Kris N - Mighty kind of you, Kris - you are good folks...!! Steve

Not really necessary as the seating die gives a factory roll crimp.

+TheFirefox8192 -- Thanks for your generous comment - much appreciated - Have a great day, FC

A word of CAUTION on HOLLOW BASE WADCUTTERS ! DO NOT exceed listed maximum charges for those. They are not loaded to maximum SAAMI pressures. DO NOT try for more as there is a risk of having a "blowout" with the hollow base type. An increase in pressure beyond those listed can cause the internal "dome" of the wadcutter to rupture. This would leave the outer body of the bullet stuck inside the bore. I have experimented with a 148gr LEE SOLID wadcutter this year. I have been trying to find a standard, or near standard pressure load that I can obtain at least 900 fps in my 3" S&W 60-4 (38). I finally hit a powder that gives me 920fps average. I advise against any such experimentation with a hollow base design. 🤔 There is NO WAY I would attempt any such thing with a hollow base bullet.

Xtinnoker Always great to hear from Xtinnoker..!! Thanks for posting your comment. Best to ya - FC

+Neil Webster -- Thanks for posting this, Neil - and Happy Holidays to ya in the Great State of Illinois!! People are wonderfully different. I've found that there are two basic types of KZfaq viewers - those that want information and techniques and want to learn all they can and sift out what will work for them, and those who already know and just want to see if they will agree with the YT poster. Some take great offense and look to criticize if they see (or hear) anything they don't like, but they don't bother to post on their own to add their knowledge to that already out there - I find that a bit disconcerting. That was brought out by a friend who just told me he did his first deep fried turkey, but watched 90 (?) YT videos on it first as he wanted to do it safe and right. Everyone raved about his turkey - best they ever tasted. So all those videos had value to him as he got a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do after viewing all those. Were all the 90 the same? Sure as shootin' no way..!! Sorry this is long, but comments like yours are very much appreciated by any YT poster. I'm a-thankin' ya... FC

Thanks for the response back! Much respect & have a happy holiday as well.

fatmantolly Sure saves a lot of frustration for sure...!! Good day to you, friend fatmantolly..!!

Bob Kopchik and at dam good pricing also - amazing example of American know-how and marketing...

LMO MechTech Whenever we load up our DA revolvers and do extra cartridge pushing to make sure all the rounds are fully into the cylinder - that tips off that we don't use Lee FCDs - you see it on KZfaq all the time - even some famous YT shooters do the "cartridge push" before they let fly...Have a great day to ya, Larry!!

Adam Turnbull - The Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Dies all straighten out those bulges. The Lee Collet type factory crimp dies don't have the carbide ring so they can still bulge cases - best to measure the case below the crimp and just below the crimp to detect if any bulging is occurring. Still good crimping dies though - the best crimp in the business... Have a great 4th, FC Steve

+Chad Burnett -- And thank you for posting...Have a great day, FC

Mark - Always good to get comments from Mark... Continued good reloadin' to ya...and congrats on ownership of that fine shootin' iron... Best to ya, FC

Hi fortune cookie. Thank you. Have been getting different loads ready. Headed Sat to try her out. Any suggestions moon clips and speed loaders. Have a great day and good shooting to you too. Mark

Neil Harris Nice ammo, good functioning = lots of smiles....Have a great day

+Neil Harris -- Thanks for your comments - I like those collet neck size dies also -- they are very hard to beat for same rifle reloading...Best Regards, FC

forrest225 - congrats on making that jump to more capability in your ammo making. Please ask questions or make comments as you desire. Best to ya, FCSteve

+wronghandshooter -- Appreciate you taking the time to post... FC

robert kline - And good reloadin' to ya..!! Best Regards, FC

and the die makes a crimp easy to setup...

+George Johnson -- If one is a student of the activity and then is around long enough...you can't help it...but then the question is, "What are you going to do with it?" If we keep it to benefit ourselves only, that has been likened to an elitist attitude to raise one's self and let only the select also climb the hill. The information will die with us... America has always been into team building - caring for each other and what we do = the common good - it's hidden in the definition of democracy, and it helped make this nation great. Tyrants need not apply... Best to ya, FC

1717jbs - and thanks to you for taking the time to post.... Best Regards

JBBooks4440 Thanks, Joe...You have a great day

Ian Hall - The Lee 4 die carbide set for 357 / 38 spl would be an outstanding die set for you. Any of the die sets available will handle cast, plated and jacketed bullets of the correct diameter. For target loads, the number 3.5 is practically an across the board powder charge for all the faster burning pistol powders - so 3.5 grains of Bullseye, Red Dot, Titegroup, American Select, Nitro 100, AA#2, HP38, 231, WST, Green Dot for your 357 cases using 158 grain lead RN or SWC bullets. Note: there are exceptions - Clays is not usually used in 357 cases, and the Green Dot 3.5 is a little too heavy for 38 Specials if fired in 38 Special guns (357 guns are OK). If you have specific powders in mind not on the list above, please come back with another comment. Also, if you do not yet have your reloading press, you have many options including the Lee Custom Cast, Lee Challenger, RCBS Rock Chucker, RCBS Partner, MEC Marksman and others from Lyman, Hornady and Redding. Good reloadin' to ya, FC

bubbacrabb You and I both have the 38 Spl FCD. That's actually good as it will do 357 cases easy. But when we do use if for 38, we have to screw the die body down until it touches the shellholder and then have the crimp stem down fairly far to get the crimp we want. But that's OK, the die works fine that way, and you and I are glad of that..!! Good reloadin' to ya

+bubbacrabb -- This may not be what's happening, but sometimes when we are loading 38 special with 357 dies, we will have this problem as the 38 case has to go way into the die to get processed. If we have 38 dies, the 357 is no problem because it won't be going way into the die and the 38 won't have to go that far either. Best to ya, FC

Dean Anthony - All 38 / 357 reloading dies are roll crimps. You can load you plated bullets with roll crimp dies by 1) using a very light roll crimp that simulates a taper crimp 2) going ahead and roll crimping directly into the plated bullet as a separate step to the seat / crimp procedure.- with a light to moderate crimp only - heavy crimping would distort the bullet, but you would not get a heavy crimp with taper crimping anyway (loses neck tension). Good reloadin' to ya, FC

thank you!

Richard Venneman - Absolutely - it is the best crimp in the business (only care is when there is substantial resistance felt on the cartridge entering the die - means that there is some major sizing of the final round being done- that is not the purpose of the Lee FCD - the purpose is to iron out any minor bulges caused by reloading procderes, not the wholesale resizing of loaded rounds. If that is being done, loss of neck tension may result with bullet pullout or pop out on crimping) Good reloadin' to ya, FC

+Delbert McCord -- Thanks for the comment and question... Lee 4 die sets and the Dillon 550B were made for each other - I use the Lee bullet seating die in station 3 with the body screwed out so no crimping is done there - only bullet seating. Then the FCD does its thing in Station 4. Having to do the FCD as a separate step would defeat the goodness of the progressive press reloading... Best to ya, FC

Thank you for the comment. I already have the Dillon dies but I have purchased a LEE Factory Crimp Die for each caliber. I am going to just replace the Dillon Crimp with the LEE and see how that works for me. Most of the time my ammo fits just fine but every once in a while I have 357 and 45 Colt that needs a little push to get it in the gun all the way. Thanks again!

had a 45 colt that needed a little push to get into my 73 rifle.... had a high primer and it went off out of battery.... switched to the FCD.... got rid of those bulges.

I just replaced the Dillon crimp die. It works great for me. My rounds used to rub in my single action revolver but now they drop in and out with no problem. My Henry lever gun never seemed to care with either round. I liked mine so much I got on Midways website and replaced all of mine with the Lee Factory Crimp Dies

--Delbert McCord - Yes, the Lee FCDs are so good at what they do, we just like 'em everywhere we can use 'em... Good shootin' to ya, FC

Great question, Michael. Elmer Keith settled that with his design of tapered crumping grooves jacketed bullets have crimping cannelures that have a degree of width to them. These allow for some case length variation and some crimping variation. If you want SD of less than 6, trimming and sorting cases for identical length to .000” variance and .00 grains weight will help you get there. With handgun accuracy being 3 MOA for the best match factory loads, we just don’t need all that - rifles at distance - of course. We choose our cast bullet designs accordingly. Good shootio’ to ya. Steve

What I did was 2 things but I got them straight to where they all enter the cylinder easily and fully. 1) I chamfered the inside of the cases; I wouldn't normally chamfer a rifle case if I hadn't trimmed it but I wanted a little bit more of a guide for the bullet as it entered the case, 2) I lowered the expander die until it was expanding the case all the way back to where the back of the bullet would sit when properly seated, and I carefully aligned the bullet on top of the case before raising the ram. I also don't use the seating die to crimp. I crimp only with the FCD.

