Lee Collet Die
- Thread starter lyman54
- Start date
- Location
- Central AB
What went wrong? If you set he die up as per the instructions not much can only wrong. The important thing is to apply lots of pressure at the bottom of the stroke. That is when the neck is tapped in by the die. If you don't do that, you won't have any neck tension.
They work fine for me, but I do find it hard to get consistent neck tension and usually end up using a crimp to correct that.
I've started replacing my collet dies with Hornady/Redding/Forster basic neck sizing dies and find them much more consistent.
I've started replacing my collet dies with Hornady/Redding/Forster basic neck sizing dies and find them much more consistent.
The collet die relies on you having consistent pressure between the cases for consistent neck tension. As the harder you press neck tension increases to the maximum th die allows. Your supposed to see striations of the collet on your neck after sizing. I have no issues loading ammo to half moa consiently using my Lee breechlock press and lee dies.
That's what I thought too, based on hundreds of 223 cases sized with mine...
Just got another for a new 260 rifle, and on the first use (last of 100 cases), the top cap popped off at the end of a stroke & ripped out the threads from the die body. I didn't think I was applying THAT much force with the press...
I've heard good things about Lee's customer service / warranty. I hope they come through here!
That is exactly what happened to my first 308 collet die - think the aluminum threads are weak - it worked fine the first 50 brass I did - go to neck size after firing them and the very first one the top strips out WTF? Never ever had any problems with Forster resizing die for my 223
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
As a mechanical die, I am glad that Lee built in a "pop off" valve which is the cap. Apply enough pressure and the top pops. But you will have sized the case long before you reach that much pressure.
Been using them for years and with proper brass prep, haven't found any other system better for my competition ammo.
YMMV.
Jerry
I've been using Lee dies for about 20 years now exclusively, it's only recently that I've ended up with guns they don't make dies for so had to look elsewhere. I think Lee are the best value and will continue to use the FL/Seating/FCD dies, hell I even just shelled out for 5 different undersized mandrels for Lee Collet dies hoping to get the neck tension more consistent so I don't need to crimp.
With the other NS dies you can control how much of the neck gets sized as well which I think is nice feature at this point in my reloading career.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
could it be due to needing to anneal the case necks?
I can feel the brass give when it is sized properly... but if the case necks work harden too much, you loose this feeling. great way to know that you need to anneal your brass. Seating pressure is very consistent and groups don't lie....
Maybe that can help????
Jerry
Just watched that, thanks! In the part 2 video, he runs a case through the die while incrementally adjusting the die in 1/4 - 1/8 of a turn at a time, while testing the neck tension achieved by pushing a bullet into the case by hand. He seems to be applying very little effort to the press handle to achieve the necessary neck tension - and certainly a LOT less force that I was using...
The instructions from Lee don't describe anything like this. A "minimum of 25 lbs to close the collet on the die" seemed like it would require a LOT more effort (though I'll admit I didn't factor in the mechanical advantage of the press arm)...
I will definitely try this when I get my mangled 260 die sorted out from Lee.
And I'll be a heck of a lot gentler with my 223 die...
Annealing might help, but I already feel like I'm doing too much prep work as it is lol. Some of it seems related to what kind of pressures I'm running the cartridges at....222, 7.5x55, 30-30, 7.62x39, 303brit seem to keep neck tension forever with the collet dies. 223, 308, 30'06, 6.5x55, and my magnums all start varying after only one or 2 firings. With a light crimp the groups are acceptable though, but another step in the process.
Annealing seems like too much work and this point.... I dunno.
rocklobster
CGN Regular
- Location
- FREEDOM CONVOY
I had great luck with a collet die in 22 hornet. It took some trial and error to set up but once I had the neck tension tight enough it was bliss.
The Lee collet die system works well for me and produces the best results at range, but as you know I haven't been in this game as long as yourself or Jerry.
That being said, spring back after 3 to 4 firings is something I encountered. I too purchased a reduced OD mandrel but it wasn't enough to have repeatable neck tension...ergo polishing the mandrel down further to compensate. That still didn't did not provide consistent repeatable results (for myself) which has lead me to annealing.
I haven't been able to test the annealed cases at the range yet but I know for certain that the seating force is way more consistent case to case vs. the 4 x fired. After this experience, in my mind, there is a definite relationship between how hard the necks are to amount of neck tension. The neck measurements before and after sizing with a seated bullet were no different from annealed to 4x fired but more force was required to seat bullets after annealing. It just felt "better" without having proper verbage to describe. Depending on the results I may pull the remaining hunting rounds from last season in favour of fresh or once fired post annealing because the experience is too much to ignore and carry on.
I won't be annealing after every second firing like Jerry does but 4x fired doesn't do the trick either. (I don't have a fancy annealing machine ... and it went faster than expected) To be honest, I've never crimped.
FWIW Hitzy.
Regards
Ronr
Thanks for all the comments everyone. The .303 brass has been annealed. The cases on the .308 were being crushed, I realize I was doing something wrong. Full sizing is so much easier but case life is short. Currently I've been using the Lee Loader for neck sizing, maybe I'll keep it that way or just give the collet another go. It would be easier if I can get it right.
Maybe I should try that.
