Lee Collet Die, one die for different rounds?

[thepitchedlink]

Hey, just thought of this after reading some internet dribble somewhere...Becasue the collet die squeezes the neck against a mandrel with fingers, I'm thinking that maybe the shoulder doesn't need to touch the inside of the die. Can a collet die be used to neck size different chamberings of the same caliber? i.e. 30-06 collet die and use it to neck size a 308? Or a 6.5x55 die for a 264 Win Mag? ANyone tried it or am I missing the boat here...

 

[brotherjack]

The part you are missing would be the "case length" part. The fingers of the collet "squeeze" at the point where the case neck is expected too be. You might get away with something that was very close in overall case length (a 30-30 ackley could probably be done in a 308 die, but probably not as well as in a 30-30 die) - but generally, nope, probably wouldn't work too well because of case length issues.

 

[rodagra]

It can usually be done in a pinch if the collet die is for a larger/longer cartridge. It means making a spacer block to exactly make up the difference in length between the 2 cartridges. The spacer carries the smaller cartridge to the correct position so that the shell holder contacts the slider at the bottom of the die as the neck enters the collet.
If you start with a die for 300Wby. it can be done for say 30-30, 308 etc.
I have a degree from the University of Micky Mouse, but I would still buy the proper set-up unless I just had a few rounds to do to see if they made any difference accuracy-wise.
A chunk of a 5/16" or 3/8" bolt works fine, but if you keep cutting them too short it could get tedious. So start a few thou long and grind'n fit.

 

[Dogleg]

I used a .308 collet die to load 30-30s, just to get away from lubing cases. I can't say they shot any better, but they did work. A 22/250 collet will work on .223, if I remember right it just gets part of the neck. In a pinch I'm sure there are many combinations that could get a gun shooting, if the dedicated dies weren't available. People use universal neck dies and universal seaters, so why not?