I always see people mention they use the FCD when they crimp. Why do so many folks like that die? I can't see any advantages it has over other crimp dies. Is it price? In your opinion, what makes it superior for crimping?
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Why do so many folks like the Lee FCD?
- Thread starter SWThomas
- Start date
In before some one tells you there is no need to crimp. FGMM has a crimp and it's the ammo that all ammo is judged by. The Lee FCD, IMHO helps with SD and ES by putting a consistant tension on the bullet. It just plain works and it's cheap too. I use it in semi auto loads but I have one on order for my bolt gun load.
It's cheap and easy to adjust. I prefer to crimp separately from seating, which is what initially drove me to the FCD. I have since stopped using them as I've been swapping over die sets. Just make sure you look at them carefully before you start using a new one, I've had a couple of them have some pretty nasty burrs on them that damaged cases. The one I purchased last for 223 was simply unacceptable.
Even though I own Lee FCD's for every caliber I shoot I only use them for my pistol rounds.
I technically don't crimp using the FCD but use it to "post
size".
It removes any belling that may remain on the cartridge case ensuring all cartridges will chamber.
I technically don't crimp using the FCD but use it to "post
size".
It removes any belling that may remain on the cartridge case ensuring all cartridges will chamber.
The Lee FCD on pistol rounds is a complete waste of money, it will make pistol rounds feed like butter at the expense of accuracy, this is because the bullet is resized as it passes thru the carbide sizing ring, twice, on rifle rounds the Lee FCD is the IMHO the greatest crimp die on the planet, the 4 sizing collets apply the perfect amount of crimp every time(trim length is critical) when adjusted properly and accuracy is not effected as far as I can tell.
If all cases are trimmed consistently, why would the FCD apply a better crimp over, say, a Dillon crimp die? I don't see how it can be more precise or consistent of the die is locked down and all the cases are trimmed properly...
I am NOT a "precision" shooter, IE match shooter, sniper etc. But I DO strive to wring decent accuracy out of my loads and POS guns.
Almost all my rifle rounds will probably be fired in a semi-auto. Mostly AR-types.
Although the majority seems to say that crimping is not needed, it makes me feel better with all that slam-banging around in a semi-auto.
All the disclaimers out of the way, I like the FCD because it is not NEARLY as particular about variations in case length. The roll-crimp built into most seating dies will easily collapse case shoulders if overdone to the slightest degree due to a longer case. The collapsed shoulder creates a bulge just below the shoulder that will cause the round to be hard to chamber or not chamber at all. The only other crimp die I would use on bottleneck cartridges would be a taper crimp of some kind. And I ALWAYS crimp in a separate operation from seating.
Almost all my rifle rounds will probably be fired in a semi-auto. Mostly AR-types.
Although the majority seems to say that crimping is not needed, it makes me feel better with all that slam-banging around in a semi-auto.
All the disclaimers out of the way, I like the FCD because it is not NEARLY as particular about variations in case length. The roll-crimp built into most seating dies will easily collapse case shoulders if overdone to the slightest degree due to a longer case. The collapsed shoulder creates a bulge just below the shoulder that will cause the round to be hard to chamber or not chamber at all. The only other crimp die I would use on bottleneck cartridges would be a taper crimp of some kind. And I ALWAYS crimp in a separate operation from seating.
^This^
It presses inward into the bullet canelure with pressure upward from the shell holder not downward through the case. I don't crimp my precision rifle loads, but if it's destined for an auto loader and the bullet has a canelure it gets crimped. I use a progressive press, so it isn't an extra step.
The caveat of inspecting anything you get from Lee also applies, some of it is pretty ugly.
I have a fleet of their universal decapping dies as well, and every U pistol sizing die they make for EGW.
Don't have anything to do with them other than that.
They aren't. However most die sets seat and crimp in one step unlike the Dillon dies. If you are running Dillon dies, stick with their stuff and you will be fine. I previously used to use the FCD with my non-Dillon dies as the crimping was much more consistent than with my other dies. I do not like the fact that some people use the FCD as a fall back to post size their cases/iron out any imperfections other steps in their loading process did not take care of.
The FCD is better because it crimps from the side which is the way factory ammo is crimped if you take a good look at it. The roll crimp feature built into most seating dies doesn't work nearly as well and it doesn't work at all if your bullet doesn't have a cannelure or the cannelure is in the wrong place. If you're going to crimp then the best way to do it by far is with the FCD.
