I picked up a set of Lee dies for my .44 Russian. I have to say, I've always been a big fan of RCBS but I couldn't find dies in that caliber so I had to go with the Lee set. I don't like the fact that you can't lock the collars so as I see it, I have 2 options. Option one is buy 3 small hex head grub screws, drill and tap a hole in each collar and make them lockable. Option 2, order 3 collars from RCBS and swap out the collars on the Lee set. Getting stuff up here to Canada from the US can be problematic at times. So, have any of you done this with the Lee dies?

I have several Lee sets for pistol Calibers and they work fine as they are. Give them a try first.

Yes. The Lee things are ridiculous. Someone must be able to use them but not me. I like a split threaded collar (nut) rather than one drilled & tapped for a set screw. I think Hornady used to make these. Maybe they still do? The idea of a set screw is not really good practice, in my little machinist’s brain. Kind of bad form to be pushing on the crest of the thread with another screw. You can throw a piece of lead shot in there to try and mitigate the problem a bit, but the split collar is the correct method.

Read and follow the Lee Directions . At first the non-locking rings bothered me also but after you learn how to work with them and how to install and remove them without moving the adjustments ... you get used to them and don't need the set screw locking rings.
It's a different system but it does work ...work with them before you start spending money .
If you have only used RCBS dies I can see how they might throw you for a loop .
Gary

__________________
Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Once you set the lock ring,never touch it again. Screw the die in and out of the press using the top of the body. That’s why it’s knurled.

You can also buy locking rings from Foster. The screws squeeze the rings from the side and do not damage the threads. I have put these on all my dies.

Bob

__________________
Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

I know they seem rinky dink but they work better than you think they will. That said, I would put new rings on my wish list for when things settle down a bit.

I too will try this, but it always seems like my adjustments change.

I have had zero problems with the Lee dies, they do not come out of adjustment, it is hard to imagine that a rubber ring holds them in place, but it works.

The Lee rings work, as others say, once you get used to them.

I still hate them.

__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media

Well, well, well.....

Yeah, I don't like them either. I buy the Hornady rings and swap them out. The Hornady rings are my favorite as they are a split ring and the screw tightens the split to lock the ring....no set screw ever touches your threads.

Of course if you're using a Lee press you now should get the breech lock bushings. Or the fancier Spline Drive Breech Lock Bushings which incorporate a lock ring. When you add this stuff, the replacement rings and/or Breech Lock/Spline Drive Bushings...well Lee dies lose their cost advantage.

I find the whole concept of the Breech Lock bushing rather silly. Quick change dies on a single stage press. How much time is that really going to save? Very little assuming you have a good lock ring.

I use them when I have too (like you are)... and replace them when I can. Not a fan. If I buy a set of Lee dies I will eventually end up spending more than if I just buy a set of Hornady dies to begin with.

But these days we use what we can get. They work for the most part.

I have loaded thousands of rounds with Lee dies and never had a issue with the rings that come on them. Easy enough to change but I think it is just more you not use to them then it is that they don't work just fine.

Do any of you make index marks on your dies? I jab the point of a marker between the ring and the die. Those marks do not stay lined up. I use the marks to reset the dies.

That tiny bit doesn’t matter unless you’re a bench rest shooter

Throw the Lee lock rings in the trash and order Hornady die lock rings.

Shouldn't have to do that.

When one is trying to maintain a .002" shoulder bump, the Lee lock rings do not work.

It seems to be the thing to hammer anything Lee. FOLLOW THE DAMN DIRECTIONS, AND YOU WON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS! This ain't rocket science, guys.

The Forster Co-Ax press allows the die to float and self center and thus make more concentric cases.

And the rubber o-ring on the Lee lock ring allows the die to float and self center in the sloppy press threads.

Bottom line the Lee lock ring turns any press into a Co-Ax press.

STOP crying and learn how to use the lock rings and use reference marks "if needed". With standard lock rings you can lock the die down off center with the die tilted.

The main cause of neck runout happens if the expander is locked down off center. And Forster dies have a high mounted floating expander to help prevent neck runout.


O-Rings on Dies May Reduce Run-Out
You are being redirected...

You might try installing the ring upside down with the O-ring removed. Set it up in your press the way you want it and put a little epoxy cement or J-B Weld on the ring and die body to keep it in place. A couple or three small dabs should hold it nicely.

Use the Redding competition shell holders, you change the amount of shoulder bump by changing the shell holder. These shell holders allow the die to make hard contact with the base of the die with press cam over. Meaning you never have any "air gap" between the die and shell holder. It is the "air gap" that allows the shoulder bump to vary.

