Lee Collet die problems

[prairie lover]

don't put new never fired brass through a collet die. its meant to neck size fire formed brass. after firing the little carbon that's in the neck of the case will prevent that from happening. also with new lapua brass, the necks are already sized. they would have to be forced up the mandrel.

 

[Mystic Precision]

I didn't do anything, that was brand new lapua brass.

I just followed the directions I found on YouTube and that happened 3 times out of 100. Now the only thing I didn't do is put a little bit of lube on the collet like the video suggested. I havnt used the dies since having this issue.

Brand new Lapua brass has WAY too much neck tension and the alloy is very hard/sticky.

You would need to put lube on in the necks with a proper expander mandrel to get to "normal". or just Fireform using COW... then use the collet neck die.

If shooting 223, do consider outside neck turning especially in a factory chamber.

Jerry

 

[Dogleg]

I thought I could just neck size forever if I use brass in bolt action. Is this thinking incorrect?

If you run light enough loads maybe. Light cast loads are capable of getting shorter from base to shoulder when firing. With normal loads you end up reaching for the FL die sooner or later.

 

[dastt]

Brand new Lapua brass has WAY too much neck tension and the alloy is very hard/sticky.

You would need to put lube on in the necks with a proper expander mandrel to get to "normal". or just Fireform using COW... then use the collet neck die.

If shooting 223, do consider outside neck turning especially in a factory chamber.

Jerry

Thanks for the advice!

 

[grouch]

Kinjo, maybe the problem is simpler. Maybe all would be well if you just backed off the collet die a little. Of course maybe not too but I'd try that first.
Grouch

 

[Hitzy]

I've been ditching all my Lee collet dies for Redding standard neck sizing dies. I found neck tension was all over the place with the Lee dies....

 

[Kryogen]

Your collet die is probably adjusted too far in.
Another option other than bump die plus collet die would be to simply use a fl die properly adjusted for minimal bump in your rifle. This is what I do for bolt.
For semi auto 223 I fl size back to a case gauge so they fit in any rifle. Brass life will technically suffer, I dont care.

seriously, there are tons of ways to make reloading more complicated, you don't need that. just FL size the cases and that's all...
I don't see the point with the collet die + bump die.

Then just use a redding full bushing die, which is in fact an FL die with a custom "neck bushing".

I personally have a custom honed forster FL die and bump .002...

 

[Kinjo]

Quick question to the OP - how much force are you applying to the press handle? The sizing action of the collet die is generated by down force on the press handle (the instructions say to apply approx 20 lbs). It's important not to allow the press to cam over - unlike a conventional sizing die.

Can you confirm no cam over?

Been meaning to get back to you on this. Yes I can confirm no cam over. As for the applying approx 20 lbs, I'm positive I'm not using that much pressure.
I talked to a couple of ppl at my range and was informed to lube the mandrel with sizing lube, so I did. And so far I haven't had a problem with the collet die.

 

[FirearmsEnthusiast]

Brand new Lapua brass has WAY too much neck tension and the alloy is very hard/sticky.

You would need to put lube on in the necks with a proper expander mandrel to get to "normal". or just Fireform using COW... then use the collet neck die.

If shooting 223, do consider outside neck turning especially in a factory chamber.

Jerry

Jerry

Totally agree with the high neck tension of virgin Lapua brass!

Another quick question for you, related - I just picked up a .308 Eliseo tubegun with a 30 in Krieger barrel marked with a neck of .342. Do I aim for a final outsize neck size of exactly .342 (which is what my Lapua brass is coming in at once the bullet is seated), or do I turn the necks to be slightly less than .342 - if so, how much smaller?

Thanks!

Peter