Lee Collet Die FYI

[46and2]

Id be interested to know the difference in length measurement on each side of the neck on that left side case

The same within less than .001. Optical distortion, the lense was probably too close to that side.

 

[46and2]

 

[jdh47]

Using the Lee collet die as a last operation before seating makes for consistent neck tension. I set my RC press to just cam over using the collet die and it works well. I like to set my cases back a couple of thousands each time. Lots of different ways to skin the cat.

 

[46and2]

I called Lee yesterday to ask for a replacement collet. They had no old collets.

I took both dies apart last night. The only difference is that the new collet is about .050" shorter. ( the reason they had no regular ones is because they probably just cut all of their remaining old style collets).

I voiced my opinion clearly to Lee on the phone. I told them that they should offer this new style as a different product as an option to reloaders.
I urge everyone to call them and tell them what you think.

 

[Hohn]

If they are saying they got a lot of requests for this, does anyone think they have reason to think Lee would make this change for no reason?


I personally think the change is harmless in light of what the die is intended for. And I can't understand for the life of me the groaning about it no longer being suitable for something *you* might use it for that the company didn't design it for, doesn't market it for, and has no obligation to consider.

 

[dolek]

If they are saying they got a lot of requests for this, does anyone think they have reason to think Lee would make this change for no reason?


I personally think the change is harmless in light of what the die is intended for. And I can't understand for the life of me the groaning about it no longer being suitable for something *you* might use it for that the company didn't design it for, doesn't market it for, and has no obligation to consider.

Do you own and use a Lee Collet Die ?

 

[46and2]

If they are saying they got a lot of requests for this, does anyone think they have reason to think Lee would make this change for no reason?


I personally think the change is harmless in light of what the die is intended for. And I can't understand for the life of me the groaning about it no longer being suitable for something *you* might use it for that the company didn't design it for, doesn't market it for, and has no obligation to consider.

In my particular case I'm using it on 300wm...which has a very short neck already. Now give the neck up to .050" less bearing surface on the bullet. Not a good thing!

 

[Hohn]

Do you own and use a Lee Collet Die ?

Yes and Yes.

 

[Hohn]

In my particular case I'm using it on 300wm...which has a very short neck already. Now give the neck up to .050" less bearing surface on the bullet. Not a good thing!

How do you know this? How much do you need?

 

[dolek]

Yes and Yes.

OK, guessing you use cast bullets then . If not I don't understand why you would not feel this new feature is a bad idea.

 

[Hohn]

OK, guessing you use cast bullets then . If not I don't understand why you would not feel this new feature is a bad idea.

No, I use only jacketed bullets.

My LCD is older and doesn't have this "improvement" but suspect that when you seat a bullet the unsized portion near the mouth becomes moot. For someone using flat base bullets, this could make seating a lot easier and more consistent.

EDIT to add: I suspect that when you measure a loaded round you will see no difference. at the mouth vs the rest of the neck. Unless you have little to no neck tension. So it ends up being innocuous.

 

[dolek]

No, I use only jacketed bullets.

My LCD is older and doesn't have this "improvement" but suspect that when you seat a bullet the unsized portion near the mouth becomes moot. For someone using flat base bullets, this could make seating a lot easier and more consistent.

EDIT to add: I suspect that when you measure a loaded round you will see no difference. at the mouth vs the rest of the neck. Unless you have little to no neck tension. So it ends up being innocuous.

I see now,you have zero experience with the new style .

 

[Murray Brook]

I've been using the Lee collet dies since the late 80's and own several. I certainly agree that when you have a short neck or when chasing the lands to the very end of the barrel life the new feature on the collet isn't the best or if you turn necks. At least with a washer/shim of proper thickness the original #'s can be maintained. I believe that Lee tried to fix something that wasn't broke.JMO

 

[dolek]

I've been using the Lee collet dies since the late 80's and own several. I certainly agree that when you have a short neck or when chasing the lands to the very end of the barrel life the new feature on the collet isn't the best or if you turn necks. At least with a washer/shim of proper thickness the original #'s can be maintained. I believe that Lee tried to fix something that wasn't broke.JMO

I agree 100 percent , wish they would have left a good thing alone.

