I use the Lee FCD to crimp .223 rounds and have started having problems with the die collapsing the shoulder. The collet will not return the open position after a round is crimped and when the next round is inserted the neck is forced down which collapses the shoulder. It's done that the last thee times I loaded .223.
I sprayed the inside of the die with brake cleaner used a Q-tip to wipe down the inside then sprayed with dry lube and the collet will still stick in the closed position after about 25 rounds. I can't feel the shoulder collapse when resizing and crimping on the same stroke because the pressure required to resize is more than enough to push the shoulder down. I just have to watch each round as it comes out of the die and I've missed a few.
There does not seem to be any way of taking the die apart for cleaning and using the brake cleaner does not work well enough. Does the die need to be replaced or has someone found a way to do a good cleaning?
It's Richard Lee's arrogance again, using the wrong materials (that only he knows how to use for reloading tools???). Any educated mechanical engineer knows that when two metal items (steel in this case) are run against each other under a load and are the same alloy, the surfaces will gall. This makes the pedals stick in the die and not retract. I have pointed out this LEE fault in the rifle FCD design on many occasion here. As with almost all of the LEE products he gets the design idea right and use the wrong materials for implementation.
This video shows how to disassemble the die at about 1: 45 minutes into it:
Don't be discouraged if the process doesn't work. I tried it to get one of mine apart and it was a lot tougher to do than shown in the video.
Once you have it apart you have to remove the galling with stones or very fine sandpaper.That may revive the die (??).
I like this die for what it does when working correctly but not for the LEE propensity to use the wrong materials. All he would have to have done was choose two different allows of steel for the collet and the die body and all would be well for decades. But cheap is cheap when it comes to LEE.
Well, I got the die apart, but like you said it was not as easy as shown in the video. I had to put it in my bench vise and use a 1/4" punch to drive it out. It was not galled but there was some kind of crud lodged between the body and the collet. Now maybe it will work without crushing the shoulder.
One can only guess . It could be a patent issue or simply a good idea using the wrong materials. It could also be the cost of production. Having used Lee products for many years, I tend to believe it may be all of the above. Some Lee products are good and some are not. However for the price, Lee does fill a certain void in the reloading community. Even though I never crimp my ammo, (compression fit only) it is always good to have this sort of info . Hopefully, in the next while I myself may have to learn a bit about crimping due to the fact of reloading some turn of the century black powder ammo.
It never hurts to learn even if you may never need to use the information .
There is more than one way to skin a cat or crimp a case. Others make separate crimp dies too but none use a collet die.
The LEE FCD is a lazy man's way to crimp ammo. The setup is easy and the cases do not all have to be the same length to get the same exact amount of bullet retention. But the cases must be between the Minimum Case length and the Trim-to case length measured after sizing but not all exactly the same length (avoids trimming just for crimping. Crimping done with normal crimp dies or in the seating/crimp die are as well crimped as with the LEE FCD but setting up the dies correctly seems to evade some (??) and to bet uniform crimps all the cases MUST be the same length. I admit to being a bit lazy and use the LEE Rifle version of the FCD (but NEVER the Pistol version).
As whether to crimp or not depends on what the ammo is to be shot in. Revolver ammo, semi-auto pistol ammo, lever gun (tube fed) ammo, semi-auto guns ammo, heavy recoiling gun ammo that has a magazine (removable or not) or hunting ammo that will be handled roughly or carried in the pocket or a pouch MUST be crimped. Case Neck bullet retention only works with ammo that is not treated to recoil in the gun or is handled roughly. A bolt gun used at the range off the bench does not need crimping IF the neck tension is uniform on all the cases. Using the LEE FCD on even this ammo is easy and assures best performance from the reloads. Never over crimp with the LEE FCD as it can distort the bullet and effect the bullet flight path.
As you can probably tell I have a love/hate relationship with the LEE FCD's.
Good reminder for me to put the crimper on the calendar for a periodic cleaning. I've only placed the dies for once a year cleaning unless needed earlier, but will may be do a bi-annual for that crimper.
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edit add:
I place my rifle fcd in my single stage press then use my slug barrel wood dowels and place the dowel over two of the quarters and lightly tap with a plastic hammer. Then move to the other half and repeat and the collet pops out.
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I use one of the REM oil clothes in the collet halves which oils and wipes them out if necessary. Finish wiping them down with the rem cloth and put back together.
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Neither of my collet fcd had a spring washer. It is possible Lee has redesigned the die and maybe now are two different types of metal. I have no clue as they look alike, but I had no galling.
My Lee FCD setup is less than a year old and has about 8k rounds through it, never a problem one with it...cross my fingers.
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