Norman Reppingen - Fantastic that you a chance to work with Harmut Broemel - I've talked with several viewers on YT that use his program. Have you ever seen a long straight wall case like a 45/70 or 458 Win or 458 Lott buckle when the crimp is applied to the bullet? That can happen to lesser degree when crimping any case whether roll crimp or taper crimp. Such bulges from buckling can cause chambering issues. Richard Lee developed his Factory Crimp Die to take care of such - nothing more. If bullets are too big to chamber into any specific gun, they should be sized - or we can size them anyway depending on our preference. The FCD was not supposed to be used to swage down whole rounds to chamber as if brass is squeezed so, the bullet will swage down, but the brass springs back so neck tension is lost. The bullet spins in the case or can be pulled out. Such rounds will not work and are obvious to spot - and the FCD is blamed for that causing hatred of the FCD when it is not justified. If there is wholesale swaging, the bullets should be sized = done. Then the FCD would be free to do its job. What Richard Lee really did was give handgun shooters the ability to shoot a lot by reloading a lot with an integrated system new to the bullet caster world at the time. 1) 6 cavity aluminum molds 2) Tumble lube bullets that drop near enough to SAAMI specs that sizing is often not required 3) Lee Liquid Alox to easily lube the bullets that needed no sizing 4) Lee sizer kits to size 'em or any other bullets that need sizing 5) Lee Factory Crimp Dies to create good crimps and eliminate chambering difficulties caused by reloading operations including crimping. If I showed Hartmut a regular round that had run through the FCD as it was designed to be used - the round would look normal. And it would work normal, even splendidly, as well. Have a great day, FC.

Thanks for your response, and i believe this on the spot. Maybe someone somehow mis-applied this crimping method. I can not recall the exact issue Hartmut had with these rounds. Will ask him on later opportunity. I am expecting the first delivery of bullet casting material, four Lee 6 cavity molds for 9 mm & .357 will hopefully arrive soon, with the brinell hardness tester, the big Lee melting pot, the handpress and other random stuff. I am very curious, already bought 30 lbs of letter lead, and on saturday i will continue with the range scrap efforts. Big gas heater and smelting pot is already sitting around (great to cook/fry with gas btw., way better than electro). So i hope i will be ready to join the casting cause soon. And thanks again for your videos, they are a real pleasure to watch!

Norman Reppingen - You are starting off with good equipment....and please stay in touch - want to hear how things go for you. Whenever you handle range scrap - please mind which way the wind is blowing and watch out for any dust that comes off in handling - wind should blow that away from you. Welder's gloves for safety... Good castin' to ya, FC

Chris Kelly84 - You'll get better crimps and also the removal of any bulges that will impede chambering with the Lee FCD - rounds should drop in and out readily and consistently... Good reloadin' to ya, jFC

FortuneCookie45LC definitely a must with my 73 rifle.

peteralexben - you have hit on it - Richard Lee wanted an integrated system to get to fine reloaded ammo - Use his 6 cavity TL bullet molds, no sizing, easy lubing, load lots of ammo, and then his FCDs take care of functioning. And it works well. The older traditional system of casting, sizing, lubing also works, but works better with the FCDs as well...Have a great day

Daniel Blell No thoughts needed - all us auto pistol shooters have great taper crimp dies from all manufacturers to use 1) neck tension 2) taper crimp and our reloads should really sing. And the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Dies for auto pistol calibers do the taper crimps we need while providing the Best Crimp in the Business. I like my taper crimps to be just a hair more than what it takes to straighten out any mouth flare done for bullet seating...Best Regards

+Daniel Blell -- Best crimp for auto pistol rounds is a taper crimp and yes, any crimp can be overdone...Lee Factory Carbide Crimp Dies for auto pistols are taper crimp dies... Best to ya, FC

gman77gas Thanks, Gary - Hope you are having a tremendously fine Wisconsin springtime...!!

