Lee Shell Holder Question

[mmattockx]

I am starting up reloading with a Lee Classic Turret Press. I will be loading 22-250, 30-06, and 6.5x55 at the moment. I have an RCBS #3 holder for the press which fits the 30-06 base size and is loose enough to fit the 6.5x55 brass. My Lee Auto-Prime with a #2 shell holder will not take the 6.5x55 brass.

1) Do the holder numbers correlate to sizes, i.e.- a bigger number is a bigger holder?

2) What shell holder # do I need (both for the press and the auto-prime) to properly fit the 6.5x55 brass? I couldn't find 6.5x55 listed on either Lee or RCBS info for their holders.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[saskgunowner101]

I've got the universal shell holder kit from Lee, and the #3 is the one it has listed for 6.5x55 mm.

 

[Ganderite]

There is no logic or progression to the shell holder numbers. Some makes of 6.5x55 brass will work in a #2, but the proper one works for all brands.

The same number holder applies to both the press and the primer.

 

[colinjw]

My suggestion is to make sure that you get the correct size rather than one that sort of fits.

If you ever full length resize a rifle cartridge & start to extract it from the die only to have the shell holder slip off, you will know what I mean.

 

[mmattockx]

I've got the universal shell holder kit from Lee, and the #3 is the one it has listed for 6.5x55 mm.

Awesome, thank you.

Mark