Lapua 6.5 CM small primer brass dies

[MLC]

I'm gearing up for 6.5CM and have a question regarding dies.
I'm using Lapua brass with the small primers and ordered a Lee collet die set for resizing, Forster BR seater.
Does the Lee die set come with the appropriate diameter decapping pin?

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I am pretty sure that you could just change pins..

 

[MLC]

I am pretty sure that you could just change pins..

That was my assumption as well.

 

[PatMiles]

Call Lee, know for sure.
No offense to Zilla.

 

[MSS]

You will need to file down the lee collet die decapper if you use it for decapping. I did mine and it has been fine. Put it in a drill and use a file. Be sure to file the whole pin.

 

[McHaggis]

You will need to file down the lee collet die decapper if you use it for decapping. I did mine and it has been fine. Put it in a drill and use a file. Be sure to file the whole pin.

^^^^^^ This. Did mine last week and works just fine. As far as I know Lee doesn’t make a small pin version.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I saw different size Lee de-capping pins at Midway. But as I have no Lee stuff, I don't know how it would work.. The guys above seem to have the answer..

 

[MLC]

Thanks for the input folks.

 

[rockable]

I emailed them the exact same question this weekend. Will post their answer when I receive it.

 

[MLC]

I saw different size Lee de-capping pins at Midway. But as I have no Lee stuff, I don't know how it would work.. The guys above seem to have the answer..

I forgot that the decapping pin was integral to the forming mandrel.

 

[rockable]

Here is Lee's reply.

We do not produce a smaller diameter decapping pin.

The decapping pin on the expander rod of the die is .062" in diameter, which is the standard flash hole diameter of most ammunition cases made both in the United States and foreign countries.The undersized flash hole should be enlarged with one of the commercial flash hole uniformers. Or use a 1/16 (1.6mm) drill. Uniform flash holes are helpful to uniform ignition.

If on the other hand you choose to retain the undersized flash hole in your cases, you can put your decapping/expander rod in a drill and polish down the diameter of the pin using a fine grit emery paper. This will weaken the pin and you may find that it will break when you decap fired cases.

 

[MSS]

I’ve decapped about 200 so far with no issues. I also use it on large primer Hornady brass. If you break it so what? You can replace it. I don’t see how filing off .003 - .004 can make a difference. Just don’t go too far. File and mic etc till you get there. It literally took me like 10 minutes.

 

[rockable]

I agree with you. I'e done it before, as well. I wanted to see if they offered one that I could just buy. Anyway, I have a drill press, lots of files and lots of emery cloth. No problem for me.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I made the mistake of opening my flash holes with the .062” drill.
My groups went tp crap after doing it in my SR 22-250AI. They went from .058” to .062” and changed my outcome. With careful load adjustment I was able to get my accuracy back, but it took a bit of work.
Now I don’t open the flash holes, and find no burrs to remove.
I would just use the emery and reduce the diameter.
I was able to source the smaller pins, it escapes me which company it was, sorry.

Cheers.

 

[rockable]

Redding has a universal decapping die with the small pin.

 

[Archer]

Redding has a universal decapping die with the small pin.

So does Sinclair...