Lee Collet dies

[Rtheurer]

I keep reading about the Lee Collet dies and how good they work in reguards to TIR of the Neck concentricity.

I took a quick scan of Lee precisions web site to look over there offerings and couldnt help but notice not alot there for cartridges offered in this neck die. http://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/rifle-dies/collet-necksizing-die-only/ (I did notice they had more offerings in the two die set for some reason.) Very very cheap prices indeed.
What kind of Neck tension do these dies give you and is it adjustable? I also invision the NK tension being set by the size of the Mandrel itself. Can you install your own custom mandrel?
Also noticed that you can have a custom Collet die made but the price jumps way way up. So a Die for the 6XC or 6BR or 6.5X284 would be kinda expesnive.

Russ T

 

[BoydAllen]

Have you priced custom dies from any other source? Compared to other sources, Lees are cheap. Yes the neck tension may be increased by ordering mandrels from Lee, polishing down the one that came with the die, or you could make your own. For factory chambers, with unturned necks, I believe that Collet dies are the best alternative, and if you want, you can also use a Redding body die, in a two step process.

 

[Rtheurer]

I Found this after I posted.( see below) And as Mr Allen points out you can adjust the Neck tension to a certain extent.
Boyd: I have purchased my fair share of custom dies and delt with the waiting times and all. Lee shows $150 for a die to be made.. thats right up there with the best of them. I was hoping you would reply as you give great advice and are very knowledgable.
Have you used other Collet dies to neck size a wildcat? Say the 243 Die used on a 243AI with its blown out case and 40deg shoulder? Can I get .001 neck tension pretty easy?


ADJUSTMENT FOR LEE PRESSES
Screw the sizing die in until it contacts the shell holder,
plus one turn more. Run a case into the die. You will feel
the primer being extracted, then the lever will come to
an abrupt stop. At this point, the lever must be pushed
firmly (min. 25 lbs.) to close the collet and size the neck.
Extra bullet grip can be obtained by screwing the die in an
additional quarter-turn.
Other brands of presses that toggle or snap over
center at the end of the stroke provide no feel and can
damage the collet neck sizing die if adjusted as above. We
suggest the die be screwed in until the die contacts the
shell holder, plus 2 FULL TURNS This will prevent
the press from toggling over center and give the operator
feel of the collet closing.
OPTION Even greater accuracy can be obtained by
rotating the case one-half turn and sizing the case a

 

[BoydAllen]

I have not measured the neck tension that I get with the mandrel that comes with the die , but you can order what you need.

A long time back, I found that when I started shooted moly coated Bergers, that the neck tension that had held the same bullet without moly, would did not give a secure enough grip with coated bullets, so I ordered on that was .001 smaller. It worked just fine.

As to the cost of a custom set, I stand by my statement. Check it out. http://leeprecision.com/custom-services/custom-rifle-and-handgun-reloading-die-sets/
Only the really big calibers (that they didn't even used to offer) are the price that you mentioned. The rest are $60. I have been told that the standard Collet die for a given caliber will work for the AI version, but I have not tried it personally. I suggest that you call Lee. I think that they should know.

If you try them, keep us posted as to your results. I am always interested.

 

[pdhntr]

Boyd is correct on the price of the most common collet dies.

With the collet die it is also very easy to size what ever portion of the neck you want, leaving the section below unsized.

All you need to do is find or make a collar that slips over the cases as they are in position in the shell holder. As you raise the ram it will size the neck minus the thickness of the collar.

It takes some initial experimentation to get the right force on your particular press to get the neck to size properly, but once you get the feel for it, it is very consistent.

Also, regular annealing can contribute to consistency.

Jim

 

[Rtheurer]

Thanks for the great reply's.. As ussual this site gives out polite correct information and advice.

$ 60 each is a whole lot better than the $150 I got to looking at. Must have missed the normal size die in the custom section when I did my search. I was thinking thats a pretty fair chunk O' Money for a collet die at $150 bones.

Might be a while before I get around to this.. kinda out of the country for the summer.

RT

 

[memilanuk]

For some reason, I thought you could order just the mandrel, in custom sizes, for considerably less than a whole custom die.

I've been meaning to do so for some time; may have to give them a jingle sometime this week and find out.

 

[memilanuk]

All you need to do is find or make a collar that slips over the cases as they are in position in the shell holder. As you raise the ram it will size the neck minus the thickness of the collar.

Ever seen where anyone made this work on a Forster Co-Ax press? I've only ever seen it referencing presses using 'regular' shell holders.

 

[jimbo88mm]

Ever seen where anyone made this work on a Forster Co-Ax press? I've only ever seen it referencing presses using 'regular' shell holders.

