For those of you new to this guy and want to take your reloading to a higher plane: subscribe. This guy's the Yoda of reloading. Learn the way of the bang you will! Thanks for everything FC45!
Thanks again for teaching us all of this. I'm depriming and resizing brass for the first time as I wright this! So it begins for me. This probably sounds dumb but I'm excited.
I enjoy every one of your videos, one of the things i enjoy the most is, the detail you go into and normally do not leave any of the smallest details out. Many if not most of the other demonstrators on UA-cam fail to do this and often times it is that very reason why we come to UA-cam to find the answers we need to reload properly. That is a big plus for me. A big Thumbs up and i have been a subscriber for some time now, keep up the great work your doing. Thanks
Believe it or not, I install O-rings under all my die lock rings, It provides a Cushion and does away with that Hard lock that happens when using standard lock rings. It also allows the die to minutely adjust to align under the pressure of the ram. again, each to his own on this, however it's the way I set mine up. You can get the O-rings at Home Depot or Lowes.
+Thorsaxe777 -- Interesting - allows a little float within the confines of the thread play - not much, but every little bit should help concentricity. The Lee rings already have this and many reloaders don't appreciate it. Expand this action and you get the Co-Ax press - yes, interesting. I'm about to do a video on assessment of our reloading presses, and this is right in the mix... Best to ya, FC
FCLC45 you’re the best instructor on YT sadly I use Lee dies on my 550 dillion but can’t use the Lee lock rings need to use dillion cause they are thinner and also love my Lee drum powder measure thanks again FCLC45
Hornady makes my favorite lock rings: the adjustable screw doesn’t go against the die threads and the square sides make it easier to lock and unlock dies using the proper tools. It only lacks the Lee’s o-rings, which I heard can help centering the die and minimize runout. I use these rings to lock pistols/revolver dies on my turret press. Since it can take 8 dies at a time (Lyman All American) I always have two Lee 4-die set ready to load (9mm and .357). I keep an extra turret with another 8 dies on the shelf (.45/.380), so it’s quicker to just change the turrets (and keeps the dies seating depth unchanged as a bonus). The Lock And Load system, also from hornady, deserves a try (I use them with my single stage press that I reload only for bolt action rifles). Despite being a quick change system, it’s results for resizing and bullet seating are remarkably repeatable.
I actually learned a good bit from this video. I used to be a loyal follower . Just subbed ,notified and liked . All over again , I'm trying to learn reloading since 44's have jumped in price. I have super blackhawk ,Super redhawk , and marlin 1894 . My 1894 is all over the place. I'm going to try and cast my own bullit's , I've been told that they won't shoot 240 accurately and they are right. Someone suggested 320 or even bigger, so the bullet hits the ballard. I know you're a die hard 44 man , suggestions ?
TBF - Your 1894 Marlin has the Micro Groove barrel and they require cast bullets in the .431 range to shoot well. Otherwise, 429s and 430s have poor stability and will not shoot well. The idea of a longer heavier bullet is that when the round goes off, the first part of the bullet to move is the base and there is enough mass ahead of it so that the base swells up and obdurates the bigger MG barrel allowing the bullet to shoot better. But a .431" bullet will solve your problems. Answer - powder coat your cast bullets and use a .431 or .432 sizing die or just load 'em as powder coated. Don't iron the bullets down with a Lee FCD or Redding Profile Die though or you will be sizing the bigger bullets down in the case as you are crimping defeating your bigger bullets. Should solve your problems if the longer heavier bullets do not... Good shootin' to ya, Steve
Great video. I have one question regarding Lee dies. Have you used the Lee 4 die set on a dillon 550. if yes, would you kindly do a video on the set up for that? That would be most appreciated. I have searched UA-cam and found little to nothing on this combination. I want to know if it is not good why. and if it is possible to run the Lee dies, what is the best way to set them up.
+k30l4 - I have been using a fair number of Lee die sets (along with carbide factory crimp dies) in my two 550 Bs. The factory crimp dies work very well in station 4 of the 550B. We'll see about doing that video for you...Have a great day... FC
Good lesson FC, going to check the dies on my Lee Pro 1000 progressive press and see if there still working good. Thanks for the tips. You don't really need the chain on the new Lee Auto Powder Measure do you ? Do all those lock rings fit the Lee dies ?
