee doesn't sell a four-die set in .380 Auto that includes the FCD. If you want one, however, you can buy it from MidwayUSA:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=668253

Personally I've stopped using the FCD, but to each his own.

gregjc9 · February 2, 2010, 10:19 AM

Thanks guys, appreciate it. I just put my order in, now to find once-fired cases.

spacecoast · February 2, 2010, 11:25 AM

You have to sneak up behind guys shooting them at the range, catch the warm cases on the fly, stuff them in your pocket and then move to the next stall, where you do a 180 and repeat.

TigerBight · February 7, 2010, 04:35 AM

Quote:

You have to sneak up behind guys shooting them at the range, catch the warm cases on the fly, stuff them in your pocket and then move to the next stall, where you do a 180 and repeat.

Good stuff spacecoast. I had to purchase a 380 fcd seperate as well I mostly use it without the crimp portion or just a touch of crimp. I have found factory loads that will not cycle in my lcp,they will do so fine after I run them into a lee fcd without the crimp just sizing imagine that

TigerBight · February 7, 2010, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Thanks guys, appreciate it. I just put my order in, now to find once-fired cases.

I found a guy that sells 1000 once fired for 65 shipped from ut. I also checked with the local range and the brass clean up guy sold me 500 for $20 let me know if you are in need i'll see if I can hook ya up.

gregjc9 · February 7, 2010, 09:32 AM

I appreciate that, and just might take you up on that. I got tired of being outbid for 380 brass on Gunbroker (someone is outbidding everyone and trying to scarf it all up), finally found a company online yesterday that had some on hand, so I ordered 1200.

NCMountain · February 7, 2010, 05:06 PM

I bought the FCD with my 3 piece carbide .380 dies. I want the FC on my rounds. Personal preference I guess.

I don't know why it is not a 4 die set

Guess they get more money selling that one extra die separate.

FrankenMauser · February 8, 2010, 03:58 AM

If the completed round must be resized after seating the bullet.... something is wrong. Assess your components and practices, before continuing. Again... something is wrong.

For crimp, the FCD can be useful. I don't use it in .380, because I don't need it. For sizing... it means something else is wrong...

spencerhut · February 8, 2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

If the completed round must be resized after seating the bullet.... something is wrong. Assess your components and practices, before continuing.

+1

February 2, 2010, 09:20 AM	#1
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	Why no FCD with 380 dies? I will be adding 380 ACP to my reloading, and noticed the Lee carbide pistol dies do not include the FCD die. Wondering why. PLEASE - I already know there are a lot of conflicting opinions on whether or not a FCD is worth the cost, or effort, and I dont want to stir that pot. If the FCD isnt really needed with the smaller 380 caliber, and can be handled with the seater/crimper die, that's all I need. TIA __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Greg

February 2, 2010, 09:34 AM	#2
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 6,936	I would think it's about demand, or Lee's slow reaction to demand? My best theory is that there is no FCD for .380 for the same reasons there has been no .380 ammo to speak of since the Barackolypse. As in... everyone and their brother wanted it, but there was little (or none!) and the industry is slow to react. I can tell you that when I bought my .380 dies more than a year ago, I had to order them from Lee direct because nobody, and I mean NOBODY had .380 dies in stock. They are easier to find now, because Lee ramped up production of them. But if there was no .380 FCD before Nov 08, that was probably because there was little or no demand for it. And I'm sure that Lee has been killing themselves three times over simply producing as many die sets and presses that they are already tooled up to produce rather then sitting down and designing a whole new .380 FCD that they didn't already have in their lineup. If you really want one and want to help the process, why not send 'em an e-mail or call them? __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 2, 2010, 10:00 AM	#3
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	It is a mystery why Lee doesn't sell a four-die set in .380 Auto that includes the FCD. If you want one, however, you can buy it from MidwayUSA: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=668253 Personally I've stopped using the FCD, but to each his own. __________________ "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Nope, not a single word about hunting... Last edited by RidgwayCO; February 2, 2010 at 12:16 PM.

February 2, 2010, 10:19 AM	#4
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	Thanks guys, appreciate it. I just put my order in, now to find once-fired cases. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Greg

February 2, 2010, 11:25 AM	#5
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 3,465	You have to sneak up behind guys shooting them at the range, catch the warm cases on the fly, stuff them in your pocket and then move to the next stall, where you do a 180 and repeat. __________________ My guns include S&W and Colt revolvers, Colt and Ruger pistols, Remington 870 shotgun, Henry and Marlin .22LR rifles, Hi-Point 9mm carbine and Lancaster Arms AK. I reload handgun rounds with a Lee hand press, over 18K rounds since Nov. 2009 with nary a squib nor kaboom.

February 7, 2010, 09:32 AM	#8
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	I appreciate that, and just might take you up on that. I got tired of being outbid for 380 brass on Gunbroker (someone is outbidding everyone and trying to scarf it all up), finally found a company online yesterday that had some on hand, so I ordered 1200. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Greg

February 7, 2010, 05:06 PM	#9
NCMountain Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2009 Location: western, NC Posts: 121	I bought the FCD with my 3 piece carbide .380 dies. I want the FC on my rounds. Personal preference I guess. I don't know why it is not a 4 die set Guess they get more money selling that one extra die separate. __________________ Ruger GP100 4" SS; Ruger LCP; http://ncmountaingunner.blogspot.com/

February 8, 2010, 03:58 AM	#10
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: 1B ID Posts: 5,415	If the completed round must be resized after seating the bullet.... something is wrong. Assess your components and practices, before continuing. Again... something is wrong. For crimp, the FCD can be useful. I don't use it in .380, because I don't need it. For sizing... it means something else is wrong... __________________ "Such is the strange way that man works -- first he virtually destroys a species and then does everything in his power to restore it."