Lee Die is Collapsing Case Necks -- Advice?
- Thread starter gbr7519
- Start date
Albany Mountain
Silver $$ Contributor
I love mine in about 3 calibers
I just wish they had kept the neck length the same as the "Old Style".
(I'll pay postage
)
Full length dies at the poor end of the scale seldom work out well. When you have to lube inside necks just to keep from stretching a case or turn necks to keep from over working brass sizing down then back up sounds like a project to me. Maybe some day I'll give bushing dies a try. Just get an assortment of bushings, and the shell plate set for each caliber and put the files away for good.
Somehow the expense of the improvements offered by some manufacturers doesn't seem reasonable, especially for multiple calibers. Burrs and rough surfaces don't seem to be limited to the cheap Lee dies.
Other threads here show some gnarly accumulations of brass inside other brands. Usually from user error.
I've really come to like the simplicity of the Redding body die followed by the LCD.
For a little extra bump for a gasser I don't have a problem shaving a couple thou off the bottom of the body die and adjust, instead of buying the 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 set of shell plates, a set for each caliber. As far as trashing annealed brass, it's not that soft. Proper technique trumps spending more to prevent damage.
I use a progressive in single step mode. I can see where someone could have a "feel" problem doing multiple steps at once. It's faster but you lose feel.
Almost done with my Midway birthday cart. Getting a couple body dies, even a spare for the 22 Nosler;
Birthday Price
List price was $56.25 our price was $38.99 now $17.14
and going to try modifying the 22-250 LCD as a spare for the 22N
Birthday Price
List price was $29.98 our price was $22.49 now $18.56
and a couple more Lee 4 hole turrets
Birthday Price
List price was $15.00 our price was $11.99 now $9.29
and spare undersize LCD mandrels for several calibers
Birthday Price
List price was $5.00 our price was $4.99 now $3.10
and bullets, and a lot of 10 cent springs and pins
(I'll pay postage
)Full length dies at the poor end of the scale seldom work out well. When you have to lube inside necks just to keep from stretching a case or turn necks to keep from over working brass sizing down then back up sounds like a project to me. Maybe some day I'll give bushing dies a try. Just get an assortment of bushings, and the shell plate set for each caliber and put the files away for good.
Somehow the expense of the improvements offered by some manufacturers doesn't seem reasonable, especially for multiple calibers. Burrs and rough surfaces don't seem to be limited to the cheap Lee dies.
Other threads here show some gnarly accumulations of brass inside other brands. Usually from user error.
I've really come to like the simplicity of the Redding body die followed by the LCD.
For a little extra bump for a gasser I don't have a problem shaving a couple thou off the bottom of the body die and adjust, instead of buying the 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 set of shell plates, a set for each caliber. As far as trashing annealed brass, it's not that soft. Proper technique trumps spending more to prevent damage.
I use a progressive in single step mode. I can see where someone could have a "feel" problem doing multiple steps at once. It's faster but you lose feel.
Almost done with my Midway birthday cart. Getting a couple body dies, even a spare for the 22 Nosler;
Birthday Price
List price was $56.25 our price was $38.99 now $17.14
and going to try modifying the 22-250 LCD as a spare for the 22N
Birthday Price
List price was $29.98 our price was $22.49 now $18.56
and a couple more Lee 4 hole turrets
Birthday Price
List price was $15.00 our price was $11.99 now $9.29
and spare undersize LCD mandrels for several calibers
Birthday Price
List price was $5.00 our price was $4.99 now $3.10
and bullets, and a lot of 10 cent springs and pins
Last edited:
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
IMO the most important thing for a new LCD user to remember is that you should never operate the die without a case. That is in the instructions but, I know that many do not read instructions. I have to laugh thinking about a friend who bought one and then called me to tell me that it did not size his necks at all. You can guess why. I always tell people that the first thing that they need to do is to take the die apart so that they can see how it works. I have friends who have gotten dies that required detailing to work properly, but that is not difficult to do. Luckily, I never have. All of mine worked fine out of the box. For those of you who insist on not following the directions, I have operated mine differently than directions by setting up the die so that I feel the very lightest toggle wth my Rock Chucker, just so that you can barely detect it. It has worked fine that way, but of course simply following the directions does too.
