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August 29, 2012, 10:34 AM | #26 | |
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August 29, 2012, 04:52 PM | #27 | |
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August 29, 2012, 05:57 PM | #28 | |
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BTW I do not use or own a progressive press, or powder cop die, or a lock out die. I also have no problem reloading, but then I only have 50 plus years of reloading experience. The bigest holdup I have regarding shooting is the gas expense to and from the range. I refuse to spend 2 to 3 hundred bucks a month in gas expense to and from the range. Those dollars are better spent in better ways than supporting the oil companies. Just my 2 cents.
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August 29, 2012, 06:32 PM | #29 |
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A couple of thoughts, what did the ammunition factory's use before this lee die??????
They have said in the ad's that the workmanship is put inside the die sets and they don't spend time/money on outside finishing, what I would like to know is how come so many reloaders have to send the dies back for tweeking or adjustment. Never sent back a Lyman, Hornady, RCBS, or Redding dies. jcwit we are in the same boat 50 years reloading and equipment just as old. Maybe we should run out and buy all new stuff so we can also send back dies or ream/sand/polish to make the stuff work better. I thought I was buying quality tooling -- guess I was right!!!! |
August 29, 2012, 08:18 PM | #30 | |
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August 29, 2012, 08:34 PM | #31 | |
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August 29, 2012, 09:25 PM | #32 | |||||
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I contend that Lee buyers are similarly right as buyers of Dillon, Hornady, Lyman, RCBS or any others. I also contend that touting or decrying an entire product line is pointless. Now, let's get to the point of the thread: What good is the Lee FCD? What does it give us that we did not have 50 years ago? 1) a) Most significant is that it separates the crimping from the seating. This is useful for getting a good, clean, strong crimp and also b) makes adjusting the dies easier. If that is pandering to the laziness in us, so be it. It is also catering to our desire for efficiency and precision. 2) The post-sizing ensures fit into any SAAMI-spec chamber and relieves the need for the case gauge step that was useful in times past. Either tool will work and it is a matter of personal choice which any individual handloader prefers. I will not deny you your choice any more than you would deny me mine (nor denigrate that choice). 3) The post-sizing may cure a number of ills. a) Some of them caused by poor loading technique and b) some of them caused by poorly dimensioned components or c) poorly dimensioned or poorly adjusted dies. I agree with you that it is sad that some loaders need the third function. But that is not the fault of the manufacturer, nor does it negate the benefits of the first two functions. I hope this little essay clears up some questions in the minds of other readers as well as gives you some food for thought. It is posted entirely in those twin hopes. Lost Sheep p.s. I have always been a fan of the XK Jaguars and struggled to buy one of two I found in the late 60's, a 120 and a 150, but, alas, budgetary constraints put me into a 1957 MGA. With that experience behind me, when I overhauled my handloading bench, I spared no expense in buying the best equipment money could buy that fit my loading needs. I wanted more speed than a single stage could give me, but to avoid the complexity of a progressive. So, I have a Lee Classic Turret, RCBS/Ohaus 10-10 scale, Redding Profile Crimp die for my 9mm and Lee FCDs for my revolver rounds (which I use only for certain loadings). You can see that I am eclectic in my choices of gear and how I use it. This is because I think about my choices and do not lock myself in to preconceived notions. I heartily recommend keeping an open mind (but not so open that my brain falls out, of course). Best regards to you and yours. |
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August 29, 2012, 09:27 PM | #33 | |
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and second, many of the people in this thread stated they use the FCD in conjunction with their hornady dies, so the lee bashing really isnt necessary. If you throw out every bulged case, then sure, the FCD is unnecessary. But WITH a FCD, you can use those cases in ANY gun, not just those with generous chambers..... Without the FCD, if a piece of brass is fired in a chamber that isnt fully supported or in a gun with a super generous chamber, a normal sizing die of ANY brand often wont size it down far enough to chamber in a minimum size chamber. So yea. it will work in any ruger, but not some high performance guns or those with minimum spec chambers. I had a kel-tec PF9 with a minimum spec chamber, and used to have gun show reloads and my own reloads fail to chamber if not run through the FCD, but the exact same rounds would chamber and fire fine in my ruger p95. Bigger chamber, thats why they arent all that accurate. Reliable? yes, but thats due to the bigger chamber. If you load range pick up brass without a FCD and have NEVER had one fail to chamber, its because your gun or guns have generous chambers, end of story. And thats fine for you, but saying the reason we "need" the FCD is because we are doing something wrong is not only rude, but ignorant . |
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August 30, 2012, 06:12 AM | #34 |
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As I've stated, I have not had the need for the Lee FCD. I'm not saying that it isn't helpful for others either. My concern would the post sizing of cast lead rounds. Bullet fit is critical if you want to keep leading to a minimum. I would think that post sizing may lead to increased leading. Has anyone had any issues in regard to this?
