3 die set or 4? - + FCD

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VooDooMan

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I am not sure if any one has touched on this recently.........

I am looking at a lee carbide 3 die set for my 45 ACP.
I see the 3 die set has the usual dies what I am looking at is the bullet seater and crimper in 1.

Why is there a 3 die set that seats and cirmps and then a 4 die set. Is that simply a seater only and then a separate one for the crimper?

I was told to seat and crimp in separate steps to no shave my LEAD projectiles I plan to reload, I will load FMJ but the ratio of lead to FMJ is like 10:1

Any input on what one to buy is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
 
Separate seating and crimping makes for easier adjustment of either function. This is especially desirable with a progressive press, where there is no extra work in seating and crimping as separate operations.

As far as I know, the Lee 3 die set and 4 die set use the same bullet seating die.
 
most seaters can do roll crimp, maybe thats the confusion. Roll crimping is for use with cannelured bullets. Factory crimp is for non cannelured bullets
 
The FCD is a separate crimp die that also incorporates a carbide sizer ring in it to get rid of case bulges.

Lee 3 die sets contain the following:
-Sizing die
-Mouth expanding die
-Seating/crimp die

4 die sets contain the following;
-Sizing die
-Mouth expanding die
-Seating/crimp die
-Factory crimp die

If you are seating and crimping separately, you would have the body of the seating die backed off so that the crimp shoulder in it is not used, as you will be using the factory crimp die to crimp.

There is a possibility of shaving lead bullets while seating/crimping simultaneously, as the bullet is moving as the crimp is being applied. The ease of adjusting separate seat and crimp dies is another benefit, which will give you better control over both operations.

Most seating dies are designed to be able to apply a crimp as well as seating the bullet. The only exception I know of are Dillon die sets, which always have separate seating and crimp dies.
 
actually i really dont know why you'd crimp your bullets, do you plan on throwing them on the ground before shooting em??

normal range use= no need for crimping.
 
Get the 4 die set. Set up your seater far enough out that it doesn't roll crimp the mouth. Then finish in the FDC.
 
charles.emond said:
actually i really dont know why you'd crimp your bullets, do you plan on throwing them on the ground before shooting em??

normal range use= no need for crimping.
Click to expand...

All straight walled should have some sort of crimp.
When I feed non crimped rounds into my acp and it slams into the feeding ramp the projectile moves back.
Same deal with the recoil jerking the rounds in the mag back.

Obviously a crimp is needed or pressures will raise in my rounds exponentially.

This is my observation, who knows what is really needed.
 
Absolutely no reason why your standard seating die can't be adjusted to give the amount of crimp you desire. Why would you make another operation for yourself, by using a seperate crimping die?
 
I was under the impression the Lee 3-pc set, sat and crimped in one operation. I can't see any real reason for not wanting to crimp, at least lightly.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here...
 
VooDooMan said:
All straight walled should have some sort of crimp.
When I feed non crimped rounds into my acp and it slams into the feeding ramp the projectile moves back.
Same deal with the recoil jerking the rounds in the mag back.

Obviously a crimp is needed or pressures will raise in my rounds exponentially.

This is my observation, who knows what is really needed.
Click to expand...

From your OP I gather that you don't reload 45acp yet. If your gun does what you said (in the highlighted statement of yours) with factory ammo, your gun is due for a trip to the gunsmith.

And how does a non crimped bullet would raise pressures EXPONENTIALLY?

I load exclusively with lead bullets, did many chamberign tests and without crimp, my properly installed 3 die set made consistent ammo that didn't have a pushed back bullet
I now run a 2 die set as the powder die on my dillon replaces the need for an expander
 
firemachine69 said:
I was under the impression the Lee 3-pc set, sat and crimped in one operation. I can't see any real reason for not wanting to crimp, at least lightly.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here...
Click to expand...

You are not wrong. All regular seating dies are crimping dies. There may be some exceptions, but all REGULAR seating dies are crimping dies. If yu don't want to crimp, just leave the die up a bit, maybe a tenth of an inch, from the shell holder when the handle is full down.
Screwed down to touch the shell holder gives maximum crimp, while partial crimp is somewhere in between.
My OWN PERSONAL OPINION is that Lee factory crimp dies are greatly over rated.
I bought one when I got dies for the 45-70. I used it for a while, then wondered why I was doing the extra operation, when I could get just as good a crimp, of any desired amount, with the regular seating die. I never use the crimp die, anymore.
 
How do you not crimp handgun ammo? You need to at least take out the belling of the case mouth after you seat the bullet.

I think the separate seating and crimp approach makes the most sense on a progressive press, where it doesn't make for extra work and it is easier to adjust seating and crimping independently of one another.
 
tjhaile said:
How do you not crimp handgun ammo? You need to at least take out the belling of the case mouth after you seat the bullet.

I think the separate seating and crimp approach makes the most sense on a progressive press, where it doesn't make for extra work and it is easier to adjust seating and crimping independently of one another.
Click to expand...

yes, it's true. He contacted me by PM, that's what I replied but I don't have room for one because my 550 only has 4 stations. I'd rather have a powder check die than the FCD. My seater does the job perfectly
 
My primary interest in using the FCD has more to do with post sizing than it does with the crimping aspect, I usually end up with 7-10 rounds per 1k batch that don't slide easily into my chamber and I suspect that a FCD might correct this.
 
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