Three actually... They ranged from .352-353. I'd say that the FCD is sizing them too small. I've heard that this can be an issue. I pulled from three different head stamps just to make sure case thickness wasn't an issue. I'll be sending Lee an email about getting a properly sized FCD .

Crimp the cartridge until the case mouth is just slightly pressed into the bullet wall, then check a few for chambering & function. A taper crimp die only prevents the bullet from being pushed into the case while chambering anyway.

The Factory crimp die has its uses but I seldom use if with cast.

when loading cast for that very reason. I have one for my ACP loads and it doesn't have the carbide ring and doesn't seem to be a problem. But it definitely sized my .45 Colt and .44 Magnum cast bullets down.

size everything undersize for problem free feeding. This is due to the carbide sizing ring in the die. I suspect it is the same sizing ring they use in the sizing die itself. The crimping portion of the die,( the ones I have 44/45colt,) is actually a good crimp. So I removed the carbide sizing ring. Then it made a good die for crimping separately.

ntxt

I didn't think it had a carbide ring like my others (.357/.44) but thought I'd double check. It definitely doesn't. But, it's just called a taper crimp on the instructions insert. My others actually say Factory Crimp Die. Apparently they make both a plain taper crimp and a FCD for the pistol rounds. I think I'm gonna pull that ring out of my FCD's as well. I always liked the crimp but hated the swaging process. Not only does it size down your cast bullets, it work hardens your brass.

Not sure how tight the press fit is and I don't really want a piece of carbide steel in my eye. If it doesn't come out easy I could probably heat the outside of the die with a torch and slide it out fairly easy.

They make both. I use their taper crimp die in .45 and 9mm, they work great.

What I suspected - ditch the FCD or remove the carbide ring. I have always used a standard taper crimp die.

Screw the die into your press to hold it. Then remove the innards, leaving you with the die shell. At this point I took a small cold chisel and went through the top until it rested on the shoulder that supports the carbide ring. The die body itself is dead soft, so I just hit the chisel with my 3 lb hammer a couple of whacks, and the chisel cut through the shoulder and pushed the insert out intact. I dressed up the cut edge in the die with my Dremel, and was done. I had originally tried to heat the insert and pry it out, but it didn't work out. The heat was to release the locking compound Lees reputed to use on the inserts.

kinda like removing a bearing race from a rotor:)