Glensman Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Has anyone any experience of these? I seen them recommended on a US forum because they hardly work your brass. I can testify to this, when you press the case in it feels like its doing nothing. My problem is that it's doing too much. It says in the instructions that the Mandrel is set for average tightness and if you want tighter, order a new mandrel. My problem is that there's nothing average anout the tightness at all, I can slide a bullet head in by hand :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windknot Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 You can polish the mandrel ion a drill press- some brands of brass are more springy than others. Or you can send off to Lee for a different one- I've heard good things about their customer service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glensman Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 You can polish the mandrel ion a drill press- some brands of brass are more springy than others. Or you can send off to Lee for a different one- I've heard good things about their customer service. I'm not overly impressed though, I just expected it to be right first time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Going to assume that you've just got it new. Try taking it apart to check for swarf and that all parts move freely. Then try it again taking up any slight free movement backlash in the press before winding it in the one more turn as specified. If it's still a no no, try the 1/4 extra turn as specified and if still no good then back it goes. Must say, that I've never had any trouble with 243,223 and Hornet. The only hiccup was my shooting oppo loading his hornet with a 224 mandrel and a 223 bullet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glensman Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Going to assume that you've just got it new. Try taking it apart to check for swarf and that all parts move freely. Then try it again taking up any slight free movement backlash in the press before winding it in the one more turn as specified. If it's still a no no, try the 1/4 extra turn as specified and if still no good then back it goes. Must say, that I've never had any trouble with 243,223 and Hornet. The only hiccup was my shooting oppo loading his hornet with a 224 mandrel and a 223 bullet! So the further I screw it in the less it will re-size the neck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 (edited) So the further I screw it in the less it will re-size the neck? No, the opposite, but only up to point. TBH, from the word go I was a bit confused. You say it's doing too much - I read that as too tight - and then you say you can push the bullet in by hand - that's obviously too loose. When the primer is forced out and the lever moves down a little as a consequence, are you applying any force to the lever after that? It does require a firm application - not gorilla like though - and it's good if you slack off and rotate the cylinder 180 degrees and repeat. Have a quiet think for a minute and get back if you're still stuck. Edit: This has just occured to me and is going to sound ****** stupid, but you haven't by any chance (I know, stupid) got the collet die mixed up with the dead length seating die? Edited July 28, 2011 by wymberley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glensman Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 No, the opposite, but only up to point. TBH, from the word go I was a bit confused. You say it's doing too much - I read that as too tight - and then you say you can push the bullet in by hand - that's obviously too loose. When the primer is forced out and the lever moves down a little as a consequence, are you applying any force to the lever after that? It does require a firm application - not gorilla like though - and it's good if you slack off and rotate the cylinder 180 degrees and repeat. Have a quiet think for a minute and get back if you're still stuck. Edit: This has just occured to me and is going to sound ****** stupid, but you haven't by any chance (I know, stupid) got the collet die mixed up with the dead length seating die? Ok I can see how I have confused you. Firstly, no I only have a Lee Collet die, my other dies are RCBS. Secondly I think you have answered my question. What is happening is that the Necks are Far too LOOSE. I was working under the impression that the Collet die had an expander ball like my RCBS FL die, now I'm thinking it doesn't? When I use the die it pops out the primer and it feels like the die is doing nothing, I'm starting to think that maybe it IS doing nothing because I have it improperly adjusted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Ok I can see how I have confused you. Firstly, no I only have a Lee Collet die, my other dies are RCBS. Secondly I think you have answered my question. What is happening is that the Necks are Far too LOOSE. I was working under the impression that the Collet die had an expander ball like my RCBS FL die, now I'm thinking it doesn't? When I use the die it pops out the primer and it feels like the die is doing nothing, I'm starting to think that maybe it IS doing nothing because I have it improperly adjusted? Nope, no ball. You have PM. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 (edited) I use the lee collet die to reload 303 and it does so perfectly. To make the case grip tighter get the ram at the top of the stroke so the die is touching the shell holder then loosen the locking nut and wind the die in a further 1.5 turns.When you resize you need to pull on the lever quite hard because you're shrinking it a fair bit and will notice a difference when seating the bullet too. Edited July 28, 2011 by Imperfection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermincinerator Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Once again a Lee collett die that does not work properly and it wont be the last. The design of these dies is technically flawed and the only good place for them is the bin. