Maybe this will help someone else....

I had a problem 300 wby collet die that would seemingly grab the case mouth on the way into the die and...not release it after sizing.
I got the collet out of the die and it was plenty big enough to let a fired shell into it. And, I lubed the cup that squeazed the collet.

STILL NO IMPROVEMENT WHATSOEVER..

I looked closer at my die and saw the sleeve that contacts the shellholder is getting peened over from use. What was happening was the casing was going too high into the die and the collet was grabbing on the beginning of the radius of the shoulder and trying to size it. Obviously it couldn't do that without binding.
I just got home from the hardware store with a .094" thick washer for the top of the shellholder and......problem fixed. The sleeve now "activates" the collet before the casing is all the way into the die.......YIPPEE!!

I actually read a post where STonecreek uses the same collet on two different .22 cal casings by adding a washer to make up for the extra case length...that's what got me thinking about my fix.

Kraky:

You're of course limiting the portion of the neck that is sized to the upper 2/3rds or so, but with plenty of length on the WBY neck this shouldn't be a problem. Some loaders prefer it this way.

The peening of the base of the Collet dies is a big complaint. It's unfortunate that Lee makes it from metal so much softer than the shell holder head. Using the washer also helps distribute the force over 360 degrees instead of just 180 degrees or so with the shellholder head alone, thus reducing the tendancy to peen.

Yup, I ran out some extra thick "washers" on my lathe that I use when I only want to size a small portion of the neck. Pain in the A$$ to work with but after a while you develop a quickness that is comfortable.

I place the washer between my thumb and forefinger and slide it over the case, while keeping hold of the washer I pick up the case and place it in the shellholder. I let the washer fall to the top of the shell holder and do the sizing. Grab the washer and casing out of the shell holder and place in your loading block. Slide the washer up over the case and down on to the next case and pick it up and place in the shell holder......

Glad you got it straightened out, Kraky.

Jim

Kraky, pardon my ignorance, I've just recently bought my first Lee collet die, but why wouldn't/couldn't you just back the die out of the press a bit to get the amount of sizing you want?????

Fish-

I was almost as ignorant.

Anyway, if you read the post it sounds like the sleeve that slides over the case and down to the shellholder actually applies the pressure over the mandrel?

flaco

Flaco has it right. As reloaders we're so used to the "one dimension" of the brass going up into the die. That's why I spent so much time trying to figure it out. I guess my "engineering imagination" sucks. The whole thing comes down to the brass going up into the die and then "activating" the collet. You have to get the collet closing BEFORE the brass gets all the way up into the die. As the collet sleeve gets worn...the brass gets higher into the die and pretty soon the collet is trying to close on the shoulder instead of just the neck. Other reloaders have responded that the sleeve is made of soft material and thus the quick wear. Anyhow....watch for the sleeve to peen over and then the washer will fix the problem. Also if you have a "generous chamber" and the shoulder of the brass goes forward...say .020"...it will accelerate the situation. Have a washer handy and your brass will most likely chamber better and will last for more firings.