If you always use brass fired from your gun you probably don't need a FCD. If you pick up range brass that has been fired in a Glock and you don't shoot a Glock you do need it. A regular sizing die cannot size far enough down the case to remove the Glock bulge. I use Lee FCDs and love them.
Is the Lee FCD the cats butt?
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If you shot mostly lead , coated lead or plated lead bullets you might see if Lee will send you there tapper crimp insert to use . I bought hornady tapper crimp bullet seating die years ago to use . It will removed one step while reloading and works better of coated or lead bullets . Save the FCD for jacked bullets .
Glock bulge ? Sounds like your problems fall under the need to buy a lee bulge buster kit BUT if your problem is with 9mm you will also need to buy a 9x18 makarov sizing dies with the prime removal rod removed with perhaps the lee 380 kit to get a brass catcher and the push rod ! Check out you tube for the bulge buster kits and the Makarov 9 x18 stripped sizing die for 9mm para bulge .
Hope something here makes since to you .
Glock bulge ? Sounds like your problems fall under the need to buy a lee bulge buster kit BUT if your problem is with 9mm you will also need to buy a 9x18 makarov sizing dies with the prime removal rod removed with perhaps the lee 380 kit to get a brass catcher and the push rod ! Check out you tube for the bulge buster kits and the Makarov 9 x18 stripped sizing die for 9mm para bulge .
Hope something here makes since to you .
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I shot lots of IPSC, (military) combat, and bullseye matches with different SIG, Glock, and 1911 and 2011 pistols, some with factory or GI barrels and some with Kart, Bar-Sto, Jarvis, or KKM.
In matches or, heaven forbid, a real-world shooting I don't want to play around with clearing and reducing a stoppage -- so I use the Lee Factory Crimp Die (in a Dillon 550) for both my son's and my own 9mm and .45 ACP handloads.
I used Redding taper crimp dies for a while, but went back to the Lee with better functioning.
It hasn't hurt my son's or my own performance. He has 14 and I have 12 points toward the 30 required for Distinguished Pistol Shot badges.
In matches or, heaven forbid, a real-world shooting I don't want to play around with clearing and reducing a stoppage -- so I use the Lee Factory Crimp Die (in a Dillon 550) for both my son's and my own 9mm and .45 ACP handloads.
I used Redding taper crimp dies for a while, but went back to the Lee with better functioning.
It hasn't hurt my son's or my own performance. He has 14 and I have 12 points toward the 30 required for Distinguished Pistol Shot badges.
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I sort of like the Lee Factory Crimp dies in some rifles (the .300 Blackout for instance is notorious for setting bullets back in ARs) but I never used them much in pistols until...
I was shooting a .40 S&W in an IDPA Nationals and a friend was loading my magazines for me - Now, I had plunk tested all the ammo I intended to shoot in the match but I also had some "practice" ammo in my bag - he inadvertently used this ammo. Got into a 12 round stage and had a real stoppage (the gun was a Springield P9 and the slide sits down in the frame and the darn thing has a full length guide rod) - it took me 30 seconds to clear that stoppage (and I cut a big gash in my hand on the rear sight doing it). So when I got home, I found that a lump of brass had peeled off and was the cause of the stoppage - I bought a Lee .40 S&W Factory crimp die and that problem went away.
Honestly, that's what I get for letting someone load my mags (and it was entirely my fault anyway for not telling him about the two types of ammo in the bag) and for fiddling with something other than a 1911 in the first place
Recently I got a deal on some factory second 9mm 147 gr coated bullets - they run from .360 to .362 - not wanting to resized them I bought a 9mm FCD and they now chamber in my Browning and Colt (haven't tried them in anything else) - I have not pulled one to see what they are sized now but I don't load 9mm too hot anyway and I have seen no undue pressure signs - the rounds would not chamber before I ran them through the FCD die.
Based on that result I added FCDs in .44 Spl. and .38 Spl.