+Nick J - And thank you for taking the time to post comment / questions. The new Lee Auto Drum works great, but the disconnector is really useless. It was designed to prevent accidental double charges since a reloader has to hit the button to get the next charge. But double charges can still happen if the case is not taken out of the shell holder or the manual index to the next progressive station is not done. Then the reloader hits the disconnector and puts in the next charge on top of the charge already there. And, if the reloader forgets to hit the disconnect, then a squib load is produced - also bad, of course. Since you have to hit the disconnect, the case action must still be done. That chain you mention is to provide automatic hitting of the disconnector, but then the best solution is to not have the disconnector in the first place. Fortunately, the disconnector is easily removed and the PM works very well without it - and it shouldn't have been there in the first place. Newer generation reloaders may welcome it though as they think it is "safer" or "better". The lock rings fit all reloading dies interchangeably between brands. Have a great day, FC
+FortuneCookie45LC Hey FC, seeing as how you have three of these and they really seem to work well, would you ever consider doing a video on how to remove the disconnector and chain ? Also, thanks for answering the lock ring question I had :-) Have a good day too.
+Nick J -- Sure, but the removal is taking out a screw and removing two parts, and putting the screw into another hole - instructions in the Lee pamphlet...not worth doing a video on really... Best to ya... FC
hey fortune I've been having some trouble everytime I seat a bullet. when I seat the bullet I get a bulge. majority of the bullets fit in my case gauge, I do not have a glock, I have lee 4 die pistol sets in 9mm, and 40cal it happens to both. when I use the lee factory crimp die the bulge is still there. I use a very light crimp. again it's after I seat the bullet. I hope u read this and can give me some advice thank you
You can find those Lee rings fast and cheaper in Homedepot, they sale all sizes of O rings in the faucet repair parts, I found them there because is what they are just O rings.
Tho o ring gives you a little float. One thing I don't like with the powder through arrangement is your expansion can't be more or less than what the spring in the measure gives you.
Great to the point vid as always FC45LC. RIP Justice Scalia. Thanks for protecting our rights in your time on the bench, and I'm glad you got to spend your last day on earth shooting.
The only thing I'm kinda confused about is how to crimp with the bullet seat die Do all seating dies have the crimp with them? If so why is the LFC die a big deal?
I am just getting into reloading having just ordered my Lee Classic turret setup. I did not see you measure your case AOL of those rounds. Does it not matter as much when loading for revolvers? I will be loading for 9mm primarily and possibly later, 45 ACP.
+amadeus999 Yes it matters but generally speaking the bullet makers put the crimp groove in a spot where you AOL should be correct or very close. Loading the 9mm or 45 you will want to set your AOL to what the books say for your particular load/bullet combo. If you are too long you will end up with feeding issues and if too short you can get pressure spikes. Also you wont be doing a roll crimp like he showed in this video as those calibers you mentioned head space on the case mouth.
beverwyck1 Thanks for the reply. I have watched probably 30-40 hours of YT vids on reloading basics and equipment and spent countless hours on various forums searching for load data and info in the last 2 months. You can blame my boss for giving me the reloading bug.
+amadeus999 BTW you should still measure the AOL on all rounds you load and I'm assuming FC did too just off camera. But like i said the crimp groove is usually pretty close. One thing i have learned about reloading is you never stop learning. There are so many aspects from basic loading, working up loads, specialty loading for oddball calibers, casting, case prep and on and on. Good luck and have fun!
Hey FortuneCookie45 or anyone who can help me with a question I got. Im going to be reloading 308 Winchester brass, the question I have is can I use a 7.62x39 Russian bullet to reload my 308 win brass? I bought this bullet mold 7.62x39 (Lee C312-155-2R) by mistake but I like the look of the bullet. Is their any danger on reloading this combination??? Im fairly new to the reloading scene. Thanks.
