Lee Neck sizing die broke.

[hangingchads]

Anyone have problems with the collet neck sizing die that Lee makes? I have had mine for over 3 years but tonight using about the same about of force (25lbs or so the instructions say) and the aluminum top cap stripped off.

I contacted Lee and I am sure they will take care of it as they have always taken care of me in the past, even if its just the cost for a new top cap that is fine.

I was just wondering if anyone has had one break on them. I find it strange that the top cap is aluminum and the rest is steel. Maybe a breaking point?

Just a little bummer as I have a bunch of 308 left to resize.

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

Common occurrence.

 

[Crazy Dog ll]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

Serious about reloading? Always have a couple of dies of same calibers on hand in event this happens. Learn this way back when reloading for a deer hunt!

 

[Country]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

You are using too much force. If you start with an unsized case.
adjust the die down a small amount at a time and keep testing the fit of a bullet in the case mouth. When it suddenly stops the bullet from entering the case mouth it is very close to correct. Remember the amount of force it took to achieve this and thats how much to use all the time.
If you are caming the press over center then you are caming it too much. To strip the top cap out takes a massive amount more than 25lbs.
Ignore any reference to poundage it is missleading. Just work off how much it takes to get it to size correctly and stop there. I can size a 223 with one finger on the press handle a 308 with just a gentle push down to a very slight cam over .
It's not the dies fault it's you I am afraid , no disrespect inteneded . Another thing is the collet taper may be bone dry and galled. When you geta new die clean up the tapers and put some good bearing grease on them. Makes the die work way better.
Also make sure the cuts in the collet are clear of any obstructions .

 

[hangingchads]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

Hmm well in my experience if you have to say no disrespect its probably worded in a way that someone would take it as disrespect but no biggie I understand.

I probably did have a little too much force as I have not reloaded 308 in a long time and I have done pretty much what you said in terms of little bit of pressure til its where it needs to be and remembered that pressure. Unfortunately for my die I think I may have forgotten that pressure of the long period of not using it.

In my defense however the die has never been right. The top cap has been lose in threading since I bought it. If you unscrw the tension of the top cap it would move up and down quite a bit. I was always told don't worry about it.

In any since of the matter Lee is sending me another top cap.

On a different note I am thinking about getting a Redding neck sizer, the one without the bushings. Anyone recommend the redding or another brand that I can keep on hand or use in place of the lee and switch up to the lee in a backup case? I have redding body sizer and really like it.

Thanks.

 

[Country]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

I have the same issue on one of my Lee colllet dies. The cap thread is sloppy but it has never busted right out.
I feel that the die tapers have got dry and galled up over time and you have got out of practice on the handle . If you are using the no cam over method there is no place to stop applying the pressure .
As you go along sizing cases you tend to put more and more force on without realising it.

If you are using the cam over method then you are caming over way too much . It should gently pop into place at the top of the stroke.
There is a lot of force at the very end of the stroke in a compound lever press.
With the Lee collet die it only takes very small increments of turning the die to stop it sizing or go too far.
This is why some people have trouble setting it they just move the die setting too much back and forth each time and never find the sweet spot.
You may be unlucy in as much as your die cap may have been a bit weak in the threads or something but I still feel you are not using the die properly. You have to keep the top cap screwed down tight all the time. I thought I was being very gentle with you and respectful.
The lee collet die takes a bit more maintainance and practice than normal dies .
All Redding dies are good quality .
In a swirling sea of crap engineering and Chinese flotsam Redding still stands as a shining lighthouse to lead the way to safe harbour .

 

[hangingchads]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

All good info and vary useful. Hopefully I can be more gental on the new cap. Thanks for the info!

 

[Enios]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

Sounds like it might have missed the flash hole. I've not stripped a cap but have had that happen and it wasn't very nice, got new mandrels. Also had the collet to stick in up position even with it lubed with Perma lube. Just another reason I parked all my Lee's and use Redding dies for the most part now. Crushed a neck or two that way and pulled some off. Never had that problem with any of the other neck sizers I use

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

That loosly threaded Lee alum top cap is designed exactly that way for a reason and it seems to have performed perfectly.

The cap is intended to strip out rather than damage the body of the die or the press itelf. The 20# of suggested lever pressure is for a Lee press, 20# of pushing down on a "cam-over" press when the ram is near top dead center produces massive ram pressure! I've used those dies for years in my RC press without a problem but I'm very careful as to how I adjust the die.

 

[Country]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That loosly threaded Lee alum top cap is designed exactly that way for a reason and it seems to have performed perfectly.

The cap is intended to strip out rather than damage the body of the die or the press itelf. The 20# of suggested lever pressure is for a Lee press, 20# of pushing down on a "cam-over" press when the ram is near top dead center produces massive ram pressure! I've used those dies for years in my RC press without a problem but I'm very careful as to how I adjust the die. </div></div>
I agree totally .

 

[5R Milspec]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

and I always make sure that I put an index mark on top of the cap to give me a good place to start my adjustment to the die.and even make sure the cap is screwed down all the way.

 

[leathel]

Re: Lee Neck sizing die broke.

Managed to strip one of mine last night....It was a 260 one that had been modified to take a 6.5BR.....but being a short case it is working at the cam over part of the press....so even though I have several collet dies and done thousands of rounds still managed to get the feel wrong at that part of the stroke.....I have the parts to sort it so no worries just thought I would add what has already been said....make sure it isn't working at the top of the stroke where it cams over....

I will have to see if I can sort a way to get the die lower with my 6.5BR modded die...