Riposte
I was shooting a .40 S&W in an IDPA Nationals and a friend was loading my magazines for me - Now, I had plunk tested all the ammo I intended to shoot in the match but I also had some "practice" ammo in my bag - he inadvertently used this ammo. Got into a 12 round stage and had a real stoppage (the gun was a Springield P9 and the slide sits down in the frame and the darn thing has a full length guide rod) - it took me 30 seconds to clear that stoppage (and I cut a big gash in my hand on the rear sight doing it). So when I got home, I found that a lump of brass had peeled off and was the cause of the stoppage - I bought a Lee .40 S&W Factory crimp die and that problem went away.
Honestly, that's what I get for letting someone load my mags (and it was entirely my fault anyway for not telling him about the two types of ammo in the bag) and for fiddling with something other than a 1911 in the first place
Recently I got a deal on some factory second 9mm 147 gr coated bullets - they run from .360 to .362 - not wanting to resized them I bought a 9mm FCD and they now chamber in my Browning and Colt (haven't tried them in anything else) - I have not pulled one to see what they are sized now but I don't load 9mm too hot anyway and I have seen no undue pressure signs - the rounds would not chamber before I ran them through the FCD die.
Based on that result I added FCDs in .44 Spl. and .38 Spl.
Riposte
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Just choked on an English muffin…🤣
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It is always sort of amusing to watch the back and forth on a thread like this. I have reloaded for over 45 years, and most of that time never had a Lee FCD and never had any problems with any of my loads. I have tried the FCD’s in recent years and find them a decent but mostly unnecessary product. They do seem to finish sizing the base of 9mm cases, but that was never an issue for me anyway. I can take them or leave them, does not matter too much either way to me.
THat's what they use for the bulge buster... great for pick up brass if you don't have access to a rollsizer!
And none of them make anything like the Lee FCD & bulge buster kit.
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I guess all the Xs and top 5 scores that I've shot over the years weren't serious. I've used Lee stuff for years and it's never let me down. The only things on my bench that are not a Lee product are the press and the powder measures. If you can't make great ammunition on Lee equipment You are not a serious reloader. I've heard all the excuses about the bad ammunition. Most was operater error or they just can't shoot.
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My 3cents on the Lee Factory Crimp Die. 😈 They're made for people too lazy to properly trim case length. Accuracy and consistent ignition, especially of slower-burning powders in magnum revolver loads depends on a firm consistent roll crimp. And for that, ya need precise consistent length.
The main use is not for revolver cartridges and the crimp is only a small part of the function. I don't know if they even make them for revolver cartridges.
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I believe they are also made for rifle rounds. They squeezing a narrow band at the case mouth into the bullet. Even non-cannelured bullet. Always found the marks from that type of crimp on factory ammo sort of ugly. But if someone is happy with those results, more power to them. I'll keep trimming mine to length and using a proper roll or taper crimp where required.
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803 Posts
I just knocked out a hundred more loads and tested them, 100% function and good accuracy.
We had a guy using a prodigy in IDPA last month. He was the one who suggested the FCD that he used on his Dillon.
He also finished 4th out of 58 guys with those reloads FWIW.
I have no doubt my range pickup brass factors in. Shoot action pistol and you get what you get .
this is NOT some high pressure, revolver round. 9mm. Nobody, and I mean nobody trims 9.
it has been an interesting journey to this point. I loaded right up till I kissed the leade, 1.37“ if you are interested. Every shorter length imaginable. Crimp was done up in many variations.
RCBS, LEE were used for size/decap. RCBS, Lee taper and finally FCD for crimp. Dillon powder die/funnel on everything.
We had a guy using a prodigy in IDPA last month. He was the one who suggested the FCD that he used on his Dillon.
He also finished 4th out of 58 guys with those reloads FWIW.
I have no doubt my range pickup brass factors in. Shoot action pistol and you get what you get .
this is NOT some high pressure, revolver round. 9mm. Nobody, and I mean nobody trims 9.
it has been an interesting journey to this point. I loaded right up till I kissed the leade, 1.37“ if you are interested. Every shorter length imaginable. Crimp was done up in many variations.
RCBS, LEE were used for size/decap. RCBS, Lee taper and finally FCD for crimp. Dillon powder die/funnel on everything.
Or, "The cat's pajamas"
Yes they do make them for rifle cartridges & they do make a nice crimp whether you want a tight crimp or just barely.
"'Lee FCD' - I put that shi? on everything" ;-)
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You sure about that?
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