Why?
Because we want to follow the leaders at the prize table.
What is the favorite set of dies for SR, LR, ELR?
Because we want to follow the leaders at the prize table.
What is the favorite set of dies for SR, LR, ELR?
You need to shoot better than them to be the leader! I bet any of em could outshoot you or me using box ammo
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
The 21st century bushing neck die does it even better… and its on sale tomorrow 20% off
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Not a lee anywhere in there
OK, sale starts at Midnight
For 22 Nosler looks like I need
Expander Die Body $42.00
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel: 221 $21.50
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel 2215 $21.50
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel: 222 $21.50
Neck Sizing Inserts: .249
with Neck Sizing Die Body:
Short $94.98
Neck Sizing Inserts: .248 $29.99
Subtotal
$231.47 less 20% Black Friday = $185.18
Not quite enough for free shipping.
Plus maybe tax?
If I only got one Neck sizing insert and one mandrel $158.48 less 20% = $126.78 plus etc.
I use two different brands of brass, necked down 6mm Hagar and 22 Nosler/Dogtown with 2 neck
thicknesses, 0.013" and 0.014" for a loaded neck diameter of 0.250" and 0.252". Looks like the .249 insert and .2215 Mandrel would work with the .252 neck and maybe the .247 insert for the .250 neck.
For 22 Nosler looks like I need
Expander Die Body $42.00
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel: 221 $21.50
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel 2215 $21.50
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel: 222 $21.50
Neck Sizing Inserts: .249
with Neck Sizing Die Body:
Short $94.98
Neck Sizing Inserts: .248 $29.99
Subtotal
$231.47 less 20% Black Friday = $185.18
Not quite enough for free shipping.
Plus maybe tax?
If I only got one Neck sizing insert and one mandrel $158.48 less 20% = $126.78 plus etc.
I use two different brands of brass, necked down 6mm Hagar and 22 Nosler/Dogtown with 2 neck
thicknesses, 0.013" and 0.014" for a loaded neck diameter of 0.250" and 0.252". Looks like the .249 insert and .2215 Mandrel would work with the .252 neck and maybe the .247 insert for the .250 neck.
Last edited:
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Too much
Lee seater doesn't work well with long skinny bullets.
I have the latest revision of the Hornady ELD seater stem.
Works with the 85.5 and the 88ELD.
I'll do some thinking on the 21st Century sale.
I should be able to use the Birthday $17 Redding Body die for sizing and bump with the items I selected above. Right?
Now I have to figure which of my other calibers to upgrade.
Prize table here I come.
So far with the Midway order and Staball 6.5 from Powdervalley I've spent about 6 months of next years COLA
I have the latest revision of the Hornady ELD seater stem.
Works with the 85.5 and the 88ELD.
I'll do some thinking on the 21st Century sale.
I should be able to use the Birthday $17 Redding Body die for sizing and bump with the items I selected above. Right?
Now I have to figure which of my other calibers to upgrade.
Prize table here I come.
So far with the Midway order and Staball 6.5 from Powdervalley I've spent about 6 months of next years COLA
Last edited:
might be fine for those who turn necks. I dont.
Last edited:
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Got nothing to do with turning necks. Its all about infinitely adjustable neck tension. You can pair it with a mandrel die if you go along with the imperfections pushed to the inside school of thought
They seem to have some gaps in the neck bushing sizes.
For my .224 calibers it's limited to .248 and .249.
Maybe special order? or hone to fit?
The mandrels are in half thou increments.
That's not exactly infinitely adjustable.
Thanks Dusty, I see your later post.
I can probably make a good guess on bushing and mandrel size that would cover both necks I use for the 22N. At worst maybe two of a different size.
and if my groups don't shrink I'll get my money back?
For my .224 calibers it's limited to .248 and .249.
Maybe special order? or hone to fit?
The mandrels are in half thou increments.
That's not exactly infinitely adjustable.
Thanks Dusty, I see your later post.
I can probably make a good guess on bushing and mandrel size that would cover both necks I use for the 22N. At worst maybe two of a different size.
and if my groups don't shrink I'll get my money back?
Attachments
Last edited:
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Theyre still new and thats just the ones in stock from testing. @Petros284 will make you any size
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.