LEE sizing die defected out of box??

here you go. I just want to know if the coke bottle shape is really just cosmetic as LEE said(also read some online), not some safety concern as if the case if too narrow, the pressure would go up.



saskgunowner101 said:
What measurements do you get with a seated bullet with no crimp/mild crimp/heavy crimp?
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yes. no problem at all with all 9 dummy rounds. drop in and out of barrel freely, turn inside the barrel without touching the rifling. loaded into mags(g22 & mp40) no issues, showed(mp40) or pop out(g22) the loaded indicator no issues. and eject no issues.

zuke said:
Does it chamber freely?
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and I am just curious that, am I the only one using LEE die and get this coke shaped case, everyone else's sizing just as straight as listed in the specs?
 
Spawn-Inc said:
And tighten it up pretty darn snug, although maybe that's because I haven't degreased mine.

As for your 40 cal brass, it was likely glocked so you'll need a bulge buster die if your sized brass isn't feeding properly in your gun(s).
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I actually had the decapping pin get stuck in my 308 case as it wasn't tight enough from factory. After reinstalling the decapping pin and torqueing the crap out of it with a 12" crescent wrench, haven't had a issue yet. I also used that time to degrease the die, and relube using ballistol, no issues since but I've only FL sized 40 cases since (neck sizing only).
 
For 40S&W, It's hard NOT to notice the fat base due to the narrowed top as shown in the pictures on page 2. Actually after I saw this on 40S&W, I went back to check my 45ACP and 9mm(both are LEE carbine dies) and did notice there are similar shape issue, but in a much less noticeable way, otherwise I would notice the 45ACP which I have loaded over 1000 round and shot about 200-300 rounds fine with different test loads. Maybe it's "normal" as per LEE. I just don't understand why they want to do this instead of just size the case to w SAAMI specs.

saskgunowner101 said:
I'll find my calipers and measure a few this afternoon. Might be a case of looking too hard and noticing it more?
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luckey said:
For 40S&W, It's hard NOT to notice the fat base due to the narrowed top as shown in the pictures on page 2. Actually after I saw this on 40S&W, I went back to check my 45ACP and 9mm(both are LEE carbine dies) and did notice there are similar shape issue, but in a much less noticeable way, otherwise I would notice the 45ACP which I have loaded over 1000 round and shot about 200-300 rounds fine with different test loads. Maybe it's "normal" as per LEE. I just don't understand why they want to do this instead of just size the case to w SAAMI specs.
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It's fine, shoot it and enjoy your work.
The neck is sized small, then expanded in the next sizing step. SAAMI gives you MAX cartridge dimensions, so when you think the neck/case should be .423....that's not correct, that's max, it needs to be sized smaller then that to function reliably and safely.
 
luckey said:
and I am just curious that, am I the only one using LEE die and get this coke shaped case, everyone else's sizing just as straight as listed in the specs?
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I get visibly hour-glass shaped cases with my Lee .357 dies but not with my .44 mag or .45 colt dies. The .44 and .45 are slightly hour-glass shaped when measured with calipers but it's too small to see.
I'm also using Starline brass for the .44 and .45 that don't hour-glass and mixed Win/Rem/Fed/Zero/etc. for the .357 that do hour-glass. Don't know if that's a possible cause.

Lee is known for sticking to minimum dimensions for their dies (and as mentioned, SAAMI dimensions are MAX dimensions). Some people say regular Lee dies are similar to small-base dies from other brands.

*edit*
SAAMI specs for .357 mag are .379" diameter in the body. Me Lee sized cases are .372".
Measured with a .0001" micrometer; didn't bother reading the vernier scale for the last digit but it was almost exactly on .372" so probably only .0001" or .0002" off.
They work fine.
 
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Thanks for all the confirmations that this is OK. Can't be too careful in this business. It's fine and great learning experience though. :)
 
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