Just bought a Lee collet neck sizer for .30-06 and I set it up according to Lee's instructions and nothing happens. I took the die apart, which was all lose and sloppy, and I inserted a new case into the collet sleeve and the collet sleeve seems to be about 1/2 inch too long.By inserting the case on the shell-holder into the sleeve only, the lip of the case does not even reach the jaws of the collet. Am I doing something wrong or did I get a bad die from Lee?

With a case in the shellholder the case should come even with the end of the collet. Maybe they sent the wrong die or one with the wrong collet. Check with Lee They will solve your problem.
Lyle

The die should seem "sloppy" when assembled. Make sure the sleeve is free traveling in the die body and not hung up. They sometimes need a bit of polishing on the collet fingers and a twist or two with a emery cloth on the mandrel. Raise the ram to the top of its travel and screw the die until it touches the shell holder, give it another 1/4 turn and lock it down. You might need to turn the die a hair more in the press but don`t over do it, no more then a extra 1/8 or so turn and you`ll start crushing case shoulders. That and a dab of lube on the collet fingers and they almost have to work if they are the proper die.
Be sure to raise the ram all the way to the top when sizeing. The die sizes right at the top of the travel and you won`t feel anything until it finally starts, the sizeing will take some pressure to do.

My instructions say "ADJUSTMENY FOR LEE PRESSES
Screw the sizing die in until it contacts the shell holder, plus one turn more"

For other presses such as my RCBS it says "the die be screwed in until the die contacts the shell holder, plus 2 FULL TURNS.

when I use it I adjust it the 2 turns past and then when I size the case the handle will not go all the way down. It says to put about 25 pounds of downward pressure on the handle and it is sized. It is not supposed to go all the way down like regular dies.

The collett sleeve hangs down about a 1/2" below the bottom of the die normally and is loose. I don't fully understand the mechanics of it but it worked for me perfectly last night.

quote:

My instructions say "ADJUSTMENY FOR LEE PRESSES
Screw the sizing die in until it contacts the shell holder, plus one turn more"

Woods,
I stand corrected! I set mine one turn PLUS 1/4 more. Thats what I meant to tell him. Don`t know where my brain was when I wrote that.

Damn, I`ve used those things the last 15 yrs Ya`d think I`d have `em figured out by now... least enough to tell someone how to set one up. Lets see, righty tighty, lefty loosy.

Thanks for the help guys. I went back and followed your instructions and it worked, but leave it to me to never leave well enough alone. Started playing with different depths on the die vs. the shell holder until I tore the threads off the top cap. I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I'm going back to my regular dies even though the one thing I hate about reloading is messing around with case lube. again, I thank for your help.

Thet's OK OJ

Do you use a body die to push the shoulder back or just use the collet die to neck size only? There's not any way to neck size just part of the neck with a collet die is there?

How the hell did you tear the threads off the top cap. The top cap is screwed in tight all the time and you adjust by screwing the die into the press. Didn't think you could put enough pressure on the handle to tear threads off!!

I tore the threads off that cheap aluminum cap on my 7-08 collet die. I made another one out of steel at machine shop class. I was trying to get more bullet tension, I should have reduced the madrel O.D. a little to achive more bullet pull.

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
There's not any way to neck size just part of the neck with a collet die is there?

I believe you can trick the die into closing by putting a washer around the case in the shell holder. With a little trial and error, you might get the part of the neck sized you want.

I also once busted the cap off a collet die. Forget the exact circumstances, though.

- mike

Woods I hit the cases with a FL sizer every so often It usually takes 7-8 loadings to get to the point I feel they need it.