Lee Collet Neck Size Die?
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I use nothing but LEE dies in about 10 handgun and 4 rifle,
I have some RCBS dies also and the LEE do the same exact thing.
The neck size die for rifle calibers works just fine for bolt action rifles.
Spend more if you want to do the same thing.
I have some RCBS dies also and the LEE do the same exact thing.
The neck size die for rifle calibers works just fine for bolt action rifles.
Spend more if you want to do the same thing.
I use nothing but LEE dies in about 10 handgun and 4 rifle,
I have some RCBS dies also and the LEE do the same exact thing.
The neck size die for rifle calibers works just fine for bolt action rifles.
Spend more if you want to do the same thing.
I own Lee decapper and crimp dies but prefer the way others are machined. Just personal preference, nothing against Lee dies.
I have an old Forester..........
but the Hornady is in all the sporting good stores around my area. No online shipping cost.
Do you like Green, Red or Blue ?
but the Hornady is in all the sporting good stores around my area. No online shipping cost.
Do you like Green, Red or Blue ?
5-Shot
Member
I have used them in rifle reloading for years. On occasion the mandrill has to be polished down a bit but the ammo they produce is superb (I did some accuracy comparison tests against well known brand dies and Lee won). No case lube is needed and you don't stretch cases pulling necks over the expanding plug like in standard dies.
I like them.
Ed
I like them.
Ed
I am not loyal to one brand of reloading equipment because I appreciate innovative items that can come from any manufacturer. The Lee collet neck sizing dies work very well for most but if you have a special neck sizing situation then bushing dies are the next step up.
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elpac3
Member
I started using the Lee collet sizing die on my .222 love it. I have a set of Lee dies for the 9mm and went to the collet die for the .22 hornet as well. They are great when you use the fired case in the same chamber. They do not require lube which is also a big plus.
I have dies from pretty much all the major players and have things I like about each one. For example for the .222 I love the Redding VLD micrometer seating die - can't be beat. I was initially turned off the word of mouth reputation Lee had as being a "cheap" brand. I have not found this to be true of the dies.
One thing I do not care for is the lack of a locking ring. THe rubber "O" ring used in the die locking nut just does not do it for me. I also am not especially impressed with the Lee shell holders - preferring either Redding or Hornady but that is just me being picky. No factual basis to say one is better than the other.
Collet dies seem to produce very good accuracy and minimize neck stretching. One trick when using the collet die is to size, then rotate the case 1/3 turn then size again to get a smoother neck.
I have dies from pretty much all the major players and have things I like about each one. For example for the .222 I love the Redding VLD micrometer seating die - can't be beat. I was initially turned off the word of mouth reputation Lee had as being a "cheap" brand. I have not found this to be true of the dies.
One thing I do not care for is the lack of a locking ring. THe rubber "O" ring used in the die locking nut just does not do it for me. I also am not especially impressed with the Lee shell holders - preferring either Redding or Hornady but that is just me being picky. No factual basis to say one is better than the other.
Collet dies seem to produce very good accuracy and minimize neck stretching. One trick when using the collet die is to size, then rotate the case 1/3 turn then size again to get a smoother neck.
You prefer other dies, but asked about the LEE.
Granted, Hornady, RCBS, Redding Etc etc are machined very well and are on the scale of things "better" machined.
That said it done, it doesn't take much to neck size a case.
I can drive my Benz to the 7-11 or take my Kia.
The LEE dies work and do the job just fine.
Vulcan Bob
Member
I use it for the .308 Win, works just fine. It did improve my accuracy a bit in the rifle I,m doing it for and should increase case life although I haven't done enough yet to be sure of it.
The only case that I hate to customize is the little 22-250.
Over the years I have found that finding same case measurements from Federal, Remington, Winchester, Herters, Hornady, PMC and Norma brass to be impossible.
Having the SAME wall thickness in the case neck was a joke in a lot of the cases.
One reason I like the old "Heavy wall", 30-06 case so well for my target work. (I no longer do 308 )
Over the years I have found that finding same case measurements from Federal, Remington, Winchester, Herters, Hornady, PMC and Norma brass to be impossible.
Having the SAME wall thickness in the case neck was a joke in a lot of the cases.
One reason I like the old "Heavy wall", 30-06 case so well for my target work. (I no longer do 308 )
Hook686
US Veteran
I have one 30-06 Winchester Model 70. I bought the Lee collet die and neck size only. I am happy with this method. I used similar back in the day (1960's) reloading 6mm Remington using a Lyman Tong Tool. II never had a problem with neck sizing, as I have only had one rifle in the caliber and never tried to use the reloads in a different rifle.
I also use Lee presses and dies. It has proven a plus for me over the years and saved me more than a few bucks.
I also use Lee presses and dies. It has proven a plus for me over the years and saved me more than a few bucks.