+Crystal B -- That bullet is the European 30 cal groove diameter (.311") as opposed to our 30 cal (.308"). We only want .001-.002" bigger than groove diameter, so most of our 30/06 and 308 rifles will have .308" meaning we want bullets that are .309 - .310" The Lee mold will drop bullets around .312 - .313" so will need sizing. You might want to cast up that mold and mike the bullets to see what you are getting. Shooters have shot jacketed .311s through their 308 bores OK in the past. But best performance may not be realized by shooting the bigger cast bullets, especially if your mold drops 'em bigger than .312 - .313. Sizing to .309" would be recommended. Best Regards to ya, FC
lc, I can't wait for gun season. deer, to get to shooting 45/70 . with cast, with out scope, with, and loading classes. only keep one gun. finance. lol
Rob Tolley - One rifle - the 45/70 will do everything you need - you'll be like Quigley Down Under - on the scene with just that one big rifle...Have a great day, FC
I agree with John Chinn ,I have learned a lot of valuable information about casting, reloading,and products reveiws from fortunecookie45lc. if you hear it from fortunecookie45lc then you can believe it.
+scott grizzle I believe the Mr. Cookie does one of the things that all wise men should do, Pass along their Wisdom and experience to those who are willing to listen and try it out for themselves.
For those of you new to this guy and want to take your reloading to a higher plane: subscribe. This guy's the Yoda of reloading. Learn the way of the bang you will! Thanks for everything FC45!
+John Chinn -- Thank you I do...fly I must - more videos I make... Best to ya, John... FC
Thanks again for teaching us all of this. I'm depriming and resizing brass for the first time as I wright this! So it begins for me. This probably sounds dumb but I'm excited.
I enjoy every one of your videos, one of the things i enjoy the most is, the detail you go into and normally do not leave any of the smallest details out. Many if not most of the other demonstrators on UA-cam fail to do this and often times it is that very reason why we come to UA-cam to find the answers we need to reload properly. That is a big plus for me. A big Thumbs up and i have been a subscriber for some time now, keep up the great work your doing. Thanks
Thanks for the Video. Using normal adjustments on the powder through die i was over flaring the case. Thanks Again
+Karl Adkins -- Overflare is easy thing to do, also easily corrected... Good reloadin' to ya, FC
Just getting into reloading love these videos. Thanks for sharing with us!
'this video was very helpful it's hard to get the feel for the die adjustment and not ruin cases, great vid.
+Josh Lupher -- Good reloadin' to ya, and thanks for taking the time to post comment... FC
Great video for us beginners!
Believe it or not, I install O-rings under all my die lock rings, It provides a Cushion and does away with that Hard lock that happens when using standard lock rings. It also allows the die to minutely adjust to align under the pressure of the ram. again, each to his own on this, however it's the way I set mine up. You can get the O-rings at Home Depot or Lowes.
+Thorsaxe777 -- Interesting - allows a little float within the confines of the thread play - not much, but every little bit should help concentricity. The Lee rings already have this and many reloaders don't appreciate it. Expand this action and you get the Co-Ax press - yes, interesting. I'm about to do a video on assessment of our reloading presses, and this is right in the mix... Best to ya, FC
FCLC45 you’re the best instructor on YT sadly I use Lee dies on my 550 dillion but can’t use the Lee lock rings need to use dillion cause they are thinner and also love my Lee drum powder measure thanks again FCLC45
Hornady makes my favorite lock rings: the adjustable screw doesn’t go against the die threads and the square sides make it easier to lock and unlock dies using the proper tools. It only lacks the Lee’s o-rings, which I heard can help centering the die and minimize runout. I use these rings to lock pistols/revolver dies on my turret press. Since it can take 8 dies at a time (Lyman All American) I always have two Lee 4-die set ready to load (9mm and .357). I keep an extra turret with another 8 dies on the shelf (.45/.380), so it’s quicker to just change the turrets (and keeps the dies seating depth unchanged as a bonus).
The Lock And Load system, also from hornady, deserves a try (I use them with my single stage press that I reload only for bolt action rifles). Despite being a quick change system, it’s results for resizing and bullet seating are remarkably repeatable.
Excellent information thank you sir
Thank you for your fine videos.
