Lee collet die set up?

[BoydAllen]

On the issue of Lee lock rings not being locked to the die: If you put a split lock ring (I use Hornady) on a die above the Lee ring, with some space between them, and then set your Lee ring, you can lower the other ring till it stops the Lee ring, and then tighten it securely. Because of the nature of V threads, the upper ring will increase in thickness slightly near its ID and be locked to the Lee ring, as well as the die. If you put an index mark on the press, and on the Lee ring, you can return the die to its setting the next time that you put it in the press. One little reminder, If you want to retain the advantage that the Lee's O ring gives, you need to remember not to tighten it so that the metal part of the ring contacts the top of the press. I use this system with my PPC FL die, so that I can get to the beginning of my fine adjustment range quickly (when the O ring just touches the top of the press) and make fine adjustments quickly within the range of compressibility of the O ring. The die stays where I put it after the correct adjustment for a particular batch of brass is achieved. This setup works very well.

 

[1holeaddict]

On the issue of Lee lock rings not being locked to the die: If you put a split lock ring (I use Hornady) on a die above the Lee ring, with some space between them, and then set your Lee ring, you can lower the other ring till it stops the Lee ring, and then tighten it securely. Because of the nature of V threads, the upper ring will increase in thickness slightly near its ID and be locked to the Lee ring, as well as the die. If you put an index mark on the press, and on the Lee ring, you can return the die to its setting the next time that you put it in the press. One little reminder, If you want to retain the advantage that the Lee's O ring gives, you need to remember not to tighten it so that the metal part of the ring contacts the top of the press. I use this system with my PPC FL die, so that I can get to the beginning of my fine adjustment range quickly (when the O ring just touches the top of the press) and make fine adjustments quickly within the range of compressibility of the O ring. The die stays where I put it after the correct adjustment for a particular batch of brass is achieved. This setup works very well.

If measuring the outside diameter of the necks before and after sizing what are the expected differences in the outside diameter. Im getting .005 difference and wondering if this is the norm.

 

[BoydAllen]

The OD before sizing is a function of your chamber neck diameter, and the OD of the sized neck is a function of neck thickness and mandrel diameter. For factory chambers, and unturned necks, I would imagine that what you have is pretty typical.