After several failed attempts to get the Lee collet die working accurately, I'm ready to move on to a different way of neck sizing. I have called Lee, watched all the videos, read the faq's and talked with folks that love it and still cant get t working. To get the neck size to change ends up buckling the shoulders. Just enough pressure before it buckles results in no size difference. What does everyone use to decap and resize rifle necks with?
308 Neck sizing fail
- Thread starter donno
- Start date
I don't neck size, and will never neck size again. I have done it in the past with varmint rifles, but sizing the brass in the chamber sucks, and doesn't offer any benefits.
Are your necks too thick? This could cause buckling of the shoulders. Are you trimming your brass? Brass may be too long and could cause that.
Are your necks too thick? This could cause buckling of the shoulders. Are you trimming your brass? Brass may be too long and could cause that.
Any FL sizing die will work. Order of preference for me from high to low:
Redding
Hornady Custom Grade
RCBS
Lee.
You can stay away from high end neck bushing and competition seating dies until you really know what they do and why you would want to use them.
Redding
Hornady Custom Grade
RCBS
Lee.
You can stay away from high end neck bushing and competition seating dies until you really know what they do and why you would want to use them.
You can’t adjust this die to change the neck size. It sizes the neck to one size. If you want mir or less neck tension you have to replace the mandrel.
And if you really want to change neck tension then you want to FL size with a bushing die, or use separate FL and bushing dies.
Redding Type S Bushing Full Length Sizer Die 280 Ackley Improved (midwayusa.com)
The fact you are asking these questions though tells me that you are a ways away from need to muck about with neck tension. Not a dig at you, as we all started out knowing nothing. Get the basics down first, just like fundamentals of marksmanship are the foundation of everything.
Redding Type S Bushing Full Length Sizer Die 280 Ackley Improved (midwayusa.com)
The fact you are asking these questions though tells me that you are a ways away from need to muck about with neck tension. Not a dig at you, as we all started out knowing nothing. Get the basics down first, just like fundamentals of marksmanship are the foundation of everything.
Also, these neck dies are caliber specific. Are you sure you have a 308 die? Look at the collet skirt. It’s engraved on there.
New to reloading 308, not necessarily new to reloading. I have for past 10 years reloaded 223 but have a guy that processes it for me. Might need to get him into 308 processing also. Not trying to change neck size on brass. The problem with die is set it up and less than 1/8 turn crushes necks. Did exactly like Lee recommended for set up. Two full turns after shellplate crushes neck. Backed all way out to 1/2 turn and measured neck. No change in neck size. Add 1/8 and there goes the neck. The skirt is stamped 308. So I’m wondering if it could be miss stamped. Waiting on call back from Lee. Full length is looking better and better.
I use imperial dry neck sizing lube to come down slowly on the neck sizer before locking it in. the lube will leave a powder mark showing where it stops.
I run collet die in several calibers including 260/308/300WM. Love them. Set up on a rcbs rock chucker to cam over.
You have something wrong or the collet is hanging up. You should take the die apart when you get it. Check for burs, clean, polish and lube it. Takes about 10 minutes to tear apart and make sure it’s working correctly.
The lee collet against my Redding bushing dies and a few others still produces some of the most concentric rounds
Only time I’ve crushed a case was when sizing immediately after annealing. The collet grabbed the neck early and crushed it it.
This is likely what is going on with your die/brass. Grabbing the neck early. The collet presses the “fingers” against a mandrel. The mandrel is one size and controls the neck size. Mine has always been .0015-.0002” neck tension with these dies.
It’s possible your necks on your brass are to thick coupled with heavier expansion in your chamber.
I always anneal, clean the inside of necks with brush, clean the outside of necks with fine steal wool, then size. Lapua or Nosler brass
Have used mine for thousands of rounds without issues since my crushed shoulder when I first used the dies. Still one of my favorite dies.
I use:
Lee collet/Redding body die
Or
Redding FL sizer with bushing
Take apart your die, clean, lube, check for burs, start with the bottom of collet touching shell holder with ram in upper position. Insert a clean piece of fired brass (mandrel must slide freely into neck) in shell holder. Run the brass in the die while bringing the die down 1/8 turn each time. Every time removing the brass and trying to slide a bullet in the neck by hand. When your close you’ll feel resistance in the neck. Start with caliper measurements on the outside of the case neck. Another 1/8 turn or so should be close. The brass will only size so far and you’ll feel the resistance on the ram.
My 308 runs .0015” tension. If I want more tension I’ll need to downsize the mandrel or order a custom one
I use no lube when sizing necks with collet
You have something wrong or the collet is hanging up. You should take the die apart when you get it. Check for burs, clean, polish and lube it. Takes about 10 minutes to tear apart and make sure it’s working correctly.
The lee collet against my Redding bushing dies and a few others still produces some of the most concentric rounds
Only time I’ve crushed a case was when sizing immediately after annealing. The collet grabbed the neck early and crushed it it.
This is likely what is going on with your die/brass. Grabbing the neck early. The collet presses the “fingers” against a mandrel. The mandrel is one size and controls the neck size. Mine has always been .0015-.0002” neck tension with these dies.
It’s possible your necks on your brass are to thick coupled with heavier expansion in your chamber.
I always anneal, clean the inside of necks with brush, clean the outside of necks with fine steal wool, then size. Lapua or Nosler brass
Have used mine for thousands of rounds without issues since my crushed shoulder when I first used the dies. Still one of my favorite dies.
I use:
Lee collet/Redding body die
Or
Redding FL sizer with bushing
Take apart your die, clean, lube, check for burs, start with the bottom of collet touching shell holder with ram in upper position. Insert a clean piece of fired brass (mandrel must slide freely into neck) in shell holder. Run the brass in the die while bringing the die down 1/8 turn each time. Every time removing the brass and trying to slide a bullet in the neck by hand. When your close you’ll feel resistance in the neck. Start with caliper measurements on the outside of the case neck. Another 1/8 turn or so should be close. The brass will only size so far and you’ll feel the resistance on the ram.
My 308 runs .0015” tension. If I want more tension I’ll need to downsize the mandrel or order a custom one
I use no lube when sizing necks with collet
After a long conversation with Lee this afternoon I think we have an issue with the collet. Started from scratch: took apart, clean lubed, spread the fingers, put back together. First piece of brass took some finessing (which it shouldn't) but inserted into collet, I could feel the travel and stop resistance. Ejected the case and it was sized correctly but the neck was scratched and had noticeable scaring around it (also not correct). Second piece of brass crushed at neck by same procedure. The neck crushed before it pushed primer out. In fact the primer did not move at all. Lee will be replacing the collet. Thanks for the help and tips everyone. Thought for a while I was loosing by mind.
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