I pulled a couple of those 9mm cast 124's
by Slow Hand 
, Indiana, Friday, September 20, 2013, 20:12 (4025 days ago)
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 .
I stopped using the FCD on straight wall stuff...
by rob , Friday, September 20, 2013, 23:17 (4025 days ago) @ Slow Hand
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.
The factory crimp die in handguns is designed to
by Todd C , Saturday, September 21, 2013, 08:25 (4025 days ago) @ rob
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.
Just looked at my ACP die....
by rob , Saturday, September 21, 2013, 09:46 (4025 days ago) @ Todd C
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.
How did you get the ring out?
by rob , Saturday, September 21, 2013, 09:50 (4025 days ago) @ Todd C
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.
How did you get the ring out?
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.
That sounds good...
by rob , Sunday, September 22, 2013, 17:13 (4024 days ago) @ anachronism
kinda like removing a bearing race from a rotor:)
I pulled a couple of those 9mm cast 124's
by Cherokee , Medina, Ohio, Saturday, September 21, 2013, 14:54 (4025 days ago) @ Slow Hand
What I suspected - ditch the FCD or remove the carbide ring. I have always used a standard taper crimp die.