Lee factory crimp die

[Lizard333]

So I'm looking to buy some Lee factory crimp dies for my 30-06, 308, and 30-30. Do I need to buy a separate die for all of these calibers or can I save some coin and share them some or all?

Thanks for looking!!

[Nueces]

These dies are case length specific - the crimping collet is actuated by contact with the shell holder. They are also pretty cheap. However, if one wanted to reduce to a bare minimum, the crimper for the shortest case could be made to work with longer cases by introducing a collar around the case, that sits on the shell holder. Thus, the collet would be actuated early.

[JimB..]

First in to say that I don't like the FCD. Honestly I only tried it with 45/70 and I prefer a roll crimp.

I believe that you'd need more than one because of different cartridge lengths.

[MT Chambers]

It's an unnecessary die for those cartridges, when properly adjusted your seating die does all the crimping that you will ever need.

[dragon813gt]

It's an unnecessary die for those cartridges, when properly adjusted your seating die does all the crimping that you will ever need.

Some prefer the style of crimp it offers. And if you a Lee seater it does not crimp.

[edonwheels73]

Get the pacesetter die set they come with one.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Bayou52]

For me, the FCDs work and work well.

[Lizard333]

I like them as well. Work great

[tigweldit]

I also like them. I have used them in many different calibers with good success. In my 6MM Remington,with no other changes,I was able to bring my 85 grain HPBT load from 1.40" to .85" at 150 yards, with a light crimp.

[BCB]

I have 9 of them and I use them mostly just to remove the bell from cases that I am reloading with cast boolits…

I adjust them to remove the bell plus a tad (I don’t think you’ll find that degree of measurement in any books!). Although sometimes I do use them to put a pretty heavy crimp on boolits…

I like them. It’s an extra step, but in many cases, I think it might help a bit with accuracy or at least with better ignition of slow burners…

There's also a poll in this forum concerning the LFC die. It seems that about 2/3rds of the people do use them...

Good-luck…BCB

[slughammer]

Some prefer the style of crimp it offers. And if you a Lee seater it does not crimp.

All my Lee seating dies crimp. The FCD is an add-on die. The same seat/crimp comes in a 2, 3 or 4 die set. I've got Lee sets in about 4 rifle and 4 pistol cartridges.
The only place I think the extra step of the FCD has merit is on mixed brass loading 223 with jacketed bullets. The FCD handles the variable length very well.

[dragon813gt]

Not all Lee seaters crimp. Their dead length seaters don't crimp. They made this switch quite a few years ago.

[robg]

I prefer to crimp with the fcd for all my reloading of rifle cases 223/3030/308.I like the consistent boolits pull idea and case length is not crucial and no chance of over crimping or bulging cases.

[slughammer]

Not all Lee seaters crimp. Their dead length seaters don't crimp. They made this switch quite a few years ago.

I must not have any of those. I just learned something, thanks.

[flint45]

Lee fcd's work great for me and thier collet neck size dies love them to brass last a long time and not much trimming either excellent accuracy to.

[kbstenberg]

If they are like the Lee case sizer collet die. yes they can be used interchangeably. BUT you have to measure the length difference from the case base to the lg. dia of the shoulder. and make a spacer the difference between the 2. I use a 308 case sizer for my 30/30, 3006, 308 neck sizer.

[Soundguy]

Some prefer the style of crimp it offers. And if you a Lee seater it does not crimp.

Some lee seater dies crimp, some don't.

Some people also don't uniformly trim their brass, and the FCD helps their sloppy work.. work.

[Shawlerbrook]

I use the Lee FCD for all my levergun reloading. It works !

[DougGuy]

I really like the collet style FCD for .308 it does add some resistance to boolit movement upon ignition, enough that the primer won't move the boolit before the main powder charge starts burning, this is what it does best and people who say it's unneccesary probably haven't ever used one. When you get your 30 caliber hunting rifle to shooting groups less than 3/4" at 200yds, using the collet crimp, you'll never use anything else.

The other thing that the collet crimp does is let you seat a smooth sided boolit out all the way to the rifling, or maybe .025" shy of the rifling, whatever you choose, and it will firmly hold the COA under recoil. You don't need a cannelure or a crimp groove. Try that with a seating die.

[lead-1]

I have used my 308 FCD for my 30-06, I got a 1/2" thick aluminum spacer with a 1/2" hole at the hardware store and thinned it a little by rubbing it in a figure eight motion on a piece of sandpaper. I have a similar .025" shim made from a fender washer that I have used to do 30-30 rounds with the 308 FCD but I have since lost it in the mix somewhere.

Edit to add that I use this with jacketed bullets for my Garand and FAL.