Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Lee Collet Die Help?

I've used RCBS Neck dies exclusively so far, but have been intrigued by the talk about the Lee Collet Dies. So I got one for my 243 Win and attempted to use it tonight.

I set it up as stated in the Instructions. I've got an RCBS Rockchucker Press, so I screwed the die in until it contacted the raised Ram. Lowered the ram, and screwed the die in 2 full turns. Put a fired shell in the holder and raised the ram. The primer was punched out, and then the ram stopped and I cannot get anywhere with it. There is no give and the neck is not sizing. Anyone with any ideas what I'm doing wrong? I assume that the Die Cap needs to be all the way screwed in?

TIA
Dave

Go to benchrest.com and look under "factory/hybrid" and you will find an excellent explanation of how to set up your lee collet die, the explanation there is much better and more comprehensive than the instructions that come with the die. I use the collet dies almost exclusively and they work great when properly set up - my runout is so small as to be almost unmeasureable.

Thanks for the response

Quite a coincidence. Just before I read your post, I found that thread while doing a google search. Maybe I'm expecting more "feedback" than I'm actually going to get. I'm used to more friction with the RCBS Neck Dies. There really doesn't seem do be any sizing going on. There is no indication of anything on the outside of the neck. Shouldn't there be some visible indication?

Dave

You can usually see some marks on the neck but did you stick a bullet in the neck and see if it was tight? miles

It was tight before and after. Little or no detectable difference.

Dave

Just a thought. Is the depriming rod seated too deep in the die and possibly resulting in the expander ball striking the bottom of the case before the die is fully sizing the neck?
How far out of the primer hole is the deprimer pin when you can no longer size further?

Using mine, I barely notice the die squeezing the neck, but it holds. I still factory crimp though, likely not needed.

Also, if it was tight before, it may have needed very little sizing.