We ve modified a lot of Lee collets to work on other cartridges. As an example made a 222 Rem into a 221 Fireball. If you find a case slightly longer than the one you re wanting to size and as long as it’s the same diameter bullet, you can cut / shorten the collet in a lathe. If you want to size a longer case that doesn’t have a collet die then just build a hollow sleeve that you put around the case resting it on the shell holder and it will push the collet when you lift the ram. Again, just needs to be same diameter bullet.
Obviously you can only shorten a collet so much before you lose the spring back/weaken it. The spacer route you re only limited by how much thread is on the collet. Example, I collet size my 6.5-300 Weatherby with a 6.5x55 collet and built a .700 tall spacer!! I can collet size my wildcat 6/280AI cases with my 6 Creedmoor collet and that one uses a .400 or .500 long spacer. If you just use the SAAMI drawing to calculate your differences it actually becomes pretty easy.
Good luck.
THIS is what I was looking for !!!!!!! thanks Basco !!
I did similar to the sleeve for a shorter case. I am using 17 Hornet on a collet die. I used the 17 Remington collet die and found a tall extended shell holder. I had dad turn the shell holder down the difference of the 2 cases ( from bottom of shoulder to top of the standard shell holder ) it was like .352" so the shouldered shell holder pushed the collet tight at the right time. We had to then had to shorten the primer push rod. Or we could have done a 2 step process to de-primer the hornet in the standard shell holder and then neck size with the modified extended shell holder. I saw this idea on a 17 Hornet post / forum.
Turning down the collet is easier and using a sleeve for longer cases is a brilliant idea.
thanks haeffnkr
