Removing the Carbide Ring from a Lee FCD?

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I have a Lee FCD I like to use for reloading .45acp.

Thing is, though that on some thicker-walled cases, it swages down the boolits. It does not do this to jacketed at any time.

I've been thinking about removing the carbide ring, or at least opening it up a little.

HOWEVER...

I do like to run factory self-defense ammo through that die. I've caught a couple which were slightly oversized. Likely wouldn't have hurt, but I'm OCD like that.

So if I remove or enlarge the carbide ring, I'll have to buy another anyway for jacketed loads.

Or, is there a crimping die you'd recommend so that I can continue to crimp my cast loads separately? I've thought about buying another seating die and removing the seater, keeping the crimping function only.

Lee is attractive due to the price and due to the fact that I've never had any problems with them. However, I'm not adverse to spending more money for another brand if there's a compelling reason to do so.

Thank you!

Regards,

Josh

[Johnny_Cyclone]

Could you order another seating die from lee, and use it only to crimp? 1st size/deprime die, 2nd powder thru/expander die, 3rd a seating die backed off for no crimp just seating only, 4th a seating die set to crimp, but seater backed off or taken out.

Then when doing your jacketed switch the 4th die for the FCD.

I've been known to knock the ring out of the FCD because I only needed the crimp function and not the safety check ring, and since the 4 die set was cheaper than the 3 die set plus ordering another seat/crimp die separate. So it made sense to just wack-a-mole it out.

I do see where you're coming from though. one to crimp and safety check for fit via the ring. The other for those loads that require oversize lead that the a ring would size down.

In your case I'd just buy another plain ol' seating die from LEE via Titan Reloading and toss away the seater part. Then it's just a crimp die without a sizer ring to mess with.

[Ken in Iowa]

I would consider a taper crimp die. That is what I use for 45 ACP with cast.

[Josh Smith]

Hi Ken,

Why? What is the advantage?

Regards,

Josh

[Ken in Iowa]

Simple. It works. No BS carbide ring.

i believe this is what they use with factory ammo. :p

[TCFAN]

Lee taper crimp is what I use for my 45ACP..

http://leeprecision.com/taper-crimp-die-45acp.html

[country gent]

The ring can be lapped or polished out. a snug fitting wood dowel impregnated with silicon carbide lapping compound will do it. this is a slow process as carbide is very hard usually70-72 Rockwell range. Better is the hardwood dowel with diamond lapping compound. You shouldn't need more than .002-.003 removed so with the dowel take it to +002 and then with another dowel and patch with flitz or simichrome give it a nice polish.

[str8wal]

Or, is there a crimping die you'd recommend so that I can continue to crimp my cast loads separately?

Does not your die set have a seating/crimping die?

[jcren]

Lee taper crimp is what I use for my 45ACP..

http://leeprecision.com/taper-crimp-die-45acp.html

+1. Cheap and works just like the fcd minus the sizing ring.

[David2011]

Josh,

All rimless autoloader ammo should be taper crimped so the brass properly heads paces on the cartridge mouth. Roll crimped brass won't reliably headspace and might cause pressure spikes due to the mouth not opening fully.

[M-Tecs]

I have never tried lapping carbide with anything other than diamond compound. I also don't own a Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die but if the pics are correct if you are swaging the full length of your cast bullet that would be a sizing die issue. A Lyman M die will correct this. https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/dies-die-sets/pistol-die-sets/pistol-neck-expanding-m-dies.html

http://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/hand-gun-dies/lee-carbide-factory-crimp-die/

Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Diehttp://leeprecision.com/userfiles/images/carbide1.jpghttp://leeprecision.com/userfiles/images/38_FCD.jpgA carbide sizer inside the Carbide Factory Crimp die post-sizes the cartridge while it is crimped so every round will positively chamber freely with factory like dependability. The adjusting screw quickly and easily sets the desired amount of crimp. It is impossible to buckle the case as with a conventional bullet seating die. Trim length is not critical so this extra operation takes less time than it would if cases were trimmed and chamfered.
Revolver dies roll crimp with no limit as to the amount. A perfect taper crimp is applied to auto-loader rounds. The crimper cannot be misadjusted to make a case mouth too small to properly head-space. A firm crimp is essential for dependable and accurate ammunition. It eliminates the problems of poor ignition of slow burning magnum powders.
If you don't see your cartridge listed, check out our custom services (http://leeprecision.com/pistol-factory-crimp-die/) page.

[pcarpenter]

Yes...the FCD is famous for squeezing a seated cast bullet down to around jacketed bullet dimensions. The dimension varies since the case wall thickness does too and the die just squeezes the case into the bullet. I have a taper crimp die I use in 45 but I also have an FCD. Once I pretty much quit loading jacketed bullets in 45, I pushed the ring out and it sits in a drawer. Trying to lap it and keep it round without some real laps and diamond paste to cut the carbide is likely to be really frustrating. To press the ring out, find a socket that fits, reach down through the die and gently tap it out while it's in the press. Or, drill a suitable diameter hole in a piece of wood to support the die body while giving a place to push the ring. Mine came right out. Gentle taps are way better than serious whacks unless you want to just break the carbide ring. It could otherwise easily be pressed back in.

Edit-- and by the way, as best I recall, the floating sleeve in the FCD that does the crimping looks like a sort of taper crimp anyway so no need for yet another die if you don't want a dedicated taper crimp die.
Paul

[M-Tecs]

I didn't look close enough at the pics. I missed that the carbide ring was at the bottom. My suggestion of a Lyman M die would not work. I was thinking about ordering one but now that I understand how it works not interesting in the least.

[Triggernosis]

Just back the bullet seating stem out of your seating die and crimp it after you seat all your bullets.