I'm not "hammering anything Lee". I have a couple of Lee presses. Love them. But if I was going to hammer them I'd ask, if their o-ring is superior, why incorporate a lock ring in the Spline Dive Breech Lock Bushing that eliminates it?

Plus from the link posted.

"Lee Precision makes die lock rings with built-in O-Rings. Lee’s distinctive lock ring design allows the same kind of self-alignment, which is good. However, Lee lock rings don’t clamp in place on the die threads, so they can move when you insert or remove the dies — and that can throw off your die setting slightly. By using an O-Ring under a conventional die lock ring (that can be locked in place), you get the advantages of the Lee design, without the risk of the lock ring moving."

Lee Dies are a DIFFERENT design than other dies. Don't assume they work just like other brands. In other words don't do what I did and try to force them to work like other dies and mess them up for being stubborn.

Note the rubber o-ring in the bottom of the locking nuts. That should tell you something.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Well, one thing is to realize that the o-ring will lock the die in position, which is what you want, but I have never really tried to ensure that is maintained that position when the die was removed.
If you simply don't trust the o-ring to hold the die in place, remove it. I flip the lock ring around so the o-ring groove is UP and simply tighten the ring down (in this position, even with very thick tool heads, you still have several threads holding things). Again, I have always lost my setting, even with split lock rings, as I can't bring myself to possibly ruin threads by removing the die/lock ring assembly while it is tight thread against thread.
Next, get new Lee lock rings. Nest, get Hornady lock rings. Next, get a press that takes die bushings or replaceable tool heads and never worry about removing a die again.
All of this for a lock ring that does exactly what it is supposed to do...

Thank you all for the input, pro and con. Wouldn't you know that I find a guy selling 4 Hornady split-ring locking collars for $10. + shipping. At that price, I'll take the chance. I have an old RCBS Rockchucker single stage press that has served me well over these many years. Being retired, I don't mind the time commitment nor do I shoot as much as I used to to, so taking my time to get things right and precise is not a bother to me. Weighing all the input you all have given me thus far, I think I'll try some trial dummy rounds with the dies as they are but still have the option of replacing the collars with locking ones. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and let's all have a better 2021.

You have received some good info here from trying the Lee lock rings to just buying Hornady lock rings (what I have done). The thought of going to all the trouble to “engineer” by drilling and threading a $2 lock ring just makes my head hurt! After all, this is for a pistol caliber that even if you “set up” the dies every time you used them, it takes what - a few minutes at most? Get them set, mark with a marker on the threads and you have a quick “go by” for the next time.

__________________
S&W factory revolver armorer

I have a Hornady single stage press that uses their lock-n-load inserts,and I have converted ALL my dies to that system. Once you have it set, WHATEVER kind of dies you have doesn't make any difference, as you won't be messing with the adjustment anymore.

My main issue with the Lee is the O-rings. When I'm trying to establish a .002 shoulder set back, it's nearly impossible to do when the o-ring compresses every time I install the die. Unless one wishes to resort to using a torque wrench every time, the o-ring will compress a different amount each time. It's just not as conducive to accurate die setting as a set metal-to-metal contact. They may be okay for cranking out pistol ammo, but not for precision reloading, at least not in my book when a Hornady lock ring eliminates any error.

Even RCBS dies can have a problem.............
if you over tighten the lock screws enough times and strip the head.

You can find replacement screws at the hardware store but this is not needed, if you are a little easier on that little screw.

I only have one single die from Lee.......... for 30-06 bullet seating.
It works great for me.

Later.

I have only one set of Lee dies and at first, I was hesitant to like them since they did not have the split locking rings like I was used to. I have to say it's been years now and I have had nary a problem with them.

__________________
"In God We Trust"

My first set of Lee dies was purchased in '87 (but because of an old man's failing memory, it may have been in '72). I now have approx. 11 Lee die sets and maybe 6 more of various manufacturere. In all the thousands upon thousands of rounds I have reloaded, I have never had a Lee die work loose, change adjustment. The only "problem" was when I wanted thicker rings for use in my Co-Ax...

This looks interesting, Lee has new for 2020; SKU# 91640, Ultimate
spline drive lock rings. 4 pack.

The majority of my Die Sets are Lee Precision. I really like their
Factory Crimp Dies. For what I do they have been great.

The circa 1978 Remington Mdl 788 bolt action 222Rem rifle I
have, provides bullet groups of dime size at 100yrds. The Lee
222Rem Die Set is what I use. I do have the 130gr bullets
matched with the 1-10" twist barrel.

Recently bought the Lee 270 Winchester Short Mag set. I think
the 270WSM is inherently accurate anyway, and the clover leaf
hole bullet group are really working for me.

