3 die VS 4 die set

[xracer390]

I have a lee 3 die 9mm set and a 4 die at midway that I have been waiting forever for. Should I just cancel the 4 die set ? What the benny of the 4 die? I get to handle my brass one more time ? Thanks

[DoxaPar]

My understanding, and I could be wrong here, is that if you do the 3-die set process properly the 4th is unnecessary as the 3rd die can both seat and crimp in one step.

[rugersol]

4th die is FCD (Factory Crimp Die) ... as Doxa said, on a turret 'er progressive press, ya could use it to crimp on a separate station! (on a single-stage, ya'd reset the die to crimp-only, and re-run all the cases) ... also, as Doxa said, seat/crimp can be done with jest the one die!

However, the FCD can also help to resize a (loaded) closer to the head, as it's particularly narrow, at the opening ... however, with particularly bulged brass, this can actually "shave" the brass such that a "ridge" is left, near the head ... this can result in a "case-head blowout" ... at which, the gases from the powder-burn are directly mostly into the mag-well! Regardless, I prefer the Lee "U" die (sold exclusively by EGW) to deal with bulged brass ... it does a much better job, anyhow! It's slick, in that, it completely replaces the stock size-die ... but, kinda sucks, in that Lee/EGW don't otherwise simply offer a 3-die set with the "U" die instead of the stock die!

... at which, I'd save the money on the 4-die set, to put towards the "U" die (if available for the caliber, in question ... otherwise, with a progressive press, it certainly don't hurt to have an on-press "chamber-checker", in an FCD )

[xracer390]

My understanding, and I could be wrong here, is that if you do the 3-die set process properly the 4th is unnecessary as the 3rd die can both seat and crimp in one step.

yes, it does crimp, thats why Im asking.
Edit to add, I cancelled my 4 die set from midway.

[Hoot]

I generally stay out of pistol reloading discussions since I'm primarily a rifle guy, but I wanted to point out the benefit afforded by the Lee FCD's I've used and I have one for each caliber I reload for.
Dies that impart a form of crimp during seating tend to vary as a function of the trim length of the case. The longer the case, the greater the degree of crimp and vice versa. Now if you check and re-trim so that all the cases in the batch that you are working up, have the same length, then the degree of crimp will be the same. The FCD dies I've worked with initiate their colleting, crimping action based upon the shell holders height. It's position does not change WRT the case length, so the degree of crimp is independent of the length.

Hoot

[Seismic Sam]

My understanding, and I could be wrong here, is that if you do the 3-die set process properly the 4th is unnecessary as the 3rd die can both seat and crimp in one step.

yes, it does crimp, thats why Im asking.
Edit to add, I cancelled my 4 die set from midway.

If you take the time and actually look closely at any manufacturer's price lists, you will find that you can buy ANY die seperately, and Lee FCD dies are commonly sold by themselves by some dealers... Were you REALLY considering buying a 4 die set just to get the FCD, and then having 3 useless duplicate dies left laying around??

[xracer390]

My understanding, and I could be wrong here, is that if you do the 3-die set process properly the 4th is unnecessary as the 3rd die can both seat and crimp in one step.

yes, it does crimp, thats why Im asking.
Edit to add, I cancelled my 4 die set from midway.

If you take the time and actually look closely at any manufacturer's price lists, you will find that you can buy ANY die seperately, and Lee FCD dies are commonly sold by themselves by some dealers... Were you REALLY considering buying a 4 die set just to get the FCD, and then having 3 useless duplicate dies left laying around??

Nope.

[LarryFlew]

I use the FCD on my rifle rounds but not on my 45 and 9mm

[BigDog58]

I use the FCD on every caliber I load and they give excellent results.

Just my $.02

[xracer390]

So I waited over 2 months to get this shipment from Midway. In the meantime bought a press with a 9mm set. So I called and cancelled the 4 die set so everything else would ship that was in stock. Today got some of my stuff including the 4 die 9mm set.

[Kosh]

I have been using the Dillon 4 die set for 9mm and it has been working great. In this case the 4th is from a separate seating and crimp dies.

[BigDog58]

So I waited over 2 months to get this shipment from Midway. In the meantime bought a press with a 9mm set. So I called and cancelled the 4 die set so everything else would ship that was in stock. Today got some of my stuff including the 4 die 9mm set.

If you don't need the 4 die set you can easily resell them on here or on Armslist.