 

[fyrewall]

I just got a new .223 R collet die. Looking at the mandrel I see that it has 2 diameters, .220 (1.740 long) & .201 (.500 long) with a short transition of about .015. Apparently, this would make it easier to enter & exit the case mouth.

The open collet measures about .278 in diameter. Adding a shim would essentially lengthen the collet allowing compression along the entire length of the neck..

I have an older .204 R collet die and like (for max accuracy) to seat 40 VMax bullets that have a short boat tail so there is not much bullet inside the turned brass neck with my rifle, like about .125. I then use a Lee crimp die after bullets are seated. The newer collet dies would reduce neck/bullet contact.

Being concerned with dwell times I take about 15 seconds to neck size the brass & rotate it 180*.

Also, if the collet gets stuck inside the part that compresses it the brass will get squashed so I periodically clean and slightly lubricate that contact point.

 

[46and2]

I just got a new .223 R collet die. Looking at the mandrel I see that it has 2 diameters, .220 (1.740 long) & .201 (.500 long) with a short transition of about .015. Apparently, this would make it easier to enter & exit the case mouth.

The open collet measures about .278 in diameter. Adding a shim would essentially lengthen the collet allowing compression along the entire length of the neck..

I have an older .204 R collet die and like (for max accuracy) to seat 40 VMax bullets that have a short boat tail so there is not much bullet inside the turned brass neck with my rifle, like about .125. I then use a Lee crimp die after bullets are seated. The newer collet dies would reduce neck/bullet contact.

Being concerned with dwell times I take about 15 seconds to neck size the brass & rotate it 180*.

Generally, I have negative feelings about this change & have started work on some kind of shim/washer.

If you shim it wouldn't that mean that the compression starts higher, leaving an un sized portion on the lower part of the neck????

 

[dcali]

I think if Lee made nicer stuff, people wouldn't be so quick to dismiss their products. I don't know about this (I don't own a collet die), but they have designed a lot of solid gear and just choose a poor level of fit and finish to keep prices down. I really wish they would offer a premium line at the same level of quality as Redding/RCBS/etc. They'd sell a ton of it.

 

[fyrewall]

If you shim it wouldn't that mean that the compression starts higher, leaving an un sized portion on the lower part of the neck????

Good point, probably, but if the base of a bullet, seated for optimum performance, was above the un-sized portion of the neck it would be of no consequence; having uniform neck tension along the entire bullet/neck contact would be best.

I think if Lee made nicer stuff, people wouldn't be so quick to dismiss their products. I don't know about this (I don't own a collet die), but they have designed a lot of solid gear and just choose a poor level of fit and finish to keep prices down. I really wish they would offer a premium line at the same level of quality as Redding/RCBS/etc. They'd sell a ton of it.

I would agree with the finish part - some of the surfaces inside that collet look sort of rough. Got to give Lee credit for making inventive stuff. Sticking collets make for buckled shoulders and that contact surface is not as well finished as it could be - polish with 400 grit, clean periodically & lightly lubricate the surface(s) that compress the collet. I can't remember reading any Lee advisory about sticking collets other than "closing the press without a case in the die and/or the die adjusted too deeply". This sticking may occur during normal satisfactory use.

 

[Murray Brook]

If you shim it wouldn't that mean that the compression starts higher, leaving an un sized portion on the lower part of the neck????

What you would do is size your case first with the collet die only, then redo with the washer/shim. This is what I do with my 6mm PPC collet die when I use it to do my 6mm BR brass. Works really good.

 

[46and2]

What you would do is size your case first with the collet die only, then redo with the washer/shim. This is what I do with my 6mm PPC collet die when I use it to do my 6mm BR brass. Works really good.

Sounds good as an option. However I located a dealer that stocks Lee replacement parts and ordered a old style collet last night.