New Lee Collet die not resizing, what!

[Paul]

Well I finally got myself a Lee loading press (and thank you for the info an advice offered previously), a cast steel with the breech lock system - Classic Cast Breech Lock. Looks good. Got a Lee collet die in .308 and also a Redding set (including a FL and neck) for the 22/250.

However I am having some issues with the 308 Lee Collet die. I installed it as suggested and even watched some vids of others doing like wise. Seemed like I was dong everything OK.

The problem is that it does not seem to be compressing the necks in any way, and .30 cal projectiles just slide straight down the neck. I raise the ram and don't feel any resistance at all. It almost seems like the die is too long for the .308 cases.

Any suggestions as to why this is happening?

Hoping for some wise insights

Cheers,

Paul

[bladeracer]

Well I finally got myself a Lee loading press (and thank you for the info an advice offered previously), a cast steel with the breech lock system - Classic Cast Breech Lock. Looks good. Got a Lee collet die in .308 and also a Redding set (including a FL and neck) for the 22/250.

However I am having some issues with the 308 Lee Collet die. I installed it as suggested and even watched some vids of others doing like wise. Seemed like I was dong everything OK.

The problem is that it does not seem to be compressing the necks in any way, and .30 cal projectiles just slide straight down the neck. I raise the ram and don't feel any resistance at all. It almost seems like the die is too long for the .308 cases.

Any suggestions as to why this is happening?

Hoping for some wise insights

Cheers,

Paul

You need to push it past the point that it feels like it's bottomed out. That last bit is what compresses the collet around the neck. Helps to clean and lube the collet so it moves freely in the die. If you disassemble it you might better understand how it works too.

[Blr243]

The force required to size a neck by strictly compression onto the mandrel ( did I use ther correct word to describe the internal shaft.? ) Is always s going to be considerably greater than by gliding a lubed case vertically into a conventional sizeing die Crank that sucker. I had same prob first time I tried useing a lee collet die

[marksman]

off the top of my head l start at screwing the die down til it touches the shell holder, ram up, then another 1/2 a turn try fit a bullet by hand if it isn't tight l will go another 1/8 turn at a time till l can push pull the bullet and it wont move, l have had differences because of different shell holder thickness,
l do like those dies especially if you are not neck turning

[SCJ429]

As Marksman said. Keep adjusting the die until you get a couple of thou of neck tension. If you have to use some force to resize your brass, stop and reset the die. The collet dies need very little effort to do their job, if you are forcing it, you will break your sizing die.

[Paul]

Thanks guys, I think I was just being a little tentative. I have now got some discernible neck tension so will go back to scratch and reposition the die at the top of the stroke and work down from there. Really appreciate the input from you all and solving my 'press newby' issue. BTW, sure beats hand sizing with the Lee hand loader and vice

Cheers,

Paul

[in2anity]

FWIW using an undersized mandrel is also a way of increasing neck tension, if you think you need it. You can turn them down with a drill and some fine sand paper. Spares, and even undersized variants can be found on the bay.