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackley Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 best place is in the bin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 I lol'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Funny - I've found this die to be one of the best to load Hornet ammo. I guess the people who can/are prepared to pay a fortune for their reloading kit would say it's rubbish? I've used all sorts. To be quite honest I notice very little difference between any of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 I've just finished loading some 30-06 for a friend, and he bought a set of these along... Whilst they seemed pretty poor on thread, and construction - they did produce consistent ammo with no messing about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermincinerator Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 There is no doubt that collet dies can and do produce good quality ammo but all to often a user tells us that his necks have not been sized enough to grip the bullet. This is where the concept of the die falls down, trying to form the neck against a set diametre mandrel is the fault. No matter how hard you squash the neck against the mandrel you will never size the case to the size of the mandrel due to spring back of the brass. This spring back of the brass is why these dies are inconsistant, different batches of brass, differant hardness of cases etc all lead to the die failing to do its job as it should. Polishing down the mandrel is the usual cure for this problem but should not need to be done to a new die, the die should be 100% workable from the outset, not needing permanent modification to work. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 There is no doubt that collet dies can and do produce good quality ammo but all to often a user tells us that his necks have not been sized enough to grip the bullet. This is where the concept of the die falls down, trying to form the neck against a set diametre mandrel is the fault. No matter how hard you squash the neck against the mandrel you will never size the case to the size of the mandrel due to spring back of the brass. This spring back of the brass is why these dies are inconsistant, different batches of brass, differant hardness of cases etc all lead to the die failing to do its job as it should. Polishing down the mandrel is the usual cure for this problem but should not need to be done to a new die, the die should be 100% workable from the outset, not needing permanent modification to work. Ian. Do you think someone who had never seen/used one before and having no instructions might have a problem the first time he tried it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermincinerator Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Do you think someone who had never seen/used one before and having no instructions might have a problem the first time he tried it? Yes i do, it could go both ways, the new user could have brass that springs back very little and a mandrel on the small side of the acceptable manufacturing tolerences, resulting in good quality ammo and be none the wiser. Then there is the new user that has brass made of a slightly harder alloy which is a bit more springy and a mandrel at the other end of the tolerences whos necks do not get sized enough and the bullet drops into the case, he is going to say *** and procalim the die as $hite. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glensman Posted July 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Hi Lads, I actually didn’t know about the downsides to the collet, thanks for pointing them out! I’m pretty sure after talking to wymberly that my issue is operator error, I didn’t get a chance to check last night because Dad has my shell holder, I’m away for the weekend, but I’ll let you all know first thing on Monday!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Try this http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4806613/1 There's alsp a link to a utube on the collet. The only time I had a problem was with some thin necked cases ... it worked fine with the Lapuas. As to spring back .. I neck sized a new batch but only loaded half of them. About a week later I started to load the rest but noticed the bullet was an easy-fit. A check with a mandrel showed about 1thou 'springback in a week: so maybe not quite an instant effect?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 I have a set of inherited Lee dies and an Redding micrometer bullet seater. So far, all dies have worked well for me. The neck sizer de-capper just needs to be adjusted as per the enclosed instructions/ see Lee website - vids available. The explanation above I would confirm is the one I use but sometimes its easier to watch a vid. I know Lee dies are towards the cheaper end but since I was given them I have used them since with good and consistent results. By simple inspection, I'd buy a new set of Redding if I had to replace them. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermincinerator Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Kes, is your neck sizer a lee collet die or conventional neck sizing die? Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 (edited) Kes, is your neck sizer a lee collet die or conventional neck sizing die? Ian. Its a Lee Collet die with a primer decapper attached in one. Cheers Ian Edited July 29, 2011 by Kes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 I have had similar issues, its says to adjust the collet die 1/4 to 1/2 a turn extra, is this the correct amount, it says go no further but the neck is still slackish, if I got 3/4 turn it tightens up.. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 Saying that it says a full turn on this video but not in the instructions?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 12, 2011 Report Share Posted September 12, 2011 Hi, Didn't watch the video but the instructions I have/have had - 243, 223,222 and hornet - have all said to install die until it touches the raised ram plus one full turn - and then plus 1/4 turn for a tighter fit - or words to that effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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