Lee crimp die issue again

[peterk123]

I thought I had this solved. Nope. Every half dozen or so rounds the crimp die pulls my bullet out. I've taken it apart. I made sure the sleeve was in the right way. I cleaned it with hoppes. No go. Never had issues with Lee and 9mm, which is basically the same thing. I've done tens of thousands of rounds in 9mm.

I'm at my wits end. Is it the die? I'm about to go out and buy a different set.

 

[45Badger]

Weird. Call Lee. They'll probably send a replacement.

 

[peterk123]

I just emailed them. It's sizing down my bullet. I don't think that should be happening.

 

[T-Unit]

What diameter are your bullets?

 

[peterk123]

What diameter are your bullets?

.401

 

[walter62]

For clarification, *which* Lee crimper are you talking about?

The basic FCD? Yea, it resizes.

 

[peterk123]

It is the one that comes in a four dies set. Not the FCD.

 

[walter62]

the Lee 4pc set *does* include the FCD.

From the catalog:
Lee Deluxe Pistol 4-Die Set 78.00


CARBIDE FULL LENGTH SIZING DIE, POWDER THROUGH
EXPANDING DIE, BULLET SEAT AND FEED DIE AND CARBIDE
FACTORY CRIMP DIE

 

[pastera]

40 S&W / 10MM Auto Dies

40 S&W / 10MM Auto Dies

leeprecision.com

Includes Carbide Full Length Sizing Die, Bullet Seating Die, Powder Thru Expanding Die, Carbide Factory Crimp Die, Universal Shell Holder, Powder Dipper

Bullet seating die should also crimp - seat/crimp in one step which sucks, knock the carbide sizing ring out of the FCD or grab another seating die.

If you were local, I'd just print out a seating die and you could use your current seating die without the stem to crimp.

 

[peterk123]

the Lee 4pc set *does* include the FCD.

From the catalog:
Lee Deluxe Pistol 4-Die Set 78.00


CARBIDE FULL LENGTH SIZING DIE, POWDER THROUGH
EXPANDING DIE, BULLET SEAT AND FEED DIE AND CARBIDE
FACTORY CRIMP DIE

You are correct. My bad.

Lee has been responding and I'm in the process answering questions. I will keep you guys posted.

 

[pastera]

Quick check would be to seat a number of rounds without the crimp swap your seater over and use it to crimp - that will tell you 100% that it's the FCD (which I'm 99.9% certain it is)

 

[peterk123]

I can't for the life of me figure this one out. The sleeve is a tapered tube. I use mixed brass. But that really should not matter. My 9mm is mixed brass. Never a problem.

 

[Broc Tuah]

40 S&W / 10MM Auto Dies

40 S&W / 10MM Auto Dies

leeprecision.com

Includes Carbide Full Length Sizing Die, Bullet Seating Die, Powder Thru Expanding Die, Carbide Factory Crimp Die, Universal Shell Holder, Powder Dipper

Bullet seating die should also crimp - seat/crimp in one step which sucks, knock the carbide sizing ring out of the FCD or grab another seating die.

If you were local, I'd just print out a seating die and you could use your current seating die without the stem to crimp.

I am confused.
Why does the seating die also crimp when this comes with a separate crimp die?

 

[pastera]

I am confused.
Why does the seating die also crimp when this comes with a separate crimp die?

They usually do since the 3 die set only includes the seater
Difference is with the 4 die you set the seater die higher so the crimp section never engages

Seating and crimping in two operations is always better except when using the Lee FCD with the carbide sizing ring that screws up cast/plated bullets and doesn't do good things to jacketed either

 

[peterk123]

I am confused.
Why does the seating die also crimp when this comes with a separate crimp die?

I think by "crimp"the seater just removes the bell.

 

[45Badger]

I think by "crimp"the seater just removes the bell.

This.

Forgot to add- for pistols, buy a Dillon.

 

[Broc Tuah]

So, you are telling me LEE is selling a 4 die set with 2 dies that crimp?

I am not surprised by this.

 

[T-Unit]

I am confused.
Why does the seating die also crimp when this comes with a separate crimp die?

Because all Lee seating dies come with the ability to crimp. You can forgo that by raising the die body and lowering the seating stem. The FCD takes out bulges while applying the crimp, so it sounds like the OP may have some bulge issues and the FCD is removing them, but is causing the bullet to be pulled.

Could also be a neck tension issue. I've had plenty of that in .45 ACP to the point I bought an undersize sizing die.

 

[T-Unit]

I think by "crimp"the seater just removes the bell.

No, the seating dies have the ability to do much more than that. I've used the Lee seater dies to put a roll crimp on some cartridges and a firm taper crimp on .45 ACP.

 

[eisenhow]

I think by "crimp"the seater just removes the bell.

That's all pistol cartridge "crimp die" should be doing.

 

[peterk123]

Been going back and forth with Lee with no resolution. All I got was, "that's weird".

Told them I'm done. Time to get a different set.