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Lee collet neck sizing die #6882572 09/09/17 02:51 PM
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TackDriver Offline OP
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I have only used Redding dies in the last 25 years and heard good things about the Lee collet die which squeezes the neck onto a precision mandrel. It's something I would like to try but I have a couple of questions,,,can I fully size ( Redding Type S ) the fired brass without a bushing and then use a Lee neck sizing die afterwards?

Would the mandrel perfect the necks better than just a bushing? Since the bushing perfects the outside of the necks, but not the inside, but the Lee mandrel would do both sides, right? The inside is what matters most because it is what holds the bullet straight to the bore axis.

Is this the die?
http://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/rifle-dies/collet-necksizing-die-only/

Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6882588 09/09/17 03:17 PM
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It sounds reasonable to me if you are using the Redding Type S Full Bushing Die. It seems to me that die without the bushing would do the same thing as a Redding body die.

In my opinion, the collet die will usually yield a straighter case neck because you're not "dragging" the case neck over an expander. The collet die also sizes the ID of the neck to the mandrel and that's an advantage over a die that uniforms the OD of the neck. If the neck thicknesses are perfectly uniform, I suppose it would be a toss-up.

One thing I really like about the collet die is that no case lube is necessary. That in itself is worth the price of admission, but in my opinion (based on observing videos of experiments) the collet die offers the straightest case neck you can get.


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Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: RiverRider] #6882637 09/09/17 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted By: RiverRider
It sounds reasonable to me if you are using the Redding Type S Full Bushing Die. It seems to me that die without the bushing would do the same thing as a Redding body die.

In my opinion, the collet die will usually yield a straighter case neck because you're not "dragging" the case neck over an expander. The collet die also sizes the ID of the neck to the mandrel and that's an advantage over a die that uniforms the OD of the neck. If the neck thicknesses are perfectly uniform, I suppose it would be a toss-up.

One thing I really like about the collet die is that no case lube is necessary. That in itself is worth the price of admission, but in my opinion (based on observing videos of experiments) the collet die offers the straightest case neck you can get.


Are the dies in the link the correct dies I am looking for? Aren't there any custom neck collet dies better than Lee? I hear Lee is one of the best.

Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6882706 09/09/17 06:05 PM
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The link is correct, TD. I'm not aware of any other manufacturer making collet dies, but then again I have not really looked. When you've never seen an alternative you don't know what you might have been missing...but I'm perfectly satisfied with Lee Collet dies.

I'd recommend looking at prices here:

https://fsreloading.com/

They carry Lee stuff and offer really good deals now and then. Another place to look:

https://www.titanreloading.com/


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Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6882710 09/09/17 06:08 PM
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Thanks RR. cheers

Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6882711 09/09/17 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted By: TackDriver
Thanks RR. cheers


Side note I forgot to add, I usually take the expander off the Type S dies and use the small black button with decapper only which do not touch the inside of the necks at all and run it through a bushing.

Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6882975 09/10/17 01:55 AM
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Good info RR.

So with this die, if you are shooting a bolt gun and the brass was fired through that gun only, then this is all you should need, right? You really wouldn't need a FL sizing die at all?

Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6883014 09/10/17 02:59 AM
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Theoretically yes although after some number of reloads they might get a little tight and be difficult to close the bolt on. I have loaded 221FB brass over a dozen times with a collet without FL sizing.


"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

Jack O'Connor 1963
Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6883024 09/10/17 03:08 AM
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What DStroud says...and you can get a Redding body die that will size everything BUT the neck. You can use these when chamber fit starts getting a little to cozy.

I have FL die sets for every cartridge I shoot, from way back, and I've acquired Lee collet dies and Redding body dies more recently. I have no experience yet that says I must keep and use the old conventional FL sizing dies. I'm not ready to dump those old FL dies yet, but I do believe I'll never need them again.


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Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6883040 09/10/17 03:31 AM
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I use the Lee Collet dies with my bolt guns as well; 30-30 Win (yes, a bolt gun), 300 Savage (special order), 308 Win, 7.62X39, 303 British, and a 35 Rem (Rem 600).

Like the others have noted, you will still need a FL die as after a few collet sizing the bolt will not close as slick as you are used to. I use this point to go ahead and anneal the brass, FL size, and start the brass cycle again.

One thing that I would like to point out is that you can get custom mandrels on Lee's web site, over and under, in .001" increments. http://leeprecision.com/lee-custom-services/


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Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6883070 09/10/17 04:38 AM
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Interesting. Thanks for the info DStroud, RR, and RD.

Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: TackDriver] #6883077 09/10/17 05:14 AM
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lee will also make custom collet dies for cartridges they do not normally make them for. You have to send them $, brass from your gun and the bullets you intend to load.

For the few I have I follow what RD described. If you ate not pushing the pressure high you will get more loadings from the brass before needing the resize.

Nice list RD. My boltaction 30-30 is a Remington 788.


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Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: kmon11] #6883097 09/10/17 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted By: kmon1
Nice list RD. My boltaction 30-30 is a Remington 788.

Sweet! A 788 30-30, along with the 44 Mag, are as rare as hen's teeth! My 30-30 is a Savage 340 that I made into a scout.



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Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: Ranch Dog] #6883196 09/10/17 02:04 PM
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I have a couple. You can hone the mandrel down to get the exact size you want. Very consistent.

Jeff

Re: Lee collet neck sizing die [Re: Ranch Dog] #6883454 09/10/17 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted By: Ranch Dog
Originally Posted By: kmon1
Nice list RD. My boltaction 30-30 is a Remington 788.

Sweet! A 788 30-30, along with the 44 Mag, are as rare as hen's teeth! My 30-30 is a Savage 340 that I made into a scout.



I have three of the 'Savage' bolt 30-30s. One with bedded stock and 3-9x scope, one with receiver sight and one with open sights. First was bought to shoot odd .308 bullets that I had and could reload and liked the rifle so much I bought 2 more.


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