Trouble with Lee FCD

[aridan]

I have been reloading 9mm/.40S&W/.45ACP on my Hornady LnL for about a year now. Being a noob, I opted for FCD in all calibers because I read it would fix whatever errors I made by straightening the case. And it did.

Until last month, when I was reloading 9mm, and noticed a strong resistance on ramping down. I narrowed the problem down to my FCD. It was full of brass shavings, not just brass dust but shavings. FYI, the FCD was set for light crimp.

I re-adjusted all my dies a couple of times but the problem remained. Since I use Hornady dies, I set my seating die to do the crimp as well. I had no idea if my Shadow would be sensitive to not having enough crimp, but still didn't want to overcrimp, so I went for just a 1/2 turn of the die.

I loaded 100 rounds using this setup. All of them passed the barrel test, and afterwards fired without a hitch.

I think I have graduated to a point where I no longer need FCD as my training wheels. But I am still puzzled by why my FCD started misbehaving all of a sudden. The only change I can think of is the addition of a Hornady bullet feeder 3 months ago, when I had to start expanding the case a bit more, to keep the dropped bullet stay upright.

 

[dan belisle]

How often did you clean the FCD? - dan

 

[aridan]

How often did you clean the FCD? - dan

Every 2,000 rounds or so. But what came out was fine brass dust - not brass shavings.

 

[Canuck223]

The most probable explaination for shavings is the amount of belling you are using. Clean everything,and check your belling. Use as little as you can.

Set the FCD up with the crimping stem backed largely out. Adjust the die body to make contact with the shellplate. Then slowly increase the crimp by lowering the stem until you have reduced the belling to flush.

 

[aridan]

Thanks, will give it a try!

Just a quick question: I understand belling has to go, but beyond that, is there any point in crimping just a tuch more? I read that insufficient crimp may be the cause of powder not igniting and burning completely, thus lowering pressures & burning dirty.

 

[curtmg]

Thanks, will give it a try!

Just a quick question: I understand belling has to go, but beyond that, is there any point in crimping just a tuch more? I read that insufficient crimp may be the cause of powder not igniting and burning completely, thus lowering pressures & burning dirty.

More likely a problem with slower powders in bigger cases than you are using. If we were talking 44 magnum, and H110, then definitely crimp it like you're afraid the bullet is going to bounce away. 9mm on the other hand, so long as you get reliable feeding, and the bullet doesn't actually bounce away, there's no reason to crimp too tightly.

 

[aridan]

More likely a problem with slower powders in bigger cases than you are using. If we were talking 44 magnum, and H110, then definitely crimp it like you're afraid the bullet is going to bounce away. 9mm on the other hand, so long as you get reliable feeding, and the bullet doesn't actually bounce away, there's no reason to crimp too tightly.

I see... Yes, I'm using 4.0gr of N320, and there is a fair bit of room left in the case, but probably not much once the bullet is seated. I am set up for 1.150 OAL which is fairly short, to please my Shadow.

 

[hk33ka1]

I don't use my Lee FCD's much anymore. I have purchased seperate Lee Taper Crimp dies to use as a fourth step for my pistol crimping. I am loading oversized cast boolits for most of my pistol shooting.

 

[Skyhawk]

I read that insufficient crimp may be the cause of powder not igniting and burning completely, thus lowering pressures & burning dirty.

Not with straight walled pistol cartridges. This may be true with some revolver loads ... but I don't reload those.

I pretty much don't crimp my 9mm cases AT ALL, especially now that I'm using bullets with beveled bases that reduce the need to bell the cases. I'm reloading for the Shadow too, but only using 3.2gr of N320 with cast lead 156 grain bullets set in at about 1.095" OAL. You must be loading a pretty light FMJ bullet to drive it with 4.0gr of N320 considering mine are doing about 132 PF. Mine feel like blowing snot through a straw though.

 

[Rocket Surgery]

The most probable explaination for shavings is the amount of belling you are using. Clean everything,and check your belling. Use as little as you can.

I agree, you just need enough belling to start the bullet. It doesn't need to look like a daffodil of death.

 

[CeeZer]

Using Hornady LNL AP here with Hornady dies, no other dies, for 3 years now.
OAL of 1.15" is LONG for Shadow, I never developed a load over 1.12". But, it depends on bullet shape mostly, as long as you don't hit rifling and feeding is 100% reliable - go for it!
Dies do need to be cleaned once in a while, but I never disassemble them doing so.

 

[aridan]

Not with straight walled pistol cartridges. This may be true with some revolver loads ... but I don't reload those.

I pretty much don't crimp my 9mm cases AT ALL, especially now that I'm using bullets with beveled bases that reduce the need to bell the cases. I'm reloading for the Shadow too, but only using 3.2gr of N320 with cast lead 156 grain bullets set in at about 1.095" OAL. You must be loading a pretty light FMJ bullet to drive it with 4.0gr of N320 considering mine are doing about 132 PF. Mine feel like blowing snot through a straw though.

Guilty. I developed this load before I started IPSC this year. Still have to chrono this, bought a chrono 4 months ago but have been lazy. Level 3 matches are not in my schedule just yet.

I agree, you just need enough belling to start the bullet. It doesn't need to look like a daffodil of death.

Yes, but introducing the bullet feeder required more belling. Otherwise, the bullet falling from the feeder die doesn't want to stay put when the press is indexing.

Using Hornady LNL AP here with Hornady dies, no other dies, for 3 years now.
OAL of 1.15" is LONG for Shadow, I never developed a load over 1.12". But, it depends on bullet shape mostly, as long as you don't hit rifling and feeding is 100% reliable - go for it!
Dies do need to be cleaned once in a while, but I never disassemble them doing so.

I'm loading Zero 125-C JHPs, and 1.15" is about as far as I can push it. I will probably back off to my previous 1.10" setting, just to be safe.