Lee Collet Neck Dies - New "feature"

Noticed something a bit strange with my 6.5 Creed cases and did some online research.

Turns out that around 2019 Lee made a change to their collet neck dies, where it now does not size the last mm or so of the case mouth. It effectively means your case comes out of the neck die looking like the case mouth is slightly flared. The portion of the neck that does not get squeezed down against the mandrel remains at fire-formed size...

The reason they provide for this is to make it easier to seat cast projectiles.

Anyway, if you see this happening with a collet neck die, now you know you have the "modern" version of the collet...

This was posted on the Oz F Class forum in Jan 20. A few pissed off reloaders as Lee didn't tell anyone at the time.
Apparently you can request the original all neck sizing but Lee require you to send the whole die back to them, they won't just send the replacement bits. Although that may have changed.
Progress eh?

Tx @zimmer, I've emailed them to see what options they offer.

Might just be the motivation I need to invest in a Wilson Neck Die ;)

Another reason not to buy Lee gear:)

It's actually a good change for 95% of users.

Flaring the case mouth helps with seating any bullet, not just cast ones.

Saves the need to waste time, doing all the neck chamfering.

I'd dispute the 95%. A lot of competition shooters use and swear by Lee Collet dies. (Lee used to even publish the collet die as at one stage holding a 1000 yd record.) They don't want the step in the neck particularly when some of the cartridges used are already short in the neck.

Maybe Lee has misjudged their own market?

With boat tail projectiles no step is required.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zimmer

I'd dispute the 95%. A lot of competition shooters use and swear by Lee Collet dies. (Lee used to even publish the collet die as at one stage holding a 1000 yd record.) They don't want the step in the neck particularly when some of the cartridges used are already short in the neck.

Maybe Lee has misjudged their own market?

With boat tail projectiles no step is required.

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And I only know one person that shoots cast in a 6.5 Creedmore

I've got 2 collet dies, not a fan.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Three O'Three

I've got 2 collet dies, not a fan.

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I've been using them for years. No complaints, just don't like the new "feature".

What specifically don't you like, maybe one of us can help you ? There are a couple of tricks to make them work well.

Rather underwhelming response from Lee :pissed off:

First off I was told to use 20 lbs of force on the ram and trim the cases....

Er, it is a documented feature listed on your own site...

Next email I am told to use a shim on top of the case holder, or to order a $ 70 custom die...

I think not...

Ordered a L.E. Wilson F/L bushing die, so I can combine body bump and neck size n one go, without stretching the neck with an expander button.

Here is what Lee have to say about the change: https://support.leeprecision.net/en/...ck-sizing-dies

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ebf

Rather underwhelming response from Lee :pissed off:

First off I was told to use 20 lbs of force on the ram and trim the cases....

Er, it is a documented feature listed on your own site...

Next email I am told to use a shim on top of the case holder, or to order a $ 70 custom die...

I think not...

Ordered a L.E. Wilson F/L bushing die, so I can combine body bump and neck size n one go, without stretching the neck with an expander button.

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Takes 25-30lbs to get the neck tension I need

And how do you determine 25-30 lbs of force? Got a gauge (make that a gage) on the press handle, torque wrench in place of the handle?

I just went ahead and ignored their instruction to not cam over and do exactly that, cam over, just. Rotate case maybe 45 degrees and repeat. Get very consistant neck sizing (confirmed with pin gauge).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zimmer

And how do you determine 25-30 lbs of force? Got a gauge (make that a gage) on the press handle, torque wrench in place of the handle?

I just went ahead and ignored their instruction to not cam over and do exactly that, cam over, just. Rotate case maybe 45 degrees and repeat. Get very consistant neck sizing (confirmed with pin gauge).

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@zimmer. I welded a socket to the base of the presses handle to attach a torque wrench. No cam over on my press.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Three O'Three

@zimmer. I welded a socket to the base of the presses handle to attach a torque wrench. No cam over on my press.

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That's hard case!

But seriously If your press dose have cam-over then they should work fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Three O'Three

@zimmer. I welded a socket to the base of the presses handle to attach a torque wrench. No cam over on my press.

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Ah nice one @Three O'Three . Maybe you should advise Lee as their 25 to 30 instruction is meaningless otherwise.

I would also advise that it is possible to damage their collet die by using excess force. With one of mine it started to bind internally after a couple of hundred rounds. Where the wedge section goes into the sliding plug the plug had developed an edge that was binding inside the die body. I had to dress the damage off. I doubt the metal quality is that great.

Once you have those little flutes engraved into the case mouth they dont seem to come out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zimmer

Ah nice one @Three O'Three . Maybe you should advise Lee as their 25 to 30 instruction is meaningless otherwise.

I would also advise that it is possible to damage their collet die by using excess force. With one of mine it started to bind internally after a couple of hundred rounds. Where the wedge section goes into the sliding plug the plug had developed an edge that was binding inside the die body. I had to dress the damage off. I doubt the metal quality is that great.

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@zimmer. Apparently Lee make a kit to attach a torque wrench to their presses?