Help. Lee Collet Die Crushed Case

icanuck

icanuck

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Hey all,

Need some help here, new to reloading and not sure what to do. Started up a resizing and de-priming session last night using a Lee collet neck sizing die on an RCBS Rock Chucker press, and after a couple of successful resize/decaps, the collet appears to have started getting stuck(?) and crushed a couple cases, quickly ending my session. I used the die to do a 100 cases a couple of days prior with no problems, and all of a sudden this. See the attached picture for what it's doing. The collet marks are at the top half of the neck. The case de-primed normally, felt right in the resistance for de-priming and sizing, but the result when I pulled it out was it being crushed. WTF?

Anyone's input would be much appreciated. As mentioned earlier in the post, I'm am a rookie at this. The 100 cases I mentioned resizing were my first.

IMG_0087.jpg


Thanks in advance.
 
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This happens if collet gets stuck from either running press ram up with no case or from die being adjusted wrong.You need to back out die a bit and make sure collet isn't sticking.Set die by sizing only enough that bullets have some tension when seated.
 
Also as stated in instructions your not suppose to use full stroke on presses like you have puts too much force on die.Try setting die low enough that you don't use full stroke and press down with about 25 pounds of force as instructions say.
 
I'll retry tonight to be much more cognizant of the set up of the die in the press. In some digging I've done this morning, I'd seen something to the effect to adding an extra turn to the die for a non-Lee press as well as saw reference to guys lubing the top outside of the collet where it meets the cylinder above it (sleeve?). I also came across this youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhTUgytUGnM). Does this look like the solution to my problem in addition to making sure it's seated right in the press?

Thanks for replying so quickly.
 
Is the top cap screwed on tight? Without a case inside, do you have it set so that the press cams over with no (or very little) resistance? Did you follow the instructions?

I just can't see how this could happen with all the above followed and the correct case is being used (i.e. not putting a 30/06 in a 308 Collet Die). All it does is squeeze the neck over a collet - it shouldn't be pushing down on the case at all.

I busted one once when I set it down too far (it was trying to squeeze the neck too hard against the collet) , and it pushed the top cap out the die, but that's not what happened here.
 
If collet is sticking this might help but main thing is setting dies correctly,once primer is out i just feel resistance can't actually feel it size maybe just me ? but found these dies harder to setup then normal dies for this reason.I just adusted die until bullet would not go into sized case by hand.Just take your time setting up this die once set properly you should be fine.
 
Yup the top cap is screwed on tight. I followed the instructions: I screwed the die until it met the shell holder than added a full turn. I'm using the 308 die with 308 brass. The press didn't cam-over. The 100 I had done a couple days earlier didn't cam over either but with a good consistent press down on the handle found the sweet spot so that I had good neck tension to seat the bullets.

The way I understand the collet works is that it would put some pressure pushing down on the case to push the collet into the sleeve to press against the neck. Is this correct?
 
Yes you need to put pressure on to get collets to squeeze the neck,either measure necks or use bullet until you find sweet spot and try to put same amout of pressure each time .
 
I set mine to cam over to get consitent tension(not what instructions suggest) but took some time playing with adjustments until i got right amount of tension on bullets.So far so good ,first time with this type of die myself but have been reloading for a long time.
 
You have to take the top out of the die, push the collet out, use a taper punch and carefully spread out the fingers of the collet. What is happening is the fingers are too tight from being pushed in with out a case, they grab the neck early or partially and as you continue to push up the unsupported neck is forced down into itself. Dont spread the fingers too far or you wont be able to reinsert into the die. If you have a good unsized case handy as you open the collet try it for fit, the case should slide in right up to the shoulder easily. Put a small amount of oil on the outside of the collet to help it slide but not the inside. Hope this helps.
 
Maybe the neck on the brass was already tight, and the collet pushed the neck down. At what point did it collapse? Near the end of the stroke?
 
I had the same problem, it took me a while to figure it out. I did all the things mentioned above, but it still kept happening. Finally narrowed it down to having both Lapua and Norma brass in the same batch. Everytime I sized a Norma case the next Lapua would go crunch. Two of these 4 occured after I purposely sized the Norma first and the Lapua second. Now I segregate them and when I am done I open the die to allow the collet to re-expand.



leecollet308.jpg
 
When you take the die apart polish the collet to get it really smooth and apply a small amount of lube. Imperial sizing die wax or even a bit of grease so the collets are less likely to stick.
 
In response to roberti11, it was all the same brass. I was consistent in the factory ammo I bought and brass I kept, but it's definitely something to be watchful of.

I went home last night and using a very unscientific method of trying to find the definitive source(s), I went to work. I took the die apart, de-greased it with Simple Green and dried it in the oven at low temp. I polished the outside top of the collet and separated the fingers as the case would not slip into the collet easily. After separating the fingers to the point that the case would slide in, I greased the top of the collet with Teflon grease, and reassembled.

I paid close attention not to seat the die too far down and not push the collet without a case in it - touched the shell holder, stopped. Added one turn. I also realized that the nut on the outside of the die is an indexer, and not a lock washer. The further up the die it goes, the lighter the neck tension. The further down, vice-versa. Using a bullet I had lying around I gradually lowered the nut and tested it on a case and found the sweet spot. The cases sized with aplomb. Getting cocky at this point I played with the seating depth of the die to find the right depth to allow the press to just cam-over and size the neck as mentioned by larry20082. Made for perfectly consistent neck tension. I went on to size 140 cases in about a half hour with a s**t eating grin on my face as the cam-over makes it a no-brainer. I'm a happy man. Thanks to all who replied, a little bit from each post allowed me to figure out what was going on and remedy it.

Thanks all,

Adam
 
Update

I broke out the dies since this lasting posting tonight for a reloading session, and I noticed a light surface rust on them. Do you reloaders out there treat your reloading equipment like you keep your guns? Light oil coat for storage? Sounds like it makes sense, but I don't know - newb at the helm here!
 
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