Lee Collet Die FYI

[Iowa Fox]

What they should have done is continue on with the original design and instruct the few people wanting .050 unsized neck to just surface grind off whatever they want.

 

[gman47564]

im a big fan of the lcd.. but all of mine are the older style... i suspect lee changed this with the though of folks using their crimp die as the final step which would size the end of the case that is not being sized with the new style collet... like everyone else i wish they had left it as it was... and will call them and voice my opinion... whether it does any good or not... lol

 

[dolek]

I just checked my latest, sure enough it's the new style...bummer .

 

[bradb]

Are you seeing any difference on target with your new style

 

[bozo699]

Are you seeing any difference on target with your new style

Doesn’t have anything to do with that.
Wayne

 

[Ringostar]

Lee pushes their crimp die, if you used the crimp die the part of the neck no touched by the collet would get sized. Just thinking!

I use the washer system to alter a collet die. 6PPC to 6BR and 6x47L, 7-08 to 7x444 and 280, 308 to 30X444 and 30-06. You can't go the other way! Wish someone would make a universal collet by caliber and spacers to adjust length. You do have to be careful using a standard collet on an AI case. You can bump the shoulder, so you use a shim. As long as 3/4 of the neck is sized, I'm happy.

I’ve been telling this to people on here for years. Whenever someone would mention paying to get one custom made for 284 Win. I would inform them that the 284 case will work in the standard 7x57 die. Just use one washer so that it doesn’t contact the case shoulder.

 

[sqrlgtr]

Thank you for your feedback. This change allows the portion of the neck that protrudes above the Collet to remain in its fire formed condition. This provides a natural flare to the case neck allowing easy and concentric seating of bullets. This is especially important when seating cast bullets or low drag coated bullets.

Noted author and cartridge designer M. L. McPherson has suggested this modification for years for its ease of use, better function and improved accuracy.

Thank You,

Laine
Customer Service

This is a reply I got from Lee when inqured about old vs new collet die.

 

[46and2]

Thank you for your feedback. This change allows the portion of the neck that protrudes above the Collet to remain in its fire formed condition. This provides a natural flare to the case neck allowing easy and concentric seating of bullets. This is especially important when seating cast bullets or low drag coated bullets.

Noted author and cartridge designer M. L. McPherson has suggested this modification for years for its ease of use, better function and improved accuracy.

Thank You,

Laine
Customer Service

This is a reply I got from Lee when inqured about old vs new collet die.

Yeah, that is a copy and paste generic response I've read on another forum.

 

[sqrlgtr]

Yeah, that is a copy and paste generic response I've read on another forum.

yeah must be what they email to everyone.Thats was the response I got from the email I had sent them hadnt seen it no where else though.

 

[46and2]

I personally called them and said my peace. I don't know if it fell on deaf ears or not.

 

[bradb]

They did say if ordering custom they will do them the old way if specify

 

[Iowa Fox]

Thank you for your feedback. This change allows the portion of the neck that protrudes above the Collet to remain in its fire formed condition. This provides a natural flare to the case neck allowing easy and concentric seating of bullets. This is especially important when seating cast bullets or low drag coated bullets.

Noted author and cartridge designer M. L. McPherson has suggested this modification for years for its ease of use, better function and improved accuracy.

Thank You,

Laine
Customer Service

This is a reply I got from Lee when inqured about old vs new collet die.

Me thinks either John Lee and McPherson are buddies or McPherson blew enough of his hot air at the folks at Lee they caved into him. Years ago I read one of his articles and it wasn't even close to my experience.with the same factory cartridge.

 

[bsekf]

There you go, if you want the old system, order a custom die.

 

[bozo699]

There you go, if you want the old system, order a custom die.

Why not if you happen to need one of the new useless ones you special order it and put the ones that work back on the shelf!... there won’t be many that will disagree with that logic!
Wayne

 

[Uncle Ed]

Or you could just buy a Forster full length die and have the neck honed to your desired diameter.

FL Bushing Dies vs. Honed FL Dies
https://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/reloading/fl-bushing-dies-vs-honed-fl-dies/

 

[ReedG]

The thing the Lee Collet die does that no others do is size the neck to the inside dimension. If you are shooting .243 bullets and want .002 of neck tension, then size the i.d. to .241, regardless of the thickness of the neck. Sized in a Lee Collet die, a case with .015 necks and one with .0085 necks will all size the i.d. to the same dimension. As an example, I have a 6PPC benchrest rifle with .0085 necks and a Cooper factory rifle with .0135 necks: they both size perfectly in the Lee Collet die with no lube. I also have the gamut of custom dies made by the gunsmith, Harrell's, etc. and they all seem to work fine for one certain spec, but not with the flexibility and no-lube of the Lee. The unimpressive finish of the Lee Collet die makes it a hard sell with competitive shooters, but regardless they are a work of art for sizing a neck to a proper dimension with little to no run-out.

 

[Bluetip]

I could never make myself like the Lee collet die and preferred Forster full length dies.

Every time I tried to get the same inch pound reading the duct tape would rip and the string would break.

You should try the John Valentine method with these dies. I must agree, the published method is a pain, but the valentine method uses the cam over in your press, but to a lighter degree. It is very effective. My es, and sd are cut in half due to that crimp.

 

[Uncle Ed]

You should try the John Valentine method with these dies. I must agree, the published method is a pain, but the valentine method uses the cam over in your press, but to a lighter degree. It is very effective. My es, and sd are cut in half due to that crimp.

My torque wrench photo was a joke and first posted here when someone said they attached a torque wrench to their press to get uniform pressure on the collet and case neck. The joke was my torque wrench was attached in my photo with duct tape and string.

This makes me think you have very poor vision or you don't have a sense of humor.

P.S. I copied John Valentine's method years ago, but I found it easier to just not use the cheaply made Lee collet dies. I prefer using Forster full length dies.

 

[bozo699]

My torque wrench photo was a joke and first posted here when someone said they attached a torque wrench to their press to get uniform pressure on the collet and case neck. The joke was my torque wrench was attached in my photo with duct tape and string.

This makes me think you have very poor vision or you don't have a sense of humor.

P.S. I copied John Valentine's method years ago, but I found it easier to just not use the cheaply made Lee collet dies. I prefer using Forster full length dies.

I think we all know how you feel about the perfectly built Forster dies Ed
Wayne

 

[Uncle Ed]

I think we all know how you feel about the perfectly built Forster dies Ed
Wayne

Wayne there is nothing wrong with repetitive subliminal suggestions and soon it will be imprinted in everyone's mind.

Did I tell you I really like Forster dies.