Lee neck collet die for 6 XC

[rsbhunter]

Just wondering if a 243 win. Lee collet die could be used to neck size the 6xc case? Would appreciate any info on the possibility....Thanks, rsbhunter

 

[ballisticxlr]

Not sure about the Lee itself but I used the same neck sizing die for .243AI and for 6XC during some testing. I betcha a dollar it'll size them necks just fine.

 

[rsbhunter]

I thank you for the info, I thought it might, but there's alot of knowledge on this sight to call on.....Thanks much, rsbhunter

 

[Flatshooter]

A 243 is to long to size a 6xc but a 6mm creedmoor works great. I use a lee collet in the creedmoor.

 

[rsbhunter]

Thanks for the info..rsbhunter

 

[tomswede]

Lee made me a die for 6XC, not expensive. Great service.

 

[Iowa Fox]

A 243 is to long to size a 6xc but a 6mm creedmoor works great. I use a lee collet in the creedmoor.

I have been looking for a old style 6mm Creedmoor collet die for over a year with no luck. Lee really messed up a good thing.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I have been looking for a old style 6mm Creedmoor collet die for over a year with no luck. Lee really messed up a good thing.

How so?

 

[Mark W]

How so?

The new ones don’t size the hole neck anymore. They leave a flair at the mouth that reminds me of loading a pistol case. I doubt it makes much difference in accuracy, but it sure looks goofy.

 

[bsekf]

If the 6XC case is shorter than a 243, the answer is yes, just use washers as spacers. Pay attention that you don't bump the shoulder in the collet die.

 

[Michael C]

I use a 6 Creedmoore Lee collet die to good effect on my 6XC. Fortunately, I got an older one I guess b before any changes. I just used it yesterday to size some brass for Saturday‘s 3x1000.

 

[RegionRat]

If the Lee folks read here at all... everybody makes mistakes and the key is not to stick to them....

Another vote for put it back like it was, size the whole neck please.

If a rifle shooter wants to add a flare, they will do it just before seating not during sizing.

On the other hand, the amount of trouble this causes when you have three-way trimmers, and the fact that it is an inadequate flare to boot, means it is a perfect mess for most of us.

 

[Fuj]

I lucked out when I modded the 7/08 collet die for my SA284.
A second die I picked up was the newer version. Major mods
to it in the lathe to make it work for the much shorter ELF.
I was lucky to find an expandable carbide reamer in my tooling
and reamed it. I lucked out again on the slots having just enough
squeeze clearance on a no turn neck. Another skin the cat, and
pun intended !!

 

[Ringostar]

Wouldn’t using a washer or two help negate the flair on the new design? It should keep the case from going as far into the die.

 

[RegionRat]

Wouldn’t using a washer or two help negate the flair on the new design? It should keep the case from going as far into the die.

This collet is actuated by being pushed up by the shell holder, so the "washer" has to be a horseshoe shape held in place on the shell holder or to be a ring placed on there for every case. So yes, you could do this or make an extended shell holder. But, that would leave that amount of the neck un-sized at the shoulder junction.

Either way, a huge mistake on Lee's part to unilaterally modify a popular rifle die for the sake of a minority of the users who could have more easily added a flare step if they needed one just before seating, than to create a problem for the majority of us who needed a legitimate neck sizing operation to work with other tools and processes.

It would have been better for those that wanted this change, to have Lee offer the modification than to force all of us to swallow it unwanted. It is an easy shop modification to the old die, but an irreversible issue once cut. I will no longer be able to use it since it interferes with normal trimming processes and adds an inconsistency in neck tension. It is a shame if they don't reverse the change.

 

[Ringostar]

I do understand how they work. I use one of the old design in 7x57 to size 284W brass necks. I slip a washer over the case down to the shell holder. This keeps the shoulder of the case from bottoming out in the die and actuates the collet. It was a lot cheaper then having a custom die made for 284.

 

[SKWERLZ]

As long as there’s room in the die the Lee collets are easily modified

I’ve made 7 saum and 338 edge collets.