85waspnest Yes. The Lee Carbide FCDs can be used with any gun, anytime anywhere with safety. However, in the case of the Marlin lever guns, there may be one slight but significant problem - Marlin micro groove barrels in 357 often shoot best with bullets in the .359 - .360" (depending on the groove diameter as determined by barrel slugging). Lee FCDs may swedge the bullet to .358" inside the case (fine for practically ever other gun), and these bullets may give flyers fired in the typical oversized Marlin micro groove barrels. You will know it when you shoot the ammo. If that happens, you have to load the bigger bullets (get a mold that drops 'em big). But then this ammo probably will hang up in any 357 revolvers you might have. What Marlin owners do is go with .359" bullets to compromise with all our guns and if they shoot well in the Marlin, they/we are in business. Have a great day

FortuneCookie45LC Many thanks from England. My Marlin has Ballard rifling and my Lee mould drops RNFP 158g bullets at .359 so I guess it's okay. Great vids, keep 'em coming. :-)

85waspnest Perfect - for your Ballard cut rifling (the kind all us Micro-groove owners wish we had), we can use the Lee FCDs just fine. And your .359 bullets should do very well in your Marlin after the loaded rounds have gone through the Lee factory crimp die. Good shootin' to ya

Couldn't this be because of extra thick case brass?

@@robertbrandywine to the best of my knowledge, over-sized (too big) cases only happen when a chamber is too big. People sometimes have trouble with military brass not getting sized down enough. Typically a machine gun with a worn/over-sized chamber is the culprit.

Glock2201 - One thing you don't hear much about when it comes to bullet retention on auto pistol rounds. And I happen to have a video on that in my cue - might even push it up since this subject is of interest. Cast lead bullets have more lubricity than plated or jacketed bullets. That's the reason a little less powder is required to get the same velocities with cast. But for bullet retention, that works against us. For cast, we actually need more neck tension to hold the bullets. Then the taper crimp is secondary, but oftentimes necessary to add. Also, bearing surface of the bullet has a part to play in bullet retention, more bearing surface = better bullet retention. In spite of what you might hear, with our taper crimps, the dies are set up so that we really don't lose headspace. Also, the dies prevent us from overtaper crimping because neck tension is lost. Best way to set up the taper crimp is to apply crimp until all traces of the belling are gone, then just add a bit more - experience will be your guide. Then, when at the range, test by chambering a round and checking to see if bullet movement has occurred, then repeat. If you do not get bullets driven into the case by more than a thou or two, after two slide jams, you are OK with your bullet retention. If you get more than .002", then apply just a bit more taper crimp. I've never had to turn down a neck expander plug - we can thank SAAMI for that. Best to ya, FC

Lc Bill - Yes, if the barrel is stamped 38 Special or 357 Magnum, you can shoot these rounds. Best to ya for a fine 2017..!! FC

Lc Bill Hi. I was just reading the comments here and well, I'm no expert but it is good info to know that with a Henry it is important that 38 special bullets be 158 grain minimum as that gives the correct length to cycle well. I was told that by thier customer service and through experience found in to be true. I'm still new to reloading and would really appreciate information on how to get a good moderate roll crimp. I'm not clear on the technique. any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks.

I’ve been trying to figure out the answer to the same question and learned the best is the Carbides, Lee 4-Die set. You can spend more money and buy a Redding die set, which I considered, but still can’t beat the tried and true Lee carbide 4-die sets for all your pistol calibers.

@@MYates307RC I will try do my best.

DON C. Richard Lee gave us reloaders and shooters some real fine products and the FCDs are among his most useful...Best Regards to ya

JunkfoodZombie Thanks for your uniformly fine comments...am heading over to your channel right now to take in those safety videos -

FortuneCookie45LC Posted one. Still have two to go!

JunkfoodZombie Nice job with that safety video - the next two should be fun and informative also - will be awaiting them...Best to ya, and Have a great Tennessee day..!!

Right back atcha, my friend!