Do you use lee factory crimp die for 9mm?

[Mr-X]

how often do you trim 9mm cases ?

From what I have read, heard and seen... 9mm brass does not stretch out enough to require trimming.


I have only cycled my 9mm brass 4 times but have not seen any over the max length (yet).

 

[aridan]

Initially, I used FCD for all calibers I was loading (9mm/.40S&W/.45ACP). Then I bought a bullet feeder and ran out of stations.

I've been reloading 9mm and .40S&W without the FCD for a few months now with no problems, using the crimp bult into the seating die. Do I miss the FCD? No, not really. The cases did look more uniform when FCD was used but my pistols aren't complaining. I think FCD helped me a lot when I started reloading, but I can live without it now.

 

[Ganderite]

I have been loading 9mm for about 50 years. Until this year I did not use or need the FCD. But then I ran into a new problem. I pick up 1F brass at the range and someone is now using a brand of brass that is thicker than the others. This brass sometimes bulges a bit and hangs up in my Star, which is a very fussy chamber.

So I got the FCD and installed as per the instructions. This gave all my cases a little squeeze and I get 100% chambering in the Star.

BUT, accuracy dropped off in all guns. I think the 356 bullets (cast) get squeezed down a bit.

So, i deliberately distorted a number of cases so they would not chamber in my Star (it has the tightest camber of all my 9mm pistols), then I backed the FCD out quite a bit and screwed it in it steps, testing the distorted brass until it was re-sized enough to chamber in the Star. The result was a die quite a bit off the shell holder, instead of hitting the holder. I think i will re-adjust the seater to do a basic taper crimp too, and use the FCD to touch only the bulged cases.

 

[Katana]

It's the solution to a non-existent problem, I have been reloading pistol ammo for over 25 years and have never needed anything but the basic pistol reloading dies.
If you set up your dies properly it is not necessary and a waste of money.

I agree. I've never used a crimp on any of my pistol loads and never a problem. The only round that gets a crimp in my press is the 223.

 

[ripitup911]

I use the fcd and it has worked good for me in all my pistol calibers

 

[kingdarb]

I use the FCD for 9mm. Only a very slight crimp. I turn it down until it just touches the mouth of the case, then 1/4 turn and that's it. Never have any issues with feeding or chambering as long as the OAL is right for the gun. The post sizing ring hardly ever touches the case.

 

[rayisametalkid]

Bought the carbide die set (9mm), no issues with crimp for any rounds i've loaded. Don't see a need for FCD.

 

[burnaby]

FCD doesn't seem to make any diff wit plated bullets for 9mm as very little flare is needed.

For my 45ACP cast bullets need to flare more otherwise seating die scratches off slivers of lead. FCD removes flare to allow chambering.