OK, I have a set of lee dies, that have never been used before last week. I deprimed, cleaned, preped and primed about 250 rounds while i waited for my bullets in the mail. When i finally got them, I quickly found that my neck size was way to big, allowing the bullet to drop into the case with no resistance. after doing some research, i found that his is apparently a common problem with lee dies. So i ordered a set of rcbs dies to replace them. The question now is, what can i do with all the primmed brass?
.308 dies out of spec???
- Thread starter Reaper21
- Start date
Re: .308 dies out of spec???
When you get your RCBS dies, when you take it apart to clean prior to using, remove the decapping pin and resize your primed brass.
When you get your RCBS dies, when you take it apart to clean prior to using, remove the decapping pin and resize your primed brass.
Re: .308 dies out of spec???
Yea, i tried it without the decap. theres just no bite at all in the die. Im going to see if lee will do anything about it, the dies are old but this is the first time ive used them. I have other sets from them and never had any problems at all.
Yea, i tried it without the decap. theres just no bite at all in the die. Im going to see if lee will do anything about it, the dies are old but this is the first time ive used them. I have other sets from them and never had any problems at all.
Re: .308 dies out of spec???
"... after doing some research, i found that his is apparently a common problem with lee dies."
Interesting. I've been loading a very long time and have used quite a few die brands; I've never found Lee's dies to be different from any others.
If you get a different die set and want to size again but save the primers, simply remove the decap pin or screw the decap assembly up so the pin doesn't make contact.
"... after doing some research, i found that his is apparently a common problem with lee dies."
Interesting. I've been loading a very long time and have used quite a few die brands; I've never found Lee's dies to be different from any others.
If you get a different die set and want to size again but save the primers, simply remove the decap pin or screw the decap assembly up so the pin doesn't make contact.
Re: .308 dies out of spec???
Fuzzball- I found it odd too, I have other lee dies and have never had a problem. I found a few different people on forms that have the same problem. It doesn't make sense, I don't see how it could only happen to a few people. I could very well be doing something completly wrong along with the few others but I don't know what that could be. I haven't been loading for a "long time" (~3yrs) but I haven't run into this problem before and I havent changed anything besides the dies.
Fuzzball- I found it odd too, I have other lee dies and have never had a problem. I found a few different people on forms that have the same problem. It doesn't make sense, I don't see how it could only happen to a few people. I could very well be doing something completly wrong along with the few others but I don't know what that could be. I haven't been loading for a "long time" (~3yrs) but I haven't run into this problem before and I havent changed anything besides the dies.
Re: .308 dies out of spec???
Did you use the Lee neck sizing die on the bullets that dropped through? If yes, then you may not have used enough force on the press to resize the case neck.
When new, these dies are pretty stiff. I think I took one set of mine apart and went over them with brake cleaner, then a bit of 600 grit to make a smooth surface for the collet to slide on.
Try resizing one case, putting a lot more force on the press handle than you think you need, then see if the bullet is larger than the neck diameter.
Did you use the Lee neck sizing die on the bullets that dropped through? If yes, then you may not have used enough force on the press to resize the case neck.
When new, these dies are pretty stiff. I think I took one set of mine apart and went over them with brake cleaner, then a bit of 600 grit to make a smooth surface for the collet to slide on.
Try resizing one case, putting a lot more force on the press handle than you think you need, then see if the bullet is larger than the neck diameter.
Re: .308 dies out of spec???
Should you try to resize the necks without the decapping stem installed, you might find them too small. Instead, why not try backing out the decapper until it resizes the necks without depriming.
Should you try to resize the necks without the decapping stem installed, you might find them too small. Instead, why not try backing out the decapper until it resizes the necks without depriming.