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August 30, 2012, 06:50 AM | #35 | |
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The 45 acp die seems to get pretty good reviews. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/716...cp-45-auto-rim
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August 30, 2012, 09:15 AM | #36 |
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Here is a link to Poll from Cast Boolits web site dated 2-11-11 entitled "Do you use the Lee factory Crimp Die when loading pistol cartridges with cast bullets" which shows about 2/3 use Lee FCD and 1/3 do not. The level of knowledge and experience cannot be ignored so one could safely say that the most knowledgeable reloaders prefer the Lee FCD. Some don't, most do.What seems to be common is that it "depends" on the application.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=106715 The rifle FCD might have the opposite results but if you work with it, it will work with you. |
August 30, 2012, 09:23 AM | #37 | |
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August 30, 2012, 09:58 AM | #38 | ||
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I'm not a Lee basher, I have and use lots of Lee equipment and am really satisified with most of their products. I stell see no use for the FCD by me. Correctly adjusted dies have loaded ammo that fit all of my guns chambers, this holds true for the 25 plus semi auto handguns I reload for. If the FCD is such a great invention wonder why non of the other manufactures haven't jumped on the bandwagon. But hey, I you wish to use it, go for it.
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August 30, 2012, 10:01 AM | #39 | |
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Either way the barrel should meet SAMMI specs.
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August 30, 2012, 10:06 AM | #40 | |
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August 30, 2012, 10:16 AM | #41 |
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Aside from the obvious difference in the level of expertise of hardcore cast bullet reloaders, do you have a poll to cite, or is it your guess/opinion that TFL theoretical poll would turn out to contradict the Cast Boolits poll?
P.S. I just ran through the posts on this thread and for the posts that expressed an opinion, there are 15 for and 5 against. What a surprise, 3 to 1 in favor of the FCD and as some posts noted, their pistols did not function well without it or have been flawless with it. So it is clear that Cast Boolits = TFL when it comes to FCD. Glad you brought it up. Last edited by jmortimer; August 30, 2012 at 10:37 AM. |
August 30, 2012, 11:01 AM | #42 | ||
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August 30, 2012, 12:38 PM | #43 | |
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August 30, 2012, 12:45 PM | #44 |
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I would have completely avoided the facts if I were you as well. Your response is a non-sequitur.
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August 30, 2012, 03:35 PM | #45 | |
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Many people bowed down to the golden calf also. As stated in earlier posts of mine if you wish to use the FCD, go for it. Franky I could care less.
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August 30, 2012, 03:47 PM | #46 |
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Edited to avoid hostilities. Sometimes my sense of humor comes across as an attack.
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August 30, 2012, 04:01 PM | #47 |
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jcwit- If u don't mind how do you setup your dies? I maybe doing something
wrong. |
August 30, 2012, 04:14 PM | #48 |
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I use it on all but my 480 Ruger
and only cause it came with it's own crimp die Snake |
August 30, 2012, 04:21 PM | #49 |
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When I start with a new bullet, I only shoot cast bullets that I cast and size, and lube myself, I remove the barrel from the firearm I'm reloading for. Some of my firearms need dies adjusted differently.
So anyway, I set up my seating/crimping die till I get a perfect drop of a cartridge with a seated and crimped bullet. I then make a dummy round, normally using a steel case, one of the few uses I've found for steel cases, for future reference or returning to said setting. Dummy case is numbered with specific info ie: overall lgth., powder used, charg weight, bullet used, etc. Some rounds are seated then crimped in 2 steps, most are not, just my way of doing it, and it works for me. Wish I could ask the National Champion but do not know how to contact him.
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August 30, 2012, 05:39 PM | #50 | ||
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