The 'rifle' style Lee FCD's are $25 now and available

[AJMD429]

in pretty much any cartridge you want from their 'custom' shop...

http://leeprecision.com/custom-rifle-fa ... hread.html

I didn't want to further-hijack the 'crimping the 30-30' thread.

Please allow 60 days for production

The collet-type Factory crimp die can be made for a wide variety of cartridges. Most cartridges will fit into the 7/8x14 thread die body. If your cartridge falls within the following parameters it will fit the standard 7/8 x 14 die:

Bullet diameter .172 - .501 (minimum - maximum)
Body diameter .295 - .585
Case length 1.345 - 2.850
(All dimensions in inches)

We need:

1.Dummy cartridge (a bullet seated in an empty case). The dummy cartridge is for testing purposes, so make sure it is within normal dimensional tolerances.
Please send your dummy cartridge, along with your invoice/order ID to:

Lee Precision, Inc.
4275 Highway "U"
Hartford, WI 53027

We are unable to make the following cartridge:

•7.62 Model 1895 Russian Nagant Revolver

[J Miller]

Well, it's about time they did this. You've only been telling folks about those dies for a couple years now.

Joe

[AJMD429]

Well, it's about time they did this. You've only been telling folks about those dies for a couple years now.

Maybe I should ask for a commission on their sales...

[J Miller]

Hey, that's an idea. Perhaps they might need a distributor in central IN. You could actually make a buck or three.

Joe

[Canuck Bob]

I just picked up a 32 Special FCD myself.

[AJMD429]

I think I'll order one in 454 Casull at some point. That certainly needs a stout crimp.

I don't fire 357 Max in anything but a Contender, but might even consider one for that round.

[Sixgun]

Lee made me custom crimp die back when they first came out. (Late nineties?) I sent them in the dummy round., a shortened 32-40. As I shoot many calibers that dies are not available for, I have since learned how to make any LFCD crimp die that is of the same caliber work.......as long as the host die is shorter. For example, a 38-40 crimp die will work for the 40-65 and the 40-82. A 45-70 will work for the 45-90 and so on. It's just a thick copper collar that is the same length as the distance from the host cartridge and the cartridge that you are crimping.


The copper collar pictured below crimps a 40-65 using a standard 38-40 FCD.-----6

[Blaine]

FWIW, and I might be wrong, but when I was loading lot's of 45-70, I'd crimp it slightly, chamber it, then measure and assign an OAL an RCH shorter than that. Even without a bullet cannelure, you can get a good solid crimp with those dies. The JapChester 1886EL needed a shorter OAL than my Marlins. Also, I "seem" to get less unburned powder, usually Blue Dot, when I load .44mag/.357 with the Lee Factory Crimp Die....

[AJMD429]

I have since learned how to make any LFCD crimp die that is of the same caliber work.......as long as the host die is shorter. For example, a 38-40 crimp die will work for the 40-65 and the 40-82. A 45-70 will work for the 45-90 and so on. It's just a thick copper collar that is the same length as the distance from the host cartridge and the cartridge that you are crimping.

Yep. I think one of the reloading companies makes 'standard' washer-style 'shims' for the common 'conversion' of 38 special with 357 dies, 44 special with 44 Mag dies, etc...

I used a 44-40 die for getting a 'rifle-type' factory crimp on 44 Magnums (per another levergunner forumite's suggestion) until I got a 'real' one for 44 Mag.

....when I was loading lot's of 45-70, I'd crimp it slightly, chamber it, then measure and assign an OAL an RCH shorter than that.

Is 'RCH' some kind of Metric Measurement unit...???

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have several of the rifle FCD's and they work well and the way they were designed to work. That said I am not completely sold on that style of crimp. The segmented style of crimp if overdone can cause cracked mouths on cases. The same fault ( IMHO ) can be found with Remington factory loaded ammo.

Now if the shell is partially crimped, the ram lowered and the case rotated a few degrees and crimped again,those little bite marks that are caused by the segments of the collet and can cause cracks are not nearly as bad. I still prefer the standard roll crimp.

[Sixgun]

I still prefer the standard roll crimp.

Yup, me too Chuck.....especially with cast bullets with lots of recoil....like in most big bore handgun calibers and the 45-70. When the OAL is right for a cast bullet and the crimp groove is right there, I too, prefer a roll crimp.

I like the LFCD when using cast bullets and the crimp does not line up with the crimp groove, like in the 32-20 3118. I'm somewhat anal about where I seat the bullets and the Lee does an excellent job of placing that crimp where I want it.----6

[AJMD429]

I have several of the rifle FCD's and they work well and the way they were designed to work. That said I am not completely sold on that style of crimp. The segmented style of crimp if overdone can cause cracked mouths on cases. The same fault ( IMHO ) can be found with Remington factory loaded ammo.

I've thought the same thing, actually, although so-far (maybe some cases reloaded six times with the FCD's) I've not noticed any more cracking than with other crimp styles.

I would assume that the overall best 'crimp' for case-longevity would be a taper crimp; which is one I only use for 9mm Luger and 45 ACP. I don't load enough of those to know if 'case life' is longer with them due to the brass thickness vs. pressure, or the crimp.

I do know one thing though - I don't ever feel like I have 'enough' brass for any cartridge...