Check out Lee's website. The best to you and your endeavors.

Attached Images

	WIN_20200929_13_02_56_Pro.jpg (84.9 KB, 23 views)
	WIN_20201023_13_37_15_Pro.jpg (88.3 KB, 23 views)

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

I replaced the rings on all my dies (regardless of brand) with split ring Forester rings. Adjusting is easier and the die easily repeats it last setting.

I just turned the locking nuts on my Lee dies upside down as has been suggested by others, and they haven't moved on me since.

Regards,
Andy

I prefer the rings on Lee dies to others. I don't have to dig out an allen wrench to adjust them. If you turn the ring and die together when installing and removing them, they stay put.

As much as I hated my Rockchucker, you can get an adaptor for it to take Hornady die bushings. Of course, those bushings also have that dreaded o-ring. I loved Hornady die bushings. Only issue was with the L-N-L measure. The measure, when full, is extremely top heavy (with the very long hopper) and it worked loose. Replace the bushing with one that seemed to "close" a bit tighter and never had an issue again.

Yea but try it....... just for grins.

One major user bad review is because many (most) don'know how the Lee lock rings work. The O-ring is a locking device, used in many applications other than reloading dies. The O-ring works two ways, first it adds friction against the threads on the body. And when the ring/nut is "tightened" against the frame the O-ring adds upward pressure "locking/"jamming" the threads togethrt, adding friction, and the ring/nut does not turn freely...

When I first started using Lee dies, with the o-ring feature, I was as concerned as some of the other posters have said. I was thinking "what tha hell is this??". But, as I found out, they are just as good as the metal rings we all grew up with. If you give em a chance, I think you will grow to like them. I did.

I was interested in these until I saw they left the O-Ring in it.

__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media

I have used Lee dies for 50 years. I love them. The lock rings work awesomely well.

Set the die where you want it. Snug the lock ring. Back out the die 1/4 turn. Turn the ring in 1/4 turn. Put the die back where it belongs.

Easy peasy, works like a dream, nothing to complain about.

Sorry. I don't get it. Can you 'splain this better?

You guys as always are a few years behind..
These rings are most excellent

1. Set the die where you want it.
2. Snug the lock ring in with your finger.
3. Then, Back out the die 1/4 turn.
4. Then, Turn the ring in 1/4 turn.
5. Then, turn the die back in 1/4 turn (where you originally set it).

I don't know how to better splain it.

I hate to beat this oft-debated dead horse but today's experience is relevant.

I wanted to load up some 9mm and my RCBS dies are away from home for awhile. I grabbed a set of Lee dies I have and went to work.

Everything was fine until I got to seating. My target was 1.075 OAL. I couldn't get 2 identical lengths in a row. Big swings, as low as 1.061 and as high as 1.086. I've never noticed this before with Lee or any other dies.

I have mixed head stamp brass that was seating with varying amounts of effort. The easier it seated, the deeper it seated. I'm thinking about that o-ring.

I cranked down the lock ring tighter and tried again. Some improvement but not acceptable. I swapped the o-ring lock ring out for a RCBS ring. Now it's close but still a few thousands swing, occasionally more.

The press is in good shape, no slop in the mechanism, I looked for crud in the shell holder - nope. Coated bullets and no old lube or crud in the die.

I'm using the same motion and same amount of force every time, as closely as this human is capable.

It got to where I could predict the short or long OAL by the amount of force it took to seat the bullet.

What I think is going on is the O-Ring on the seater stem is compressing by varying amounts depending on the force required to seat the bullet.

Possibly a new o-ring would compress less. Or I can sort by head stamp and maybe get more uniform pressure.

I'm not bashing the Lee product, just relating my experience.

Attached Images

	IMG_20201229_111607_01.jpg (51.3 KB, 11 views)
	IMG_20201229_111428_02.jpg (27.4 KB, 10 views)
	IMG_20201229_111312_01.jpg (49.1 KB, 10 views)
	IMG_20201229_111048_02.jpg (31.4 KB, 11 views)
	IMG_20201229_110921_01.jpg (33.4 KB, 10 views)

__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media

FWIW, my solution was to install each set of dies in a dedicated turret plate.

BUT back before I got several turret plates I used two of the Lee lock rings tightened against each other. The bottom one with the rubber o-ring facing down and the top one with no o-ring, and the o-ring groove facing up.

Get the die set where you want it with one lock ring in place, then install the second one and tighten it down on top of the first one. Then you can twist them in as hard as you can by hand, and they'll still twist out by hand and it is 100% repeatable. I tried the trick of making marks to test it and make sure they were being re-installed to the exact same place each time. Worked like a charm.

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...