Lee collet dies vs. neck-sizing with regular FL dies?

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platypus

Bearcat
Joined
May 17, 2011
Messages
9
Is there any REAL difference in using the Lee collet neck-sizing dies compared to simply backing out regular full-length RCBS or Hornady dies just a bit to neck-size rifle cases? If so, what are the nitty-gritty details and which will give me better brass life and accuracy? (I'm reloading mostly for the basics like .223, .22-250, .308, .30-06, 7mm Mag, and .338 Mag. I also will be starting with .22 Hornet soon). I understood that if neck-sizing only, I need to stick with the same bolt action rifle with a particular lot of brass as well as full-length size for semiautos and lever actions. I'm not shooting paper so sub-MOA accuracy isn't quite as important to me as is brass life...although I love to get as much accuracy as I can just like anyone else. Any help is much appreciated!

--Platypus
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,933
Location
missouri
I only have one set of collet dies and don't use them much. The advantage is less case stretching during sizing. Since I have multiple rifles per caliber, I normally full length size everything. Just my opinion BUT, I wouldn't use necksized brass for hunting anything except varmints. Some of my tight chambered rifles balk on even full length sized cases.
 

platypus

Bearcat
Joined
May 17, 2011
Messages
9
I was thinking something along the same line as you regarding full-length sizing any brass I was going to take out hunting. I do, however, enjoy shooting many of my rifles at coyotes and jack rabbits, etc. to practice up for when I actually do get to go use them doing the "real thing". Obviously I'm not doing this every weekend with my .338 Win Mag and 7mm Rem Mag, but I do go out quite a bit with my .30 cal rifles and smaller...so brass life is quite a concern of mine. If anyone reading this has much experience with both Lee Collet dies as well as neck-sizing with regular FL dies by backing them out a bit, I would love to learn from you! Thanks!
 

kelbro

Single-Sixer
Joined
Nov 15, 2007
Messages
329
Location
NC
The Lee collet dies work very well. Limited case stretching and they produce very straight ammo. Couple them with a Redding body die and you're good to go.
 

CLAYPOOL

Single-Sixer
Joined
Nov 2, 2010
Messages
388
Location
Southern Illinois
Rotate your cases 1/2 of a turn and resize a second time..that is practiced by a lot of reloaders for improved neck aliment (sp)...
 

pbslinger

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
168
Location
Missouri
I like them a lot. They make very accurate loads with little effort. Use some fine wet or dry to deburr the slots in the collet where the collet touches the neck. Appy a little grease on the tapered part of the collet that touches the screw in part that holds the decap pin.
 

Rick Courtright

Hawkeye
Joined
Mar 10, 2002
Messages
7,897
Location
Redlands CA USA
Hi,

My experience w/ the Lee collet die is limited to one caliber, .303 British, which CAN be a bugger on case life. It's been recommended just to neck size that cartridge for as long as I've paid attention to such stuff...

Now, I started w/ a rifle that had a headspace problem which made the problem worse, and if I could get three firings from a case (full length sized) I thought I was doing well. Got the headspace squared away and gained another firing w/ full length sizing, and sometimes two if I did the "poor boy's" neck sizing drill w/ my FL die instead of FL, so 4-5 firings became the norm.

Then a Lee collet die showed up on the porch. And since putting it in service, I've got brass w/ SEVEN firings that's still good for at least one more. I normally trim and anneal my other rifle brass after five firings. Doing that w/ the collet sized brass showed almost no need for trimming.

So my one experience has been good! I FL size all my '06 ammo as it may get shot in more than one rifle, but plan to add a collet die for that caliber and see what happens w/ some brass dedicated to just one rifle next time I rotate some new brass into the mix...

Rick C
 

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