Neck tension

Sniffer

Sniffer

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Quick question - I have the Lee ultimate 4 die set and I decapped some 6.5 Creed before wet tumbling it so the primer pockets could be cleaned.

Then I lubed it up and full length resized it but I'm finding the neck tension is pretty inconsistent and generally much too loose (to the point that some of the bullets slide into the case so easily that I would have no faith of getting any kind of uniformity)

Does the full length resizing die crimp the necks back to standard or not (bear in mind that I was using it without the decapping pin fitted if that makes a difference)?

If not what do I need to do? Can I use the neck sizing die now? And if so can I use it without the decapping pin as I have new primers already in the cases?
 
Sounds like the case necks are too thin to size properly, unless they have been fired so often there is an annealing problem.

Yes, you can remove the decapper and use the neck sizer. Hope that solves the problem.

If the neck sizer is working you will see a line on the neck, showing how far down it went. Adjust it so that it goes almost all the way to the shoulder. That way the shoulder does not get touched.
 
Ganderite said:
Sounds like the case necks are too thin to size properly, unless they have been fired so often there is an annealing problem.

Yes, you can remove the decapper and use the neck sizer. Hope that solves the problem.

If the neck sizer is working you will see a line on the neck, showing how far down it went. Adjust it so that it goes almost all the way to the shoulder. That way the shoulder does not get touched.
Click to expand...

These are 1 X fired Hornady cases. I'm gonna try the neck sizer. So I adjust it to go almost to the shoulder by raising or lowering the die itself - correct?

So am I correct in thinking the full length resizing die doesn't neck size at all? From what I can see with this batch very few of the necks are tight - I'm pretty much able to push the bullet into the case with no resistance
 
Sniffer said:
So am I correct in thinking the full length resizing die doesn't neck size at all? From what I can see with this batch very few of the necks are tight - I'm pretty much able to push the bullet into the case with no resistance
Click to expand...

The full length die is certainly supposed to resize the necks. In fact it is intended to swage them down undersize, then the expander button, which is integral to the decapping pin, should expand the neck to the proper size. With the decapping pin removed truly excessive force should be required to seat a bullet.

There is something wrong with either your cases or your dies.
 
Adjust the neck sizer by screwing it up or down. Start with it up a bit and adjust down in steps, watching the neck to see how far it is sizing.

The full length sizer should be sizing the neck, too. With the ram all the way up, the die should be hitting the shell holder, or almost hitting it.

Either: The brass is too thin.
The brass is too hard (old).
The die is defective.
The expander button is too big.

You need a good firm neck tension to get consistent ignition and good groups.
 
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Is the die adjusted to touch the shell holder + 1/3 - 1/4 turn more?

If you want better quality die for that 6.5 CM, go Redding Match S
 
Lee tends to undersize the necks in the FL dies so something isn't right about your die set up. Running a FL die without the expander will lead to crazy tight necks which will distort the bullet when seated. The fact that you have loose necks indicates something in wrong with the die set up or brass.

The included Lee collet neck die is a mechanical die. There is no adjusting up or down. Set the bottom of the die to touch the shellholder when the press lever is 2/3's "down".

With a piece of brass in the die, you will apply pressure on the press lever and you should be able to feel the lever "give" as the collet squeezes the neck onto the mandrel. Easy way to check sizing is with a bullet... should go in easily before sizing, no go after sizing. You are applying like 10'ish lbs of force on the press lever... you cannot use the cam over function in a press with this die.

Jerry
 
With the Lee neck sizing die, I thread the die in quite a ways. I then put a case in and put a fair amount of weight on the ram, but not enough to break the die, I then release, rotate the case 1/8” and size again. I get good neck tension doing this.
 
How much neck reduction are you getting? Measure sized neck and compare it to the neck with a bullet seated. I like at least .002"-.003" difference but others like more or less depending on the use.
 
I also have the Lee ultimate 4pcs set (in another caliber).
While my FLS die works well, using the Lee collet die reduces runout by a huge margin compared to the FLS die.

Why not just keep your 4pc kit, and buy a 40something$ redding body die.
Body die for shoulder set back, lee collet die for neck and enjoy the 1 thou or less runout.
 
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MartyK2500 said:
I also have the Lee ultimate 4pcs set (in another caliber).
While my FLS die works well, using the Lee collet die reduces runout by a huge margin compared to the FLS die.

Why not just keep your 4pc kit, and buy a 30something$ redding body die.
Body die for shoulder set back, lee collet die for neck and enjoy the 1 thou or less runout.
Click to expand...

Great call...

Jerry
 
MartyK2500 said:
I also have the Lee ultimate 4pcs set (in another caliber).
While my FLS die works well, using the Lee collet die reduces runout by a huge margin compared to the FLS die.

Why not just keep your 4pc kit, and buy a 40something$ redding body die.
Body die for shoulder set back, lee collet die for neck and enjoy the 1 thou or less runout.
Click to expand...

This is what I plan to try next

I got my neck tension sorted today (it was out quite a bit) and finished loading up some rounds to try next week

In the end I ran them through the FL die again. I say again as I am sure I did it before. Anyways this fixed them up. They were pretty tight and didn't really need a crimp but I gave them a light one anyways.
 
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