LEE Factory Crimp Curious

robhic · April 2, 2020, 11:43 AM

I use (and like) the Lee Factory crimp die. But I'm curious. I recently bought a full-length re-sizing die and like the results I get with it. I truly think these products give me a little better end result.

Now, about the LFCD, even with my use of the full sizing die I get resistance upon first running a cartridge up into the die. It's like that floating carbide ring is really ironing things out. A lot of cases need some elbow grease to get the cartridge in and out. Do others that use this FCD have similar results? I'm having this happen with .45acp primarily.

The cartridges go through a case gauge OK but seem like the die is smoothing something even with the cartridges all passing the 'plunk test'. Does your use of the FCD give you similar or is there something I need to adjust? My rounds seem a bit better these days than before so it all seems good. Thanks.

RoyceP · April 2, 2020, 12:33 PM

The FCD works when it is initially engaging the case to put the top crimp on. After that it moves down the rest of the case and smooths up any ripples. Kind of the opposite of the resizer or the taper crimp dies.

Bart B. · April 2, 2020, 05:32 PM

The most accurate 45 ACP ammo used in competition and accuracy tests had no crimp at all on jacketed bullets.

wild willy · April 3, 2020, 06:44 AM

I load on a Lee turret I have nine turrets set up.Some of the setups use the same Lee factory crimp die.Lee QC on these dies are terrible as far as the ring size one in the same caliber will barely bump and the other you can barely force the same case in.If you return the die to Lee they will send you one with a larger opening.I think this is one of the reasons some people have no problems and some do.

robhic · April 3, 2020, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart B.

The most accurate 45 ACP ammo used in competition and accuracy tests had no crimp at all on jacketed bullets.

I just use the FCD to take out the bell from step 2. I don't crimp/de-bell with my seater die at all. I only use the FCD in a 4th step because I like it. The cases are uniform after going through the full-length sizer so after the bell is removed it just seemed the case in the FCD was more difficult to process than I expected.

Reloader270 · April 4, 2020, 06:51 AM

I use Lee factory crimp dies on all my pistol calibers. It smooth thing up and give consistent crimping.

zeke · April 5, 2020, 04:23 PM

It might be sizing down the flare put on mouth of case at beginning of stroke, and the LFC pistol dies can size further down the case then some sizing dies at end of stroke. It can also size down some lead bullets, depending on bullet dia, coating and brass thickness.

Real Gun · April 6, 2020, 05:59 AM

One of the variables with mixed head stamps is the thickness of the case wall. With the expander making the inner diameter uniform, that leaves the outer diameter as variable and having an inconsistent feel in the FCD sizing ring.

I load with sorted head stamps.

If your bullets are lead, larger in diameter than intended for the dies, that would be important to mention.

dahermit · April 6, 2020, 12:49 PM

I have a couple of LFCD's in handgun calibers (I assume that is what the discussion is about, NOT the rifle LFCD).

In my instance, I found that the carbide sizing ring was sizing the lead bullet down as it passed over the bullet and case mouth. I pulled a few to be sure that the bullets were post-sizing and found that they were.

Some handloaders fixed the problem of the loaded bullet being sized down by knocking the carbide ring out of the die and just using the die to crimp the bullet. I did the same...just using the die as a standard crimp die, sans offending carbide sizing ring.

Marco Califo · April 6, 2020, 01:19 PM

Conversely, the carbide sizing ring in FCD (pistols) is also used to "Bulge Buster" brass that gets pushed all the way through that carbide ring. To do this you need the bulge buster "kit" which also requires the LFCD. The crimping sleeve is also removable and you remove it for Bulge Busting.
So the LFCD is a sort of "transformer" tool.
After working with 40 S&W range brass I consider inspecting cases, rejecting bad ones, and passing the rest through that carbide ring necessary for safety., and peace of mind, in that caliber specifically.

April 2, 2020, 11:43 AM	#1
robhic Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2016 Location: Outside of New Orleans, LA. Posts: 313	LEE Factory Crimp Curious I use (and like) the Lee Factory crimp die. But I'm curious. I recently bought a full-length re-sizing die and like the results I get with it. I truly think these products give me a little better end result. Now, about the LFCD, even with my use of the full sizing die I get resistance upon first running a cartridge up into the die. It's like that floating carbide ring is really ironing things out. A lot of cases need some elbow grease to get the cartridge in and out. Do others that use this FCD have similar results? I'm having this happen with .45acp primarily. The cartridges go through a case gauge OK but seem like the die is smoothing something even with the cartridges all passing the 'plunk test'. Does your use of the FCD give you similar or is there something I need to adjust? My rounds seem a bit better these days than before so it all seems good. Thanks. __________________ - Robert

April 6, 2020, 05:59 AM	#8
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	One of the variables with mixed head stamps is the thickness of the case wall. With the expander making the inner diameter uniform, that leaves the outer diameter as variable and having an inconsistent feel in the FCD sizing ring. I load with sorted head stamps. If your bullets are lead, larger in diameter than intended for the dies, that would be important to mention. __________________ Not an expert, just a reporter.

April 6, 2020, 01:19 PM	#10
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	Conversely, the carbide sizing ring in FCD (pistols) is also used to "Bulge Buster" brass that gets pushed all the way through that carbide ring. To do this you need the bulge buster "kit" which also requires the LFCD. The crimping sleeve is also removable and you remove it for Bulge Busting. So the LFCD is a sort of "transformer" tool. After working with 40 S&W range brass I consider inspecting cases, rejecting bad ones, and passing the rest through that carbide ring necessary for safety., and peace of mind, in that caliber specifically. __________________ ............ Last edited by Marco Califo; April 6, 2020 at 01:23 PM. Reason: add detail.

April 2, 2020, 12:33 PM	#2
RoyceP Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2020 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 234	The FCD works when it is initially engaging the case to put the top crimp on. After that it moves down the rest of the case and smooths up any ripples. Kind of the opposite of the resizer or the taper crimp dies.

April 2, 2020, 05:32 PM	#3
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	The most accurate 45 ACP ammo used in competition and accuracy tests had no crimp at all on jacketed bullets.

April 3, 2020, 06:44 AM	#4
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	I load on a Lee turret I have nine turrets set up.Some of the setups use the same Lee factory crimp die.Lee QC on these dies are terrible as far as the ring size one in the same caliber will barely bump and the other you can barely force the same case in.If you return the die to Lee they will send you one with a larger opening.I think this is one of the reasons some people have no problems and some do.

April 4, 2020, 06:51 AM	#6
Reloader270 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2015 Location: South Africa Posts: 138	I use Lee factory crimp dies on all my pistol calibers. It smooth thing up and give consistent crimping.

April 5, 2020, 04:23 PM	#7
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,671	It might be sizing down the flare put on mouth of case at beginning of stroke, and the LFC pistol dies can size further down the case then some sizing dies at end of stroke. It can also size down some lead bullets, depending on bullet dia, coating and brass thickness.

April 6, 2020, 12:49 PM	#9
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	I have a couple of LFCD's in handgun calibers (I assume that is what the discussion is about, NOT the rifle LFCD). In my instance, I found that the carbide sizing ring was sizing the lead bullet down as it passed over the bullet and case mouth. I pulled a few to be sure that the bullets were post-sizing and found that they were. Some handloaders fixed the problem of the loaded bullet being sized down by knocking the carbide ring out of the die and just using the die to crimp the bullet. I did the same...just using the die as a standard crimp die, sans offending carbide sizing ring.