No Neck Tension

[D.B. Cooper]

I am having great difficulty sizing my 243 Win. brass. I'm using a Lee neck sizer with previously fire-formed brass. I trimmed brass to length. After running through the sizer, a new projectile will just drop right through. I made some adjustments to the die and ran it again, and I got enough tension so that the projectile doesn't fall through, however, when I go to the seating die and seat the projectile, it just pushes right through into the case.

This is a new problem. I haven't loaded in a while because a made a large batch last year. But the last time I used it, it worked fine. Nothing has been touched since then. What is the problem here, and what is the solution? The only solution I see is to abandon neck sizing fire-formed cases and go to full length resizing.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

How is the tension before you size the brass?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Check the expander ball diameter. If that checks out fine. Full length size. If there still is not enough tension. Try annealing if you haven't annealed them in some time.

 

[FLIGHT762]

If this is the Lee collet die, you can have a couple of issues. First is not having the die adjusted properly. The Collet Die is different than regular dies and needs a different set up. You can find instructions on the net. If this brass is the same Mfg. as the old brass you sized in the past, your issue just might be the setup adjustment. The setup can be tricky.

Second issue is if your brass has very thin necks, the mandrel in the die may not be able to fully size the necks down enough because the mandrel is too big. The fix is buying an undersize mandrel @.239" for the .243. https://leeprecision.com/undersize-mandrel-.260 This link goes to a 260 mandrel, but just scroll for the .239" mandrel. The cost is only $5.00.

I bought an undersized mandrel for my 308 Win. since I have a lot of different brass makes.

If this is the Collet Die, take it apart and grease the collet, it may need some lube. That could also be an issue if you haven't used the die in a while. Try this first before ordering a new mandrel.

 

[JerkyFreak]

Are you using a Lee collet sizing die?

 

[edwardware]

a Lee neck sizer

I don't think Lee makes a fixed neck sizing die, so I'm going to assume you are using a Collet Sizing Die. Did you read the directions?

If so, check you setup by removing the colley die mandrel and checking its fit in a sized neck; it should be close or just interference fit. If it's loose, read the directions again.

If that doesn't get it, break out the mic and start measuring.

 

[Walkalong]

Get a Redding or Wilson bushing style full length sizer and be happy. Much better control of neck tension.

Edit: Or Whidden.

Throw in an expander for even better control. Sinclair, 21st century.....

 

[243winxb]

Lee Collet Neck Die. (Sold it)

35 pounds minimum pressure on lever, was needed on my RCBS Rockchucker to get neck tension. Loaded 243 win as a test of the unit. Accuracy worse then my Redding Bushing Type S Fl die.

I do not need to over work my press or my 78 year old body.


There is a "cam over" neck sizing method online using the Lee die. I did not try it. Used Lee instructions only.

 

[sparkyv]

I would try this before anything else.

The only solution I see is to abandon neck sizing fire-formed case

 

[AJC1]

Lee Collet Neck Die. (Sold it)

35 pounds minimum pressure on lever, was needed on my RCBS Rockchucker to get neck tension. Loaded 243 win as a test of the unit. Accuracy worse then my Redding Bushing Type S Fl die.

I do not need to over work my press or my 78 year old body.


There is a "cam over" neck sizing method online using the Lee die. I did not try it. Used Lee instructions only.

This was my thought, adjust for cam over and let it rest in the die for 30 seconds or so.... the smaller mandrel might also help.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

How is the tension before you size the brass?

Non-existent. Projectile drops right through.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Try annealing if you haven't annealed them in some time.

I've never annealed any cases for any cartridges I've ever loaded...ever. It has never been an issue. (Maybe my luck has run out.) But I've loaded 20-06, 243, 30-30, 44 spl...five, six times. Never annealed. I don't even know why people do it.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Are you using a Lee collet sizing die?

Yeah. Sorry. I should have put that in the original post. I just assumed there was only the one type.

I'm going to assume you are using a Collet Sizing Die. Did you read the directions?

Yes. It has been set up and operating for quite a while, and I've loaded a lot of ammo on it already. I can certainly do everything over again, I just don't understand why, after working for years, and making no adjustments to it, it would inexplicably stop working.

 

[AJC1]

Yeah. Sorry. I should have put that in the original post. I just assumed there was only the one type.



