Making a collet?

[Tesoro]

What would be involved with duplicating a Lee neck collet without it becoming a 1000 dollar project. Doable? Thx!

 

[tac284]

Is it this one you are referring to? I don’t use them so I’m not familiar.

 

[Tesoro]

Yes and I assume it is made with some form of spring steel

 

[tac284]

Maybe a 5160 spring steel round? Is the ID of the collet just as long as the cartridge neck and then bored to a larger diameter after that just for clearance. If that makes sense?

Do they not make the one you need?

 

[GenePoole]

I don't think they are spring steel. I've mashed a few of them by accidentally driving the ram in without a case. They pry back easily and are usable again. I've also filed off burrs and they file like mild steel.

 

[CCM]

They're a pretty simple design. It's easier to just get the right caliber and trim it to whatever length you need. That's what I've done for wildcats. They're cheap.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Clear around body, shoulder angled out, neck in collet.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Wildcats? This is where the SAAMI drawings are useful.
Is the neck long enough? Is the Shoulder going to contact an AI case?
Body diameter going to fit. (I think uses the same oversize ID for many similar cases?

I used a 223 LCD (old style), shortened about 0.040", mandrel shortened to ovoid contact with the case web, for a 22 Nosler/22Nosgar.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Some collets (just the collet) are $6 from Lee.
Go to the drawings and pick a compatible part/parts you want.
https://leeprecision.com/parts-relo...necksizing-die-only-collet-die-only-243-parts

 

[Fuj]

I use and modify these parts quite a bit as I work on my wildcats.
The collet itself is soft. I have reamed a few to larger diameters,
and some to get them back to the old Lee design.

 

[WSnyder]

I’ve read that you can order a collet die with the old style neck length. Can anybody verify that? If so I would think you could order a collet only with the old neck length too.

I’ve modified one to use on a different cartridge as well. I have some 11/16” 1144 Stressproof I ordered awhile back to make a collet that I can’t get a match for. 1144 is cheap, easy to machine and pretty hard for wear.

I’d agree with the others that Lee isn’t using anything special for the collets. Certainly not hardened spring steel because you can easily bend the fingers on them.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I tried and NO. Unless you find some one with the old style in stock.

 

[GenePoole]

I haven't had to buy any new ones in years. What exactly changed old v. new?

 

[WSnyder]

I haven't had to buy any new ones in years. What exactly changed old v. new?

As shown from the above photo. They shortened the nose of the collet so a bit of the neck is exposed so it leaves a small portion unsized with a little flare at the end. Some people used to flare the front of the neck for easier bullet insertion and someone lobbied Lee to make the change so it happens in the die and not as an extra step. Was it Mic McPhearson that got them to do it? I would have preferred for them to leave it alone and those that want a flared neck could do it with the flaring tool. There’s an easy way around this but it’s an extra step and an extra partial stroke of the press.



Edit:

From the Lee website

"If you’re a long-time user of Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die you may notice we have modified the Collet so a small portion of the neck protrudes through the end of the Collet-Sizing portion. This often-requested modification was implemented in 2019.

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."

 

[Rocketvapor]

I have two of the old style 223 LCD, and try and take care of them.
The short collet on the new style doesn't really flare the case neck, just leaves it 'as fired'.
I haven't used the 22-250 shortened collect yet but then case dimensions would allow modification for several calibers. It's got good neck length and body diameter.

 

[Jon Leary]

I have made several of them. No special steel is necessary.

 

[Fuj]

I have made several of them. No special steel is necessary.

Old, worn out, 416 stainless barrels for raw stock, works for me.

 

[Tesoro]

thanks everyone.

 

[Rocketvapor]

No one dissing the Collet Neck Die?
You guys aren't really using these are you

 

[WSnyder]

You guys aren't really using these are you

HaHa! I'm curious and open to trying all kinds of stuff. I do use them on a couple of things and will add another soon once I get it cleaned up and modified. Way back a pretty successful 1K BR shooter and experimenter (Phil Bowers aka 4Mesh ) used them and I believe made some of his own which opened my eyes so I tried one. I can usually make most things work and for me they do.