Posted also under reloading, but fits here, too:

Here's a tip for all of you .222 Magnum shooters who also like Lee Collet neck sizing dies (anybody still listening?) Well, anyhow, for the few of you that fall into this category, while Lee does not make the Collet die for .222 Magnum, I came across a way to do it anyway.

Simply use a .223 collet die, but drop a common 3/8 inch washer over the .222 Magnum case after placing it in the shellholder. The washer will make a bushing that is about .05" in thickness, which is just right to allow for the difference in the distance from base-to-shoulder between the Magnum and the slightly shorter .223. It may take a little fiddling with the adjustment of the sizing die, but this method turns out perfectly neck sized .222 Magnum brass for me. Despite the extra step of placing and removing the washer, this process is still much faster (not to mention cleaner) than lubing and degreasing cases for conventional dies.

Give it a try, works like a charm.

Good tip. Now, what magic can you work so I can use a collet die to size the necks on my .204 Ruger casings???? I'm not real anxious to send Lee Precision $50 and wait 6 weeks to have a custom built one made, but that may be my only alternative if you can't give me a good tip for another method!!

Silver:

I would think that as popular as the .204 looks like it's going to be that Lee will pretty quickly bring out their collet die in that caliber.

In the meantime, if you'll take a .17 Rem die and a 7/32" drill bit . . . .

Lee Precision must be

It's glad to know that I'm not the only person waiting for a set of 204 Lee collet dies.

No John, you are not the only one.

What about Wilson NS bushing, knock out dies for the .204?
I've been cutting over my equipment to Wilson, and it's pretty much stopped my concentricity problems in their tracks. You don't even require a press. A little rawhide mallet will do the job nicely. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Cal Sibley-- What is the height of Wilson necks sizing die and of the Wilson bullet seating die? I would prefer to use an arbor press to the "mallet" method, but don't care to shell out $100 for a Sinclair arbor press. I have found arbor presses at Harbor Freight for around $30.00, but I need to know the height of the Wilson dies to determine if they would fit in the Harbor Freight arbor press.

Thanks in advance.