Yes. It has been set up and operating for quite a while, and I've loaded a lot of ammo on it already. I can certainly do everything over again, I just don't understand why, after working for years, and making no adjustments to it, it would inexplicably stop working.

Because brass hardens each time. As a test try a new or once fired case.

 

[murf]

go to partial full length resizing preferably with a mandrel as @Walkalong is suggesting.

luck,

murf

 

[JFrank]

Yeah. Sorry. I should have put that in the original post. I just assumed there was only the one type.



Yes. It has been set up and operating for quite a while, and I've loaded a lot of ammo on it already. I can certainly do everything over again, I just don't understand why, after working for years, and making no adjustments to it, it would inexplicably stop working.

Maybe it just broke ? Doesn’t matter just order a Wilson or Redding full length bushing type die and control your neck tension/ bullet hold.

 

[FLIGHT762]

Take the Collet die completely apart and inspect all of the components. Maybe something is broken. Grease the inside & outside of the collet. It needs to be lubed.

I use the Lee Collet die for 308 &223 with a Redding body Die. The combination makes very accurate ammo. Very low runout. My 308 40 XBKS is especially fond of the collet Die.

I have used the cam over setup, but I went back to the Lee Recommended setup. It only takes about 25 Ft.#'s of pressure to size the neck. The feel is slight, but after a while, you can feel when it is sizing the neck.

I've had no issues with my 2 Collet Dies. I do like them.

I also use Redding bushing dies and mandrels. I've found my 40 XBKS shoots better with the Collet Die & Body Die setup.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

...just order a Wilson or Redding full length bushing type die and control your neck tension/ bullet hold.

You might be right. I've wanted the Redding Competition Seating die with micrometer adjustment for a long time. The expense has kept me away. $259 for the set including the neck sizer die. That's a lot of money for reloading dies. If I can't get this to work, maybe I'll lie to myself and somehow justify it. I'm of the opinion that Redding is the Snap-On of the reloading world.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

...take it apart and grease the collet, it may need some lube. That could also be an issue if you haven't used the die in a while. Try this first before ordering a new mandrel.

That was it, and, honestly, it was something I should have done instinctively before posting here and wasting everyone's time. I took it apart, sprayed some case lube on everything (there was still lubricant inside of it), and set it up from scratch. Just finished loading 50 rounds without a problem.

PS: Does this mean I don't get the Redding Competition set with the micrometer bullet seater? Darn.

 

[Englishmn]

That was it, and, honestly, it was something I should have done instinctively before posting here and wasting everyone's time. I took it apart, sprayed some case lube on everything (there was still lubricant inside of it), and set it up from scratch. Just finished loading 50 rounds without a problem.

PS: Does this mean I don't get the Redding Competition set with the micrometer bullet seater? Darn.

No it just means you keep the lee as a backup for your new redding.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

D.B glad you got it solved.

 

[lordpaxman]

I've wanted the Redding Competition Seating die with micrometer adjustment for a long time. The expense has kept me away. $259 for the set including the neck sizer die.

Glad you found the issue. Be patient, the enablers here inspired me to get the Redding set as well, Midway has sales and sometimes puts this set on for about 200$.

 

[JFrank]

You might be right. I've wanted the Redding Competition Seating die with micrometer adjustment for a long time. The expense has kept me away. $259 for the set including the neck sizer die. That's a lot of money for reloading dies. If I can't get this to work, maybe I'll lie to myself and somehow justify it. I'm of the opinion that Redding is the Snap-On of the reloading world.

That’s why I buy Wilson.

 

[Walkalong]

That was it, and, honestly, it was something I should have done instinctively before posting here and wasting everyone's time. I took it apart, sprayed some case lube on everything (there was still lubricant inside of it), and set it up from scratch. Just finished loading 50 rounds without a problem.

PS: Does this mean I don't get the Redding Competition set with the micrometer bullet seater? Darn.

Your choice. Maybe when they start getting hard to chamber because the shoulder/body becomes an issue, then you can upgrade. It takes awhile, doesn’t happen right away

 

[jmorris]

PS: Does this mean I don't get the Redding Competition set with the micrometer bullet seater? Darn.

This cost less than one micrometer seater and allows one to precisely adjust any number of dies.