Here's a guy on youtube using one with a Co-Ax:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZEas38vkKg[/youtube]

 

[ReedG]

Taking a quick look at my notes, it appears that the standard Collet Dies have .002 neck tension. My 6 PPC mandrel, for example, measures .242", so no matter what the neck thickness is (I have .270", .269", 265" and .262" chambers) when neck sized in a Lee Collet Die you get .002" (or more probably .0015") neck tension. Mandrels can be made, polished, or ordered in any size you desire.

In my custom chambers I do not use "partial neck sizing", but I do in factory chambers in order to get as good a fit to the chamber as possible. I have several washers of varying thicknesses with a center hole that closely fits over the case and with them I can size only the portion of the neck necessary to hold the bullet. This was popular a few years back, but I don't hear much about it recently. The theory being the unsized portion of the neck will serve to keep the cartridge centered in the bore. It actually works. No reason the washer not to work on a Forster Co-Ax.

 

[Flouncer]

Lee shows $150 for a die to be made.. thats right up there with the best of them. I was hoping you would reply as you give great advice and are very knowledgable.

I just received my Lee custom collet dies. The wait was 26 calender days. The fee is $60.00. $8.40 shipping. This lag time is during what would be considered the height of the shooting season, target and aspiring hunters developing loads for the fall deer and big game seasons. I requested in writing that I didn't need the bullet seater die. They sent it anyways, with the note that it is included.

 

[Flouncer]

For some reason, I thought you could order just the mandrel, in custom sizes, for considerably less than a whole custom die.

I've been meaning to do so for some time; may have to give them a jingle sometime this week and find out.

CAll them. Refreshing change to have a knowledgeable clear speaking person answer on the first call, no machine, no wait.

 

[bsekf]

I use Lee Collet dies for my 260 AI and 6mmAI, the regular 260 and 6mm work just fine. You should be very careful to make sure the die does not touch the shoulder. Measure carefully. I also use a 7-08 collet die to size the necks on my 7x444 and a 308 for the 30x444, just use a stack of washers because the case is longer. I have heard the 6PPC wil work for the 6BR, but have not tried it. I use the washer trick with Forester BR seating dies, too.

Bill

 

[DanConzo]

Interesting to note, I think the 20 yr patent is up on the Lee Collet Die next year. Who knows what could happen, others making it, etc.

 

[BoydAllen]

You can order mandrels by themselves, in custom diameters.

 

[memilanuk]

Boyd,

I was talking about the partial neck sizing arrangement. I have a Co-Ax and a Lee Collet die, yes, they work very well together. Given the rather different nature of the shell plate jaws on the Co-Ax as compared to a 'normal' Redding/RCBS/Hornady shell holder, I was more curious if anyone had made *that* work with a Collet die on a Co-Ax...

Monte

 

[memilanuk]

For some reason, I thought you could order just the mandrel, in custom sizes, for considerably less than a whole custom die.

I've been meaning to do so for some time; may have to give them a jingle sometime this week and find out.

CAll them. Refreshing change to have a knowledgeable clear speaking person answer on the first call, no machine, no wait.

Been calling... no answer, no message, nothing. Must work banker's hours or something... 0730 here should equate to ~0930 back there.

 

[memilanuk]

Interesting to note, I think the 20 yr patent is up on the Lee Collet Die next year. Who knows what could happen, others making it, etc.

One can only hope... pretty sure I'd pay a reasonable amount for a collet die made out of decent quality components i.e. not pot aluminum, with a little better internal fit-n-finish on the collet surfaces, etc.

 

[BoydAllen]

I don' believe that there are any pot metal parts on a Collet Die, and I am not sure why you would object to the cap being aluminum. I have used them for years, without any problems with that part. As far as interior finish goes, I have never seen anything that a little hand work couldn't easily fix. There is the potential that the bottom of the sleeve/collet would be deformed by misuse of the die, but if properly used, this is not an issue. In short, mine work just fine.

 

[DanConzo]

My Lee Collet Dies also work excellent, as said a little polishing and deburring and no problems for almost 20 years on some of them. Turning mandrels down to different sizes is a little tedious but not hard (better to do your own you can split a thousandts if you want). I use a standard stock 300 Wby for my 308 Baers and they work excellent. Also if you want only .001" neck tension you can order a larger caliber mandrel and turn it down, you can even make your own expander tool with these dies and slow taper a mandrel. You can even modify the Sinclair Case Neck Sorting Gauge by filing a "V" in the upper end of the pilot hole and use a Lee mandrel that is a tight fit to check your wall thickness. You can rig a collet die for a deprime die. There is probably even more things that other people thought of. They treated me well.