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jepp2
Member
No other die like it on the market. I have collet dies for almost all the rifle dies I load for. Gives the lowest neck runout of any other sizing die.
Now the downside. Make sure you set the die up per the instructions. One turn past contact with the shell holder for most dies, two turns if your die toggles over. And some folks don't understand what 25 pounds on the press handle means. You can feel the neck compress against the mandrel after you use it for a while.
Check the mating surfaces and smooth if necessary. And make sure you lube those surfaces. I take it to the extreme and polish them. Like the picture below (courtesy of Clark on TFL forum).
[URL=http://s860.photobucket.com/user/jepp2/media/260Leecolletdiecolletandcolletslevebeforeandafterpoishing.jpg.html]
[/URL]
Now the downside. Make sure you set the die up per the instructions. One turn past contact with the shell holder for most dies, two turns if your die toggles over. And some folks don't understand what 25 pounds on the press handle means. You can feel the neck compress against the mandrel after you use it for a while.
Check the mating surfaces and smooth if necessary. And make sure you lube those surfaces. I take it to the extreme and polish them. Like the picture below (courtesy of Clark on TFL forum).
[URL=http://s860.photobucket.com/user/jepp2/media/260Leecolletdiecolletandcolletslevebeforeandafterpoishing.jpg.html]
[/URL]ggibson511960
Member
Only Lee Product I Use
Collet dies are the only Lee product I retain from a small pile of priming tools, trimmers, doo dads and a progressive press, all purchased because they were cheaper than other brands that I replaced them with. They all worked, but I moved on to higher quality, but at a price. The collet dies are unique in that nobody competes with them. I have them for all bottle-neck calibers I reload. You can't adjust anything with them unless you polish the camming cones for more neck O.D. reduction, a permanent alteration. I stroke my cases twice, rotating the case between strokes to minimize the slight ridge on the neck. I'm fussy about case neck concentricity, and these dies deliver, especially when used in a Forster Co-Ax press.
Collet dies are the only Lee product I retain from a small pile of priming tools, trimmers, doo dads and a progressive press, all purchased because they were cheaper than other brands that I replaced them with. They all worked, but I moved on to higher quality, but at a price. The collet dies are unique in that nobody competes with them. I have them for all bottle-neck calibers I reload. You can't adjust anything with them unless you polish the camming cones for more neck O.D. reduction, a permanent alteration. I stroke my cases twice, rotating the case between strokes to minimize the slight ridge on the neck. I'm fussy about case neck concentricity, and these dies deliver, especially when used in a Forster Co-Ax press.
fredj338
Member
I am also not a huge fan of Lee products as a whole, but their neck dies are pretty good for the $$. They are also easy to use & setup vs dies with diff size collets. I bought a set of 260 for use with my 260ai. The ammo is very accurate, 1/2 moa or better, the dies are cheap, what's not to like.
shovelwrench
Member
I have bought and used them for several calibers.
There is always a noticeable shrink in group size for any given identical load. Not to mention, no case lube needed!!!!!!
One other nice side effect is that brass "grows" a lot less (less trimming)
There is always a noticeable shrink in group size for any given identical load. Not to mention, no case lube needed!!!!!!
One other nice side effect is that brass "grows" a lot less (less trimming)
ageingstudent
Member
Well in my experience they make my 1 in 12 twist el cheapo savage shoot way above it's paygrade. I was looking for a more expensive 22-250 until I used the collet dies. 22-250 can be a finicky round to load but seems like the collet dies made it easier. They have a guaranty related to results why not try a set?
I plink golf balls with the 250 out past 200 yards. Nary a miss from a rest. Fun targets they really take off...fore!!!
I plink golf balls with the 250 out past 200 yards. Nary a miss from a rest. Fun targets they really take off...fore!!!
elpac3
Member
Using the collet die on my .222 did tighten up group size. And as previously mentioned, no case lube. Cases are on #8 reloading with no apparent case stretch. Mind you I am not loading at the top end - about 1 grain below top but can consistently get all rounds touching / one hole groups. Rounds easily drop in the Wilson case gauge and chamber with just a slightly snug bolt.
The other thing that REALLY brought the group size down was changing the seating depth. After experimenting with different seating depths the rifle seems to love the .01 of the lands much more so than any other seating depth.
The other thing that REALLY brought the group size down was changing the seating depth. After experimenting with different seating depths the rifle seems to love the .01 of the lands much more so than any other seating depth.
Soothsayer
Member
Lee Collet Dies
My experience with Lee products has been mixed but I have become a fan of the collet dies--accuracy, less brass growth, etc.
The chief exception is with my .22 Hornet Contender which seems to like only full length re-sized cases.
My experience with Lee products has been mixed but I have become a fan of the collet dies--accuracy, less brass growth, etc.
The chief exception is with my .22 Hornet Contender which seems to like only full length re-sized cases.
