Lee Collet Die issue?

[something vague]

I have been recently using my Lee Collet Die for neck sizing my .223 rounds for my bolt action. I noticed that after say 4 firings or so that I wasn't getting enough neck tension. The neck tension with new brass is fairlly minimal anyways, .0015-.002" with the original mandrel. Therefore after workhardening the cases I was getting too much spring back after 3 or 4 firings. So I made my first attempt at annelling some case necks with a drill and Bernzo torch. I don't believe I got hot enough to officially anneal to the prefered temp as I was fairly nervous about it to begin with.

Anyways, my issue is that after annealling some cases and running them through the Lee Collet die I could feel my necks grabbing the mandrel meaning there was less springback...good news. But I did notice, after loading and chambering, that some of the cases ended up with a bell just below the shoulder like the shoulder started to buckel. One case was so bad that it was very odvious and def would not chamber. What am I doing wrong with the Collet Die that would cause this? Does it mean that I need to adjust the die further out with annealled brass as it is much softer? Pretty much all 10 cases showed some sign of a buldge at that point. And while I'm at it, does .0015"-.002" seem like enough neck tension? I polished the mandrel down once as I was originally getting only .001" tension. A little long winded, sorry.

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

I'm a noob with the collet die. Have nothing to add, but anxiously awaiting replies from the experienced guys. I have not experienced this on a large scale, but have with one or two older cases. I expect I will having read your post and others.

 

[kelbro]

I adjust my collet dies so that the crimp is applied a little bit above the neck/shoulder junction. Seems to center the bullet in the chamber a little better similar to that of a PFLR.

Sounds like you may have your die adjusted too far down as I have never experienced the shoulder buckling that you have described.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Sounds like the necks are starting to work harden. I`ve noticed mine seem to work best on newer brass and some older stuff needs to be sized in one of my regular dies - Neck or FL. You could try annealing them and see if it helps.

 

[ranger335v]

Sounds to me like you're pushing too hard. It takes 20# or less lever pressure (depending on the press) to fully size a neck in that die, especially if it's been annealed.

Lighten up on the lever and see if the problem doesn't go away.

 

[twofifty]

sv, I've experienced pretty well the same thing with cases that I'd FL sized for their 2nd and 3rd firings, then Lee collet Neck Sized for the next three firings. The necks would not provide sufficient tension to hold the bullet tightly thereafter.

So I FL sized the brass instead (which brought it and the neck within spec), shot it, then was able to successfully NS it again. Have yet to try a 2nd NS, but will.

Did not anneal though.

Why FL sizing restored neck tension when NS could not is something that I wish someone could explain to me. (am asking this question here as it is relevant to the OP's area of inquiry)

 

[utk]

Check to see if the Collet fingers open up sufficiently to allow the neck to slide in. It seems the fingers start squeezing while the case is still moving up inside the collet.

 

[243winxb]

Annealling brass is best left to the factory. If you pinch the neck between your thumb and finger, and it moves, you have over done it. Brass now scrap IMO. I do not own a Lee die. Here is a link on the Lee die worth reading. http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49899