Lee Factory crimp 357 mag

[onelight]

To sghart3578
Thank you for proper directions on removing the carbide ring. When done correctly, it was not so difficult. Did my 38 cal Lee FCD. I was going about it all wrong. You don't drive it out, you bust it out!
Contacted Lee about making a custom collet die and also a FCD with no carbide ring. They were very unreceptive and pretty much told me to go pound sand. Disappointed with both, answer and attitude. Might make a difference in my next purchase.
Roy

Buy another bullet seating die if you want to crimp separate from seating and adjust both for what you want to do on that station. I don't understand buying the the carbide factory crimp die and knocking the ring out when you can buy a standard die to crimp with. Simplify your life buy the die that suites your purpose.

[sghart3578]

Buy another bullet seating die if you want to crimp separate from seating and adjust both for what you want to do on that station. I don't understand buying the the carbide factory crimp die and knocking the ring out when you can buy a standard die to crimp with. Simplify your life buy the die that suites your purpose.

I seat and crimp in separate operations already.

When loading jacketed bullets or cast bullets of normal diameters a FCD works great.

But in my microgroove barrels or barrels with oversized bores I get the best accuracy at diameters that don't pass through a factory crimp die. So I eliminated the carbide sizing ring, allowing the oversize cast bullet to enter the die and get a nice roll crimp.

I also use the Lee collet crimp in different calibers. It works just as well as removing the carbide sizing ring.

To each his own.


Steve in N CA