I actually learned a good bit from this video. I used to be a loyal follower . Just subbed ,notified and liked . All over again , I'm trying to learn reloading since 44's have jumped in price. I have super blackhawk ,Super redhawk , and marlin 1894 . My 1894 is all over the place. I'm going to try and cast my own bullit's , I've been told that they won't shoot 240 accurately and they are right. Someone suggested 320 or even bigger, so the bullet hits the ballard. I know you're a die hard 44 man , suggestions ?
TBF - Your 1894 Marlin has the Micro Groove barrel and they require cast bullets in the .431 range to shoot well. Otherwise, 429s and 430s have poor stability and will not shoot well. The idea of a longer heavier bullet is that when the round goes off, the first part of the bullet to move is the base and there is enough mass ahead of it so that the base swells up and obdurates the bigger MG barrel allowing the bullet to shoot better. But a .431" bullet will solve your problems. Answer - powder coat your cast bullets and use a .431 or .432 sizing die or just load 'em as powder coated. Don't iron the bullets down with a Lee FCD or Redding Profile Die though or you will be sizing the bigger bullets down in the case as you are crimping defeating your bigger bullets. Should solve your problems if the longer heavier bullets do not... Good shootin' to ya, Steve
Why would anyone thumbs down this video!?!?! Ugh!
Sei un grande! Saluti da ROMA (IT)
tognarelli massimillano - ;) Have a great day, FC
Great video. I have one question regarding Lee dies. Have you used the Lee 4 die set on a dillon 550. if yes, would you kindly do a video on the set up for that? That would be most appreciated. I have searched UA-cam and found little to nothing on this combination. I want to know if it is not good why. and if it is possible to run the Lee dies, what is the best way to set them up.
+k30l4 - I have been using a fair number of Lee die sets (along with carbide factory crimp dies) in my two 550 Bs. The factory crimp dies work very well in station 4 of the 550B. We'll see about doing that video for you...Have a great day... FC
Thank you. Very well explained.
pete - And thank you for taking the time to post...Have a great day, FC
I love the Lee love ring, with the Hornady my second favorite. Question. do you know what size O-ring that is on the Lee?
+Don Eime O-ring 7/8X.103 $0.50 each #SD2153 If you, order their Catalog FREE S&H that saves $5.22
I didn't see where you primed the case before you added the powder charge and flared the case neck.
Excellent vid.............
Good lesson FC, going to check the dies on my Lee Pro 1000 progressive press and see if there still working good. Thanks for the tips. You don't really need the chain on the new Lee Auto Powder Measure do you ?
Do all those lock rings fit the Lee dies ?
+Nick J - And thank you for taking the time to post comment / questions. The new Lee Auto Drum works great, but the disconnector is really useless. It was designed to prevent accidental double charges since a reloader has to hit the button to get the next charge. But double charges can still happen if the case is not taken out of the shell holder or the manual index to the next progressive station is not done. Then the reloader hits the disconnector and puts in the next charge on top of the charge already there. And, if the reloader forgets to hit the disconnect, then a squib load is produced - also bad, of course. Since you have to hit the disconnect, the case action must still be done. That chain you mention is to provide automatic hitting of the disconnector, but then the best solution is to not have the disconnector in the first place. Fortunately, the disconnector is easily removed and the PM works very well without it - and it shouldn't have been there in the first place. Newer generation reloaders may welcome it though as they think it is "safer" or "better". The lock rings fit all reloading dies interchangeably between brands. Have a great day, FC
+FortuneCookie45LC Hey FC, seeing as how you have three of these and they really seem to work well, would you ever consider doing a video on how to remove the disconnector and chain ?
Also, thanks for answering the lock ring question I had :-) Have a good day too.
+Nick J -- Sure, but the removal is taking out a screw and removing two parts, and putting the screw into another hole - instructions in the Lee pamphlet...not worth doing a video on really... Best to ya... FC
hey fortune I've been having some trouble everytime I seat a bullet. when I seat the bullet I get a bulge. majority of the bullets fit in my case gauge, I do not have a glock, I have lee 4 die pistol sets in 9mm, and 40cal it happens to both. when I use the lee factory crimp die the bulge is still there. I use a very light crimp. again it's after I seat the bullet. I hope u read this and can give me some advice thank you
You can find those Lee rings fast and cheaper in Homedepot, they sale all sizes of O rings in the faucet repair parts, I found them there because is what they are just O rings.
