Thread: Lee collet die issue

I seem to be having an issue with my collet die. I am pretty sure its me just setting it up wrong but after reading the instructions several times I still can't see what.

I put the die in my press, screwing it down until it hits the shell holder than an extra full turn (I have tried 2 extra turns ). But when I put a case in there is no resistance and no sizing is done. I pulled the die apart unscrewing the top cap, inside their is a decapping pin, some sort of collar and the collet is held in the die body. If I place a case in it comes to the top of the collet but there is no compression. The collar appears to be what applies the pressure when the top cap is screwed in. I put it all back together and still no joy. I put one washer in above the collar below the cap and it started working but not enough to hold a projectile. After adding a second washer I can now get enough neck tension to hold a projectile.

I am sure its me being a spoon but I can't for the life of me see where I am going wrong, but I shouldn't be having to put washers in to make it work.

Yep I had to use a washer with my 223 collet but worked sweet after that so all good

When I first started using the lee collet dies I found that my shitty lee progressive press flexed too much and hence I did not get the operation done consistently, drove me mental. Once I swapped to a decent ie robust single stage RCBS press I then could set it up OK.

ie the Lee collet die does seem to be a bit of an art to set up and use.

How I set up the 223R, 308w and 303brit is,

I screw the collet die down til it touches the shell holder. (Un-fortunately I have a 223R RCBS shell holder as the Lee one seemed too lose/sloppy so maybe the RCBS is thicker? I cant find the Lee one to compare).

Then insert a case and screw the collet die down bit by bit "bumping" the case as I go getting full arm movement) until I reach the point that I dont get full arm movement any more, as the collet die is simply too low.

I then back off the collet die 1/2 ~ 1 turn until I do get full arm movement again and then adjust it up and down until I am happy with the projectile to neck fit.

I then check the first few cases to make sure the "feel/fit" is the same.

Another way to do it is use the FL die but backed off a long way and operate the press slowly screwing the FL die down bit by bit. You will see the neck start to get reset/squashed further and further down until about 3/4 of it is done, then stop.

What I do find is using the FL die is usually results in a tighter projectile fit (or it seems to take more effort to insert anyway) than the collet die, but from what I can read when the projectile is inserted it forces the neck open so the end result is using the bullet as the collet pin/swagger a force for which its not designed to do. ie I have less confidence it is a consistent quality round.

Thanks very much for that Steven. My press is an rcbs jr3 so the press itself is solid but I do feel the ram has a bit of flex in all the joints when you apply pressure.

Yeah I don't want to oversize the neck and I noticed with the washers in I was really scraping the outside of the neck on my 6.5x55 brass. I gently inserted a projectile and it seemed OK as I could start a boat tail by hand. I only tried 2 bits as I wasn't happy with how it was setup. I will get the calipers out and have a measure and see how much neck tension I am getting with the washers.

Give the mandrel a touching with some wet sandpaper in a drill if you need more neck tension. I had a .270 collet die that did the same. My 6.5 and .308 ones seem ok from the box.

Single Station Die Adjustment - Lee Precision

Originally Posted by TeRei

Single Station Die Adjustment - Lee Precision

Thanks for that, I will try again this evening!

There is a right way and a wrong way to set these up. Try this one mate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhTUgytUGnM

Thanks Gibo, I watched them after the Lee video, definitely looks like I am setting it up wrong.

Quick question though is the collet supposed to slide/move inside the die body? I see in the ammosmith video he removes the collet but I can't get mine out very easily.

Yes it should. I had to use force to remove mine and gave it a hone with wet and dry so it was a easy fit. I put it in my drill to hone it

Cool, I will exert a bit more pressure then and get it out to give it a clean up.

Thanks again!

All good mate. I had to remove the cap and tap it out the top. I used a bit of dowel that fit up from the bottom.

Originally Posted by Gibo

All good mate. I had to remove the cap and tap it out the top. I used a bit of dowel that fit up from the bottom.

Bro at times you come across almost semi intelligent


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Originally Posted by BRADS

Bro at times you come across almost semi intelligent


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Ahhh shuddup

Ammosmith sadly doesnt seem to be do videos anymore....