Pass-Thru Sizing using LEE FCD

[munchie3409]

Just ordered the Lee Bulge Buster as I started to prep my 10mm brass for reloading.

I'm a fan of this forum for all the knowledgeable folks that post on here.

[The_Shadow]

Here are some pics of the Bulge Buster in use, (this is my setup and shows what is used)
The die is the LEE FCD with the guts removed and a piece of card stock to keep the internal threads for snagging the cases.



This is a bullet push pin from a LEE bullet sizing kit, that I use to push the casings up into the LEE FCD dies with the guts removed...

[gandog56]

I got the Redding GR-x pass through setup before Lee came out with this. But, I bought the Lee so I can pass through size all my .45 ACP. I guess you can't use the 9mm FCD to do 9mm Luger since the 9mm case is very slightly tapered, but heard you could use the .380 ACP FCD to do them. I have not tried that yet.

[sparkyv]

But, I bought the Lee so I can pass through size all my .45 ACP. I guess you can't use the 9mm FCD to do 9mm Luger since the 9mm case is very slightly tapered, but heard you could use the .380 ACP FCD to do them. I have not tried that yet.

I have used the 9mm Makarov FCD successfully on 9mm Luger cases.

[The_Shadow]

One other thing I have given some thought to is the metallurgy of the brass used these days. Brass can have a wide range of alloy. Things that affect strength of the casings...

Annealing (v) Multi-phased heat and stress treatment that alters the microstructure of a metal adding strength, pliability, and hardness.

Ductile, Ductility (v) A physical quality ascribed to a metal that will permit plastic elongation (wire drawing) without fracturing.

Forging (Forged) (v) Heating a metal to a temperature where the metal becomes malleable (red hot) or deforming its shape by compression or exertion of force (hammering or cold forging).

Malleable, Malleability (v) A physical quality ascribed to a metal that can be compressed, deformed, extruded, hammered, and rolled.

Plastic, Plasticity (v) A physical quality ascribed to a metal that can be bent and worked without rupturing. A non-brittle metal.

These terms were borrowed from http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/glossary_metallurgy.html to provide some insight to what metals go thru while being produced or used.

[gandog56]

But, I bought the Lee so I can pass through size all my .45 ACP. I guess you can't use the 9mm FCD to do 9mm Luger since the 9mm case is very slightly tapered, but heard you could use the .380 ACP FCD to do them. I have not tried that yet.

I have used the 9mm Makarov FCD successfully on 9mm Luger cases.

Yeah, tha'ts great for the bullet end. But like I said, a 9mm is tapered. Down by the head it won't be right.

[The_Shadow]

gandog56, I bought a LEE 9mm Makarov FCD to Pass-Through 9mm cases, but it is fairly tight even with lube...This is what some guys were using to do theirs.  Mine seems very tight

I may try and open the carbide ring slightly with some valve grinding compound to make it easier.

[gandog56]

I got the Redding GR-x pass through setup before Lee came out with this. But, I bought the Lee so I can pass through size all my .45 ACP. I guess you can't use the 9mm FCD to do 9mm Luger since the 9mm case is very slightly tapered, but heard you could use the .380 ACP FCD to do them. I have not tried that yet.

Don't you have the adapter where you can screw a Mepps plastic jug into the top to collect the cases? I do.

[The_Shadow]

No I don't have the adapter, (I'm just cheap ) so I just catch them as they come out the top of the die and drop them in a tray next to the press.  Usually the 10mm will stack where I can grab 3 at a time off the top...so I feed three back to back

[jazzsax8]

I have been using the Lee FCD 10mm die for running my 10mm cases through before the normal loading operations whether they really need it or not.  Up until now I have loaded either lead or plated bullets exclusively.  So I put the 10mm crimp guts into my Lee .44 FCD to do the two stage crimping described in this thread.  I scored thousands of Montana Golds I plan to begin loading with and wondered if since they are jacketed, is it ever advisable to use the 10mm FCD with tapered crimp in it to do a final factory sizing of the case.  I just loaded up a few using the old method and noticed that my Lone Wolf fluted barrel would not handle the drop test always where the KKM and factory barrel seemed to work.  3/19/20 Update on the LW barrel is I was not taking enough of the bell out of the case measuring .426 on some rounds.  Put them into the FCD and they now measure .424 and chamber O.K.

Who among you uses the 10mm FCD on jacketed rounds?  Will it loosen the neck tension like it could on the softer lead/plated rounds?  I assume it would not deform a copper jacketed bullet.

[The_Shadow]

jazzsax8, I do not use the LEE FCD to apply any crimps, only use it as a pass through setup!  I use my RCBS/Seater Crimp die in the seating and separate crimps.
So I don't have to adjust my die setting for proper crimp I place a 1/8" spacer under the die to raise it up during the seating operation and then remove the space and run the seated cartridges for a finish crimp.   The spacers below can adjust you expander dies for different cartridges without having to adjust the die locking ring for each.
With my expander set for 40S&W neck expansion I can place one 1/8" spacer to raise up the die for expanding for 10mm.

Here you can see that the 1/8" spacers can adjust for different cartridge lengths
This is 10mm, 40S&W & 9mm


Here is 10mm, 40S&W 357Sig and 9x25Dillon so you can see where these can be helpful


With my 9mm expander set for 9mm, I can place one 1/8" spacer to raise it up for 357Sig neck expansion and two 1/8' spacers for 9x25 neck expansion

[Kenk]

I sure like the L.E. Wilson Max Pistol Cartridge Gauge

https://lewilson.com/pistol-max-gage/

[jazzsax8]

Shadow

Thanks for your response on the 1/8" rings.  I used to use those on my single stage loading .38/.357 and .44 spcl/.44mag.  I am now using the Hornady Progressive to seat and final crimp even when I use the single stage to size and fill the cases in a loading block one at a time.  I checked my Lee FCD and it measures .422.  I put one of my new Noslers into it (no tapering guts of course) and it would not even touch it as the Noslers were about .421-.4215 at the case mouth.  My recent loads that would not drop into my LW barrel had too much at the case mouth at .426.  After putting them into the FCD they came out .424 and would work.  I am currently loading an unknown brand jacketed flat nose bullet with open lead base that measures .401.  With the starline cases around .011 that puts the case mouth at a minimum of .423.  So when I ran them through the FCD they apparently had a .001 spring back ending up .424.  They seem to have excellent neck tension.

Kenk

I like the idea of the Wilson gauge but am too frugal to pay the going rate.  Put it on my search for a good used one though.  I think using my tighter KKM barrel drop test is probably semi-acceptable as the G20 barrel is more forgiving. 

[Mike D]

I sure like the L.E. Wilson Max Pistol Cartridge Gauge

https://lewilson.com/pistol-max-gage/

Thanks for the link Ken. Ive used the Wilson case gauges for years on bottleneck rifle cartridges. Never really thought about using it for pistol cartridges.

Oh well there goes more money. [emoji16]


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[Kenk]

Lol, but they work well, at least for my needs