- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
So I’m about to set up a Lee turret press for pistol cartridges and I started reading up on the Lee FCD. I have been using Lee and RCBS 3 die sets for 9mm, 45auto and 10mm, have had no issues setting up or using their bullet seating/crimping dies. Is there any gain in using the FCD over the seating/crimp dies?
I don’t have and issues with finished ammo loading, all pass the plunk tests in their respective barrel chambers, I don’t crimp heavy so I haven’t had any issues with cases bulging, I shoot a mix of jacketed/plated/cast in 10mm the rest are plated Campro’s in 9mm and 45auto. I have trimmed all of my 10mm brass as there was a big variation in OAL case length, crimping consistency and uniformity improved after trimming.
The way I look at it if there’s no accuracy gain from the FCD and I’m not experiencing any chambering or bulging issues the only real benefit I’d get out of it is ease of set up and crimp adjustment compared to the factory seating/crimping die, although that is minimal gain as I’m setting up turrets for each cartridge and once set up I’ll be leaving them alone.
Is there anything I’m missing with them, I don’t see a benefit from the carbide sizing ring when loading cast. If I start loading oversize cast bullets I’ll want the bigger dia and not want the full length resize post crimp.
I don’t have and issues with finished ammo loading, all pass the plunk tests in their respective barrel chambers, I don’t crimp heavy so I haven’t had any issues with cases bulging, I shoot a mix of jacketed/plated/cast in 10mm the rest are plated Campro’s in 9mm and 45auto. I have trimmed all of my 10mm brass as there was a big variation in OAL case length, crimping consistency and uniformity improved after trimming.
The way I look at it if there’s no accuracy gain from the FCD and I’m not experiencing any chambering or bulging issues the only real benefit I’d get out of it is ease of set up and crimp adjustment compared to the factory seating/crimping die, although that is minimal gain as I’m setting up turrets for each cartridge and once set up I’ll be leaving them alone.
Is there anything I’m missing with them, I don’t see a benefit from the carbide sizing ring when loading cast. If I start loading oversize cast bullets I’ll want the bigger dia and not want the full length resize post crimp.