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FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 15:54
by Ohio3Wheels
What's the difference?

Wandering around Titan's web site yesterday looking for FCDs I also came across collet crimp dies. They look the same. are they?

Make smoke,

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 18:48
by orerancher
Ohio3Wheels wrote:What's the difference?

Wandering around Titan's web site yesterday looking for FCDs I also came across collet crimp dies. They look the same. are they?

Make smoke,

I think the Collet Dies work better...IMHO

If You have a Lee Catalog there is a cutaway picture of each Die that shows the Difference....

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 08 Feb 2019 07:15
by Ranch Dog
Collet FCD Crimp die is what everyone used to refer to as a rifle FCD. When I had my mold business, I talked Lee into making special order Collet FCD dies for revolver cartridges; 38 Spl through 480 Ruger given my interest in all these cartridges as used in leverguns. I suspect that is what you are asking about. A 45 Colt revolver's cylinder needs a roll crimp and the carbide sizing ring to ensure fit which the Carbide FCD die offers. Both of those features might be detrimental to a leverguns chamber, and the Collet FCD is a better fit.

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 08 Feb 2019 18:32
by mikld
Same name, different animal. Lee calls their handgun and rifle FCDs the same, but the FCD for rifle cartridges is a collet crimp and the FCD for handgun cartridges is a post crimping sizing die. To add to the confusion, Lee started making FCDs for handgun cartridges that are collet crimp dies... :|

I tried the post crimping sizing die, but it now resides in a landfill somewhere in So. Oregon. I do use 3 FCD collet crimp dies, quite well too...

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 09 Feb 2019 11:58
by horseman
mikld wrote:Same name, different animal. Lee calls their handgun and rifle FCDs the same, but the FCD for rifle cartridges is a collet crimp and the FCD for handgun cartridges is a post crimping sizing die. To add to the confusion, Lee started making FCDs for handgun cartridges that are collet crimp dies... :|
Actually two different names. The collet crimp die was originally for rifle cases and is called the FCD (factory crimp die) the other for handgun calibers is called the CFCD (carbide factory crimp die) and has the carbide ring at the mouth of the die. There was a bit of a discussion on these here awhile back and that's when I found out that RD was the one who convinced Lee to make the FCD for handgun calibers. WAY TO GO RANCH DOG!!

There have been approx. 2,694,541,227 threads and posts on the viability and usefulness of the CFCD and it seems to run about 50/50 in like and hate. It's kinda like a bulge buster for a loaded round but it will put a nice crimp on a round. It's not one I use or like very much, only on 9mm, but I think I'll remove it from the die plate and install a powder check die instead. But I do like the FCD (the collet one)...
+1

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 10 Feb 2019 03:55
by GasGuzzler
My .357 Blackhawk splits playing cards from a profile at seven paces with a 168 gr lead bullet over a dose of 2400 and crimped with whatever you wanna call Lee's 4th die.

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 10 Feb 2019 23:28
by horseman
GasGuzzler wrote:My .357 Blackhawk splits playing cards from a profile at seven paces with a 168 gr lead bullet over a dose of 2400 and crimped with whatever you wanna call Lee's 4th die.




Saw a guy do that on TV a few years back on a program called "Impossible Shots". I think he was using a 45 colt and I don't believe it was Bob Mundon (maybe). Took him several tries to finally manage the feat. Same show that had a fella shoot an aspirin that was tossed in the air with a longbow and blunt tipped arrow. That was a cool show, wish it were still around.

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 10 Mar 2019 10:14
by larryw
horseman wrote: That was a cool show, wish it were still around.
Yup...

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 10 Mar 2019 21:24
by mr surveyor
I need to get collet FCD's for .44 mag and .357 mag. I do have the collet FCD for the 30-30 and there is a noticeable difference (to me) in the finished product.


jd

Re: FCD/Collet Crimp Dies?

Posted: 10 Mar 2019 22:33
by larryw
Never had a collect die but think I'm gonna get one for my .357.
From what I hear & read they do a real nice job.