Thread: Lee Collet Die Decapping Pin Removed

While we're on the subject of collet dies. What's the best lube for the collet?

I have never used any lube with my Lee collet die. I use Inox when body sizing with my Redding die, unconventional I know but works very well and is quick n easy. I usually fold a small denim rag into about 3 or 4 layers to give it bulk, which helps it conform to the case shape, spray it with a bit of Inox, then lightly roll the case over it. If you want to use lube for neck sizing this would probably work as well as anything.

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

Hi all. Will removing the decapping pin from a Lee collet die mandrel have a negative affect with the neck sizing operation in any way? Thanks

Greetings @Three O'Three and All,
Both the Lee Collet dies and the Lee Loader kits are noted for producing straight cases. To my mind the decapping pin on the mandrel in the Lee Collet die performs an essential part of keeping the mandrel and hence the neck straight and should never be removed. Some, but not all, conventional neck and full length sizing dies can pull the neck of line when the expander button is pulled through the neck. This can be reduced, or eliminated, by running the sizing button into the case to expand the necks as a separate step. This allows full support to the case head in the shell holder rather than just part of the rim. Adjusting the expander ball as high up in the case as possible can help as well but means you have to de cap as a separate step, something I do anyway. John Barsness did an excellent article on this in Handloader a couple of years back.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS. Many have problems with the Collet die not sizing the necks enough to grip the projectiles after a couple of loads. This is due to brass hardening and can be eliminated by annealing the necks. Many target shooters anneal case necks for every load.
GPM.

There maybe some confusion with my original question? I wasn't referring to operating a collet die without the mandrel but cutting the decapping pin off the mandrel and operating the die with a pinless mandrel some I can neck size primed cases.

For some reason people got the impression I was removing the mandel, No

There is no problem at all doing what you've done

Originally Posted by flock

For some reason people got the impression I was removing the mandel, No

Attachment 203239

What you did is what I was asking about. Does it affect neck sizing in any negative way like neck runout?

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

What you did is what I was asking about. Does it affect neck sizing in any negative way like neck runout?

no. I take it out and dont notice any difference

No, run out is 2 thousandths or less, more often 1 thousandths, which is what I expect. Even after FLRS I use the collect die to true up the run out and create even neck tension.
By the way my FLRS is Lee as well. Have had all the flash stuff Redding flrs, S bushing neck dies, neck turning on & on my concentricity got worse; I'm not shooting a Match chamber so wasted my time & money, aint nothing wrong with the Lee gear.

Not wanting to start a new thread but kinda related. I’m wanting to use my Lee FL size die on virgin brass to just ‘uniform the neck’/ remove dented case mouths without bumping the shoulders at all.

I’ve done this with Hornady dies by just running the brass up past the expander but not all the way into the die. It was quick because I didn’t have to lube or clean the whole brass casing.

With Lee dies can I just back the die off a turn? Will this still let the mandrel do its thing?

Fark it I’ll just chamfer and load em from the box

Only thing I do with new brass is make sure none of the necks have been squashed. They get run through something if that's the case... I try to only use Lapua or Norma or equivalent level brass - compare it to Hornady, Remington or Winchester and the weight differences and case length in some cases is noticeably higher in terms of variation when compared to the Euro breeds.

Yea I hear you, the last batch of lapua had quite a few dented necks but I've got some alpha on the way which claims to be packaged so it's gtg