Undersize Die

[coonan1911]

Has anyone used a Lee undersize die and had success or are they just a gimmick or do they really work????

Regards
coonana1911

 

[Longhorn 76]

I never used one, but got some brass that had thin walls. It wouldn't hold the bullet very tight. I figured I could try and sort out all the brass, or try the undersized Lee. 9mm. It sizes the case small enough that it "Coke bottles" all of my loads. I like it, and use it for all the 9's.

 

[[email protected]]

I use one in 9mm and 40s&w when I load FMJ bullets. My regular LEE dies will not size most cases down enough. I full length resize with my regular dies and then run the cases into the undersized die to just below where the bullet stops in the case.

 

[rg1]

I've got one for 45 ACP and use it only for some old thin brass to get better bullet tension. Thought I'd get one for 40 SW as some once fired cases that I've bought which were slightly bulged near the case head but the Undersize Die made the situation worse and left a tapered ring where the die stopped. I thought it'd size farther down than my standard die but it being undersized it left a ring where it stopped. Needed to have a little more taper at the mouth of the Undersize Die? So I like it for thin brass and higher bullet tension but my 40 SW Undersized Die is a disappointment and doesn't work for bulged or swelled areas next to the case head.

 

[Hondo 60]

My regular LEE dies will not size most cases down enough.

Hmmm very strange,
You must be using some undersized bullets, or have oversized dies.
I have 11 sets of dies (9 of 'em Lees) and have never had any issue with 'em not making the brass small enough.

 

[ranger335v]

The term "small base die" only applies to bottle neck sizers and then - usually - only to those cartridges used in autoloaders, generally .223 and .308. A SB die is normally about 3 thou smaller in diameter at about 3/16" above the case head. If Lee makes any SB dies I don't know it and I'm not interested enough to research it.

 

[[email protected]]

It not really a small base die, but more of an undersized sizer. Midway USA sells them and you can call LEE direct to order them as well. My bullets are not undersized and that was the first place I started looking. They Load lead rounds really well since I size 9mm at .358, but FMJ and plated gives me problems. That is with both 40 and 9mm mostly using FC brass.