Great tutorial FC
Tho o ring gives you a little float. One thing I don't like with the powder through arrangement is your expansion can't be more or less than what the spring in the measure gives you.
Can't get lee 45 and 10mm die to give more neck tension. Doesn't seams to under size the brass very well. What's your opinion. Thanks
Great to the point vid as always FC45LC.
RIP Justice Scalia. Thanks for protecting our rights in your time on the bench, and I'm glad you got to spend your last day on earth shooting.
The only thing I'm kinda confused about is how to crimp with the bullet seat die
Do all seating dies have the crimp with them? If so why is the LFC die a big deal?
why didn't you check the overall length when you seated the bullet on the case? with a caliper. thanks
My seating die tends to take out just a few thousands of the rim flair.. is that bad? I can feel it when it enters the die just a little.
Thank you.
I am just getting into reloading having just ordered my Lee Classic turret setup. I did not see you measure your case AOL of those rounds. Does it not matter as much when loading for revolvers? I will be loading for 9mm primarily and possibly later, 45 ACP.
+amadeus999 Yes it matters but generally speaking the bullet makers put the crimp groove in a spot where you AOL should be correct or very close. Loading the 9mm or 45 you will want to set your AOL to what the books say for your particular load/bullet combo. If you are too long you will end up with feeding issues and if too short you can get pressure spikes. Also you wont be doing a roll crimp like he showed in this video as those calibers you mentioned head space on the case mouth.
beverwyck1
Thanks for the reply. I have watched probably 30-40 hours of YT vids on reloading basics and equipment and spent countless hours on various forums searching for load data and info in the last 2 months. You can blame my boss for giving me the reloading bug.
+amadeus999 BTW you should still measure the AOL on all rounds you load and I'm assuming FC did too just off camera. But like i said the crimp groove is usually pretty close. One thing i have learned about reloading is you never stop learning. There are so many aspects from basic loading, working up loads, specialty loading for oddball calibers, casting, case prep and on and on. Good luck and have fun!
Hey FortuneCookie45 or anyone who can help me with a question I got. Im going to be reloading 308 Winchester brass, the question I have is can I use a 7.62x39 Russian bullet to reload my 308 win brass? I bought this bullet mold 7.62x39 (Lee C312-155-2R) by mistake but I like the look of the bullet. Is their any danger on reloading this combination??? Im fairly new to the reloading scene. Thanks.
+Crystal B -- That bullet is the European 30 cal groove diameter (.311") as opposed to our 30 cal (.308"). We only want .001-.002" bigger than groove diameter, so most of our 30/06 and 308 rifles will have .308" meaning we want bullets that are .309 - .310" The Lee mold will drop bullets around .312 - .313" so will need sizing. You might want to cast up that mold and mike the bullets to see what you are getting. Shooters have shot jacketed .311s through their 308 bores OK in the past. But best performance may not be realized by shooting the bigger cast bullets, especially if your mold drops 'em bigger than .312 - .313. Sizing to .309" would be recommended. Best Regards to ya, FC
My dies I took a permanent marker and put 1234 it made it everything go quicker and I don't have to study each dye to make sure I have the right one
I just started Sunday 223. any tip for me if so reply.
lc, I can't wait for gun season. deer, to get to shooting 45/70 . with cast, with out scope, with, and loading classes. only keep one gun. finance. lol
Rob Tolley - One rifle - the 45/70 will do everything you need - you'll be like Quigley Down Under - on the scene with just that one big rifle...Have a great day, FC
I agree with John Chinn ,I have learned a lot of valuable information about casting, reloading,and products reveiws from fortunecookie45lc. if you hear it from fortunecookie45lc then you can believe it.
+scott grizzle I believe the Mr. Cookie does one of the things that all wise men should do, Pass along their Wisdom and experience to those who are willing to listen and try it out for themselves.
Absolutely
Sei un grande! Saluti da ROMA (IT)