THE ACCURATERELOADING.COM FORUMS


Moderators: Mark
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die ?
 Login/Join
 
one of us
posted
I just ordered and got one of these dies from Midway in .300 Win. Mag. Has anyone else used these? I'm wondering about lubing the inside of the case neck? It should still be required since the expander ball is going to be pulled through it on the way out, correct?

Have any of you experienced any better accuracy segregating your brass to a given rifle, then just neck sizing them with this die? Bill T.
 
Posts: 1540 | Location: Glendale, Arizona | Registered: 27 December 2003Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Superb dies. No need to lube, they work by compressing the collar's 'petals' against the mandrel. The natural 'spring back' of brass then releases the mandrel as you ease pressure on the press arm on the up swing. Adjustment can be a little confusing though, I turn the die in by 1/8th turns till I achieve the desired neck tension.
 
Posts: 158 | Location: South East England | Registered: 16 October 2008Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
No need to lube as Haggis has already posted. Don't be alarmed if you get little or weak neck tention with the Collet die. Lee sets then up for about .001 neck tension. On several of my Collet dies I need to increase the neck tension be reducing the size of the mandrel. Simple enough, just chuck it into a drill and polish it down to your desired size. Or you can call Lee and purchase a "reduced" mandrel for $5.

They are great dies and will produce some amazingly concentric ammo.
 
Posts: 1205 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: 07 February 2004Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Grumulkin
posted Hide Post
Believe it or not, Lee Collet Dies don't always produce the most accurate ammo. In a 7mm/08 I have, I had to go back to full length sizing or to using a traditional neck sizing die to recover the accuracy.
 
Posts: 2911 | Location: Ohio, U.S.A. | Registered: 31 March 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Rusty
posted Hide Post
My son in law and I use Lee Collet dies for his F class shooting. We use .223 and .308 Win.

We find that rotation the case a bit after the initial size and re sizing again (not as much pressure on the press arm) we are very pleased with the accuracy.

Same thin is true for the Lee Factory Crimp die!


Rusty
We Band of Brothers!
DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member

"I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends."
----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836
"I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841
"for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”
 
Posts: 9797 | Location: Missouri City, Texas | Registered: 21 June 2000Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
I use it for .223,7x57,and .280 with great results.I also use Lee's factory crimp die on all.
 
Posts: 369 | Location: Adirondacks | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Not_Infringed
posted Hide Post
I use one of these in .223. I use Hornady 1 Shot case lube and I make sure to get into the neck anyway. I do the full length size (which does require lube) and perform the neck sizing (which does not require lube due to the petal/mandrel squeeze).

Can't answer the segregation question as I only have one AR-15.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All our liberties are due to men who, when their conscience has compelled them, have broken the laws of the land."
-- William Kingdon Clifford
 
Posts: 65 | Location: KC, MO | Registered: 17 March 2010Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
quote:
We find that rotation the case a bit after the initial size and re sizing again (not as much pressure on the press arm) we are very pleased with the accuracy.


Great advice. It takes very little time to withdraw the case an inch or so after sizing, turn the case approximately 1/8 turn while still in the shellholder, and run it into the Collet die again. This makes for an extremely uniform round neck and usually negates the need to polish the mandrel down in order to get the proper neck tension.

The time saved by not lubricating (and particularly by not having to clean the lubricant off) makes the Lee Collet die a huge labor saving device (as well as turning out very concentric ammunition when fired in non-stretchy actions).
 
Posts: 13263 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
In the instructions with the collet dies it states that sizing the case then backing off the ram and rotating the case 1/2 turn and resizing again can help with getting correct neck tension. Been using LEE Collet dies for years and wish they were offered in every chambering I load for!!! GHD


Groundhog Devastation(GHD)
 
Posts: 2495 | Location: SW. VA | Registered: 29 July 2002Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by groundhog devastation:
In the instructions with the collet dies it states that sizing the case then backing off the ram and rotating the case 1/2 turn and resizing again can help with getting correct neck tension. Been using LEE Collet dies for years and wish they were offered in every chambering I load for!!! GHD


They are. Just send them a case and they'll make one for just about anything. I think a custom one is $25.
 
Posts: 1173 | Registered: 14 June 2000Reply With Quote
  Powered by Social Strata  
 


Copyright December 1997-2023 Accuratereloading.com


Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia