Lee collet die

[broham]

I am a little confused about this die. Can you bump the shoulder back with this or does it just squeeze the neck down to where it should be. I am planning on getting a redding die set but don't know if I should go with a deluxe set(FL Neck and seater) A two die set with a Lee collet or just go for the type S set with neck bushings and micro seater. This will be for a 308 to shoot little holes at a long distance,hopefully. I just don't want to spend the dough on a set and then find out I should have bought another.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The Lee Collet Neck Die won't change the profile of the case, it will only resize the neck. Of course you should only use a Neck Die to reload cases that have been fired in your gun and use those reloads only in the same gun. (I know you already know this but a new reloader reading this thread night not)

This is from the Lee site:

Collet Die explanation

The Collet neck sizing die is superior to the competition's neck sizing die design because it squeezes the neck against a mandrel. This results in very uniform case mouth inner diameter, regardless of case wall thickness.

With bushing-type neck sizing dies, one has to select (and usually purchase) the appropriate bushing to get the desired case mouth inner diameter. Uniform case mouth inner diameter gives uniform bullet pull, and as you know, uniformity is what accurate ammunition is all about.

The Collet die set also includes what we call the "dead length" bullet seating die. This die is set up like a full length sizing die, in that one adjusts the die down so that the shell holder presses against the bottom of the die when the ram is at the top of its stroke. This pressure removes any clearance between the shell holder and ram, lever linkage, die threads and press frame, etc. and results in a more uniform bullet seating depth. Note that there is no provision for crimping in this die.

 

[steve4102]

If you plan on neck sizing, then the Lee Collet die is an excellent choice. No other die out there can match it's performance (concentricity) or price. Skip the Redding Neck die. Sooner or later you will have to FL size your brass. The Redding Body Die works perfectly in conjunction with the Lee Collet Die. For seating take your pick. I personally have found none better than the Forster BR seater.

You can also use the Lee Collet Die followed by the Redding Type S bushing die with expander removed to increase neck tension and FL your brass.

 

[YodaVader]

steve4102 , my rifle reloading is right on par with yours! I decided to give Lee's Collet Die a try and have fired some of the most amazing groups since then through my 700LTR .223! I later bought the Redding body die but have not used it yet.

And the Forster seater with the sliding bullet alingment sleeve has the been my seater of choice for all my .223 and .308 reloading.

 

[ranger335v]

"The Redding Body Die works perfectly in conjunction with the Lee Collet Die. For seating take your pick. I personally have found none better than the Forster BR seater."

Ditto.

 

[stubbicatt]

I've used the Redding, RCBS, and Forster micrometer type seating dies. The Lee Dead Length seating die that comes with the collet die at no additional cost does a great job of keeping lengths consistent and runout is very small. You might try it seeing as it came with your die set.