Comments on: Tips for Using LEE Collet Dies

By: Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:59:01 +0000

Codes are date of manufacture via Lee website

By: Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:01:00 +0000

I read on your forum from a guy named Valentine who said use a flat washer over the brass to prevent the case head from making contact with the mandrel. I contacted Lee and told them this. The rep admitted it’s a mandrel length dimension issue. The washer works and I told the Lee rep about it and he was a little surprised but then I heard crickets. So another guy from another forum said put a spacer under the cap, so I put it between the mandrel and the collet sleeve. That beats having to remove the or work around the brass all the time.

I noticed recently there’s a code at the base of the collets F3, B6 etc…. different grades of tool steel. One is just soft carbon steel, other are tool steel. Looks like they are experimenting with steel that springs back better. As someone mentioned before here to anneal, it needs to be done, yes… however, I believe the spring back isn’t the best on these collets. When the collet drops in and out of the die body very easily it’s time to spread out the collet with a screw driver as per Lee.

By: Joseph Giuffre

Joseph Giuffre — Mon, 11 May 2020 14:29:43 +0000

when using the Lee f/l resizing collet die for the first time the decapping rod stuck inside the case. Had to cut the case in half to remove the rod. What did I do wrong. The collet already came from factory locked on the rod. Hopefully you can help me with this. Thx

By: Guy

Guy — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 16:15:30 +0000

To adjust neck tension simply move the die up or down.

By: Geocodyrgia

Geocodyrgia — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 18:06:25 +0000

Recently took advantage of the Lee custom services for my RPR in 6 Creedmoor. Sent in 2 fired cases and a Hornady 108gr ELD-M and got a note back asking if Lee could hang onto the brass/bullet to possibly make this a standard offering. YES PLEASE! Loading up now to have my first match after getting the neck sizing die, but I feel it is a great complement to my Forster benchrest full size/ seating die pair and Redding body bump die. I have the Lee collet does for just about everything I reload.

By: Joesmoe3

Joesmoe3 — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 00:51:56 +0000

BTW, old post I know – Lee still makes custom collet dies, with two fired cases. And they have ‘standard’ $78.00 and ‘large’ – $160.00

Link should be updated up top. Current link:

https://leeprecision.com/custom-services/custom-rifle-and-handgun-reloading-die-sets/

By: Stonecreek

Stonecreek — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 18:22:17 +0000

One more tip: After reaching fully “down” on your press handle withdraw the case about an inch and manually rotate it about 1/8th (NOT 1/4 or 1/2) turn while still in the shellholder, then size again. This will place the collet petals on the 4 “high spots” of the case neck and will result in a rounder, more evenly sized neck with slightly more bullet tension.

This takes only about one second more per case and is well worth the slight extra effort.

By: Guy

Guy — Sun, 04 May 2014 19:56:06 +0000

“”decapping””

By: Guy

Guy — Sun, 04 May 2014 15:26:39 +0000

One thing to note is you cant use this die with Lapua Palma brass (small primmer) unless you turn down or remove the recapping pin. The flashhole on this brass is .059, the Lee recapping pin cant be replaced and the shaft its connected to cant be moved up out of the way as its needed to size the neck so turn down or cut off is the only way.

By: Guy

Guy — Fri, 02 May 2014 16:21:06 +0000

I use the LEE collet die and the reddding bump die for my unturned lapua palma brass with excellent results. Very little run-out in the loaded rounds when run over the sinclair gauge.