lee die problem...

T

triple tap

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langley BC
hey, just trying to neck size some brass for the first time and about 20 rounds in I hear a BANG and the arm of the press drops... I lower the ram down and everything looks fine on the brass but then I look up at the die and the top has a 16th inch gap from the bottom of the top cap and the body of the die and right then I knew what happened... I try and unscrew it and its not coming out easy, I grab a pair of vice grips and twist it out of there... anyways, is this the crap that LEE puts together now??? who was the wise guy that made the top cap (THE PIECE THAT HOLDS ALL THE PRESSURE FROM THE RAM PUSHING UP AND CRIPMING THE BRASS!!!) out of aluminum???? WTF!!!

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should I get it fixed and keep using this die or should I get a "good" set of dies? to me these dies feel "cheap" compared to the rcbs de-capping die I got. wholesale sports was out of lee de-capping dies so I got the rcbs one... how are rcbs dies? from what I have heard/read lee collet dies are the best... input?

EDIT: just so you guys know, its a collet neck sizing die for .308 win...
 
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I'm sure the general consensus will be go with the better set.
Strangely I like my Lee gear, I've never had a problem with any of it; although I do feel for you just having had a failure.
I've got Redding, RCBS, C & H and Lee dies. I fail to see the difference from one set to the other. Perhaps in the bigger calibers or a more prolific reloader the Lee dies are a problem.
If you don't mind me asking; what caliber were you reloading for?
 
Maybe a little adjustment issue - it would take a considerable force to strip those threads - even aluminum.

Lee presses have stops to limit stroke - different than others which go over center. This requires more skill to give uniform strokes - so I cut the stops off - so it over centers and every stroke is of the same length - and each action gets hit twice as it gets hit once again on the way back over center.

I prefer Lee dies - the decapping pin is centered better - and lasts forever - the bullet seater adjustment doesn't require wrenches.
 
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That POS aluminum part acts as a circut breaker to keep anything else from being damaged.
How well did you read the set up imstruction's?
 
Seems to me that too much force was applied. The instructions specifically warn against letting the press approach or go past the cam-over point. It doesn't take that much to neck size brass.
 
The collet die in the picture takes almost no force to use correctly. There is no better neck sizing die made IMHO. In the instructions they say to give it a firm stroke after it contacts the bullet holder. 20lbs I think. Most presses out there have very long arms and certainly don't need that much force to form the neck.

I've found very good neck tension by just lightly pushing down, rotating slightly and lightly sizing again.

If your goal is very tight neck tension for hunting or a semis, use the factory crimp die after the bullet is seated. ;)
 
If your goal is very tight neck tension for hunting or a semis, use the factory crimp die after the bullet is seated.
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Or better yet, just add a little neck tension, rather than resorting to a band aid solution, like a crimp. That is why I like neck bushing dies, they give me the ability to make small consistent adjustments in neck tension.
 
You hesitated. Using a Collet NS die, you must push the case all the way up in one movement. If you hesitate or start/stop, then the collet will close against the decapping pin. When you push up again, there is no place for the case to go. It is forced against the case, the case starts to crush, you push harder, nothing, push HARDER, BANG! Something breaks.

How do I know this? I had to to replace a turret plate for that very reason. Got new parts AND another set of directions since the first set didn't work, maybe in stereo??

Email the details and the pics to Lee. You will get new parts. Luckily, most of these reloading companies are willing to let us make dumba$$ mistakes on their dime.

Follow the directions next time and be sure that the collet fingers are open before you try to slide in your first case.

Again, learning in action...

Ted
 
rookie wildcat said:
You hesitated. Using a Collet NS die, you must push the case all the way up in one movement. If you hesitate or start/stop, then the collet will close against the decapping pin. When you push up again, there is no place for the case to go. It is forced against the case, the case starts to crush, you push harder, nothing, push HARDER, BANG! Something breaks.

Ted
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That doesn't make sense, the collect closes by hitting the top of the shell holder, unless your brass shrinks or you use the wrong brass/collet die, it will always close when the brass is fully inserted.


Here is a great video/youtuber on how to set up a collet die properly.

[youtube]mhTUgytUGnM[/youtube]
 
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sunray said:
"...out of aluminum????..." Lee kit is well known as low end kit. It's cheap for a reason.
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Some Lee items are not that great, but personally I think there is nothing wrong with Lee dies. I suspect that the OP did not read the instructions as previously stated. Neck sizing 308 brass does not require that much pressure. Certainly not the force that was required to damage the die like that.

That being said, Lee will likely replace the die anyway.
 
sunray said:
"...out of aluminum????..." Lee kit is well known as low end kit. It's cheap for a reason.
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What a load of bullcrap. I have Lee and RCBS dies and have no issues with either. Things break due to user error. Either the OP did not set the die up properly and possibly set it so that the die touches the shell plate like a regular FL die. Who knows. Why are there so many positive reviews for the Lee collet neck sizing die? Because they work beautifully. .
 
also noticed what looks to be tool marks on the cap....not sure why you would need to put a tool on that piece. I think there is more to this story
 
Trinimon said:
What a load of bullcrap. I have Lee and RCBS dies and have no issues with either. Things break due to user error. Either the OP did not set the die up properly and possibly set it so that the die touches the shell plate like a regular FL die. Who knows. Why are there so many positive reviews for the Lee collet neck sizing die? Because they work beautifully. .
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the die is meant to touch the shell plate, unless you mean the actual die body with the threads on it, in which case then yes that's WAY to deep lol.

Wired leader said:
also noticed what looks to be tool marks on the cap....not sure why you would need to put a tool on that piece. I think there is more to this story
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that was to remove the cap once the threads stripped. helps to read the post completely.

triple tap said:
I try and unscrew it and its not coming out easy, I grab a pair of vice grips and twist it out of there...
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I cant remember for 100% sure but when I took the die apart just after getting it, I remember saying "this cap feels loose" like the threads had been cut to deep and the cap could wobble side to side if it wasn't tightened all the way... ( just like everything I buy, I take it apart and make sure everything in it is looking like it should and has good coating of lube...) anyways, I returned it to wholesale sports and they gave me a new set and this die has a much nice cut thread in it so I think I just got a bad one... but I could be making up things in my head to make me feel better lol... I did read the booklet that came with the dies and followed it cause I wanted to do it right lol...
 
The more I reload, the more I buy stuff that doesnt have lee stamped on it.
Expect to pay more, but expect your dies not to shatter apart....
 
Kryogen said:
The more I reload, the more I buy stuff that doesnt have lee stamped on it.
Expect to pay more, but expect your dies not to shatter apart....
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it's funny how people turn their backs on the brand alot of them started with.

i've said it before and i will say it again, lee has gotten more people into reloading then any other brand (well i guess i can't say that for sure, but it sure seems like it).
 
It has gotten me into reloading, but the more you reload, the more you expect, and are willing to pay for quality products.

I dont see the problem
Honda has gotten alot of people into driving, and at some point, you might want a bmw.

Same thing with lee.
 
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