JoeInTucson Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Hello, I think I want to try a Lee carbide taper crimp die in 9mm. It seems to be a popular die. Right now I am running a Redding taper crimp die. I am just wondering how long the Lee die can last. Always had issues with their items..... Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I used one for about 20 years along with a Lee undersized die. No issue with either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoNsTeR Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I've also had and used one for 20+ years and many tens of thousands of rounds. Some people don't like them, but I do, especially in 9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPENB Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 21 hours ago, JoeInTucson said: Hello, I think I want to try a Lee carbide taper crimp die in 9mm. It seems to be a popular die. Right now I am running a Redding taper crimp die. I am just wondering how long the Lee die can last. Always had issues with their items..... Thanks Are you talking about the Factory Crimp Die, that has the carbide sizing ring? I use it in all my pistol calibers. Some say it hides other issues that are preventing your ammo from gauging. All I know is when I use it, all my ammo gauges, and I don't have ammo issues. Carbide is harder than steel, so it should last longer than a non-carbide die. Plus, it's not doing a lot of resizing of the case as the regular resizing die is. As to quality, Lee dies are really well regarded. Their other stuff, not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Phil Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 ditto all of the above. But since the mid 80s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Mitch Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Can’t beat Lee dies for pistol cases. The FCD die set eliminates the need for case gauging. I’m not sure how many rounds I’ve run through FCD dies, but it’s somewhat less than 300k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddc Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 On 2/5/2024 at 9:15 AM, Dr Mitch said: The FCD die set eliminates the need for case gauging. No. The FCD does not size the complete case. It stops short of extractor groove. It is very possible to have a case with a bulge at the base that will not gauge even after running it through the FCD. If the FCD did such a complete job of sizing there would be no need for Roll Sizers or Case Pros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachjet Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 I just started using one It definitely doesn’t prevent all case bulging. This is three out of maybe 1500 or so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
625 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 3 hours ago, Zachjet said: I just started using one It definitely doesn’t prevent all case bulging. This is three out of maybe 1500 or so What type of gun and how hot was the load? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachjet Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 That was range pick up brass, so who knows what shot it… honestly, if it doesn’t jam up the press, it doesn’t bother me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPENB Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 (edited) I had a Dan Wesson PM9 that had the tightest chamber I'd ever seen. The only way to get all ammo to gauge was to run cases through the Lee 9mm Makarov sizing die, which would size the area just above the groove. If I'd kept the gun, I'd have the chamber opened up a bit. The cases were pushed all the way thru the die. Lee has a Bulge Buster kit. Pics above, were those cases all the same headstamp? Some crappier brass would bulge on first firing, only suitable for the trash. Those are case ruptures waiting to happen. Edited February 7 by OPENB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachjet Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 (edited) 36 minutes ago, OPENB said: I had a Dan Wesson PM9 that had the tightest chamber I'd ever seen. The only way to get all ammo to gauge was to run cases through the Lee 9mm Makarov sizing die, which would size the area just above the groove. If I'd kept the gun, I'd have the chamber opened up a bit. The cases were pushed all the way thru the die. Lee has a Bulge Buster kit. Pics above, were those cases all the same headstamp? Some crappier brass would bulge on first firing, only suitable for the trash. Those are case ruptures waiting to happen. I’ll be honest, I didn’t even check. I tossed them. As of now, with my current set up, the only brass I have an issue with is the 1k2x brass. I picked them and toss them because the primer pockets are just so tight Edited February 7 by Zachjet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 On 2/6/2024 at 4:06 PM, ddc said: No. The FCD does not size the complete case. It stops short of extractor groove. That is only true of 9mm. It sizes down about 3/8". On 40sw and 45 it sizes the entire case, because they are straight walled. When using the FCD you do not have to roll size 40sw and 45 cases. You DO for 9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtuns Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 (edited) 1 hour ago, zzt said: That is only true of 9mm. It sizes down about 3/8". On 40sw and 45 it sizes the entire case, because they are straight walled. When using the FCD you do not have to roll size 40sw and 45 cases. You DO for 9mm. Even with .40 and .45 die can only go down to shell plate. Edited February 8 by dtuns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddc Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 2 hours ago, zzt said: That is only true of 9mm. It sizes down about 3/8". On 40sw and 45 it sizes the entire case, because they are straight walled. When using the FCD you do not have to roll size 40sw and 45 cases. You DO for 9mm. Ya got me there! I live in an exclusively 9mm world. I often forget there are other ways to live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 (edited) On 2/6/2024 at 1:19 PM, Zachjet said: I just started using one It definitely doesn’t prevent all case bulging. This is three out of maybe 1500 or so Back in the day we used to call that "Glocked brass". I don't know about the later generations, but the earlier Glocks had an oversize chamber and would swell the base of anything shot through them. It was a problem with both 9mm and 40 S&W. I'm guessing that isn't the case with the newer Glocks though, I buy once fired 9mm brass from a local indoor range and haven't run across a 'Glocked' case yet. 40 S&W range brass was a big problem and I'm still coming across 'Glocked' cases in my stash of 40 brass. Edited February 9 by 392heminut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now