Why Only Lee?

[jcwit]

It is posible that you guys are satisfied with looser tolerances, or just dont load as much as i do.
I cranked out 2,500 rounds of 9mm this weekend.

WOW! Thats alot!

 

[Striker Fired]

Gentleman,it is time to give it a rest.Nothing furture can be gained at this point.

 

[Constrictor]

Have you tried making an index mark on the two pieces of the die with a marker so that you can see that they really are rotating? Otherwise, it *could* be something else in your setup that is causing a change in depth... I take it that the bullets are getting seated less the more bullets you reload? If so, that would seem to preclude that it is just a buildup in bullet lube in the seating die...

Lee's instructions for setting up some of the dies says to screw in the die until it just touches the brass and then to back it off or increase it (dependent upon the die you are talking about) another half turn. Since the dies do not have index marks, getting exactly a half turn is a bit hit or miss. I use a Sharpie permanent marker to put index dots on my dies so that I have a point where I can see what is rotating.

Actually no i havent marked them. but i did was put duct tape around the top ( i took the opportunity to remove for photo and ill put new on) and this has worked fine. the rounds havent started creeping out in over 15,000 rounds on the 38 special now. I dont see how anything else could be moving because with the tape it stays acceptable.
I mic every round and use a single stage press to push any in that are over .001 long.

I am perfectly happy with me lee dies or i would replace them.

 

[jcwit]

I like shooting and totally enjoy the time spent at it.

I enjoy reloading and the time spent at it.

There is no way I have time to mike every round I reload whether to .001 or to .005.

Further one needs a bullet comparator to truly measure cartridges not just a set of calibers or a mike and measure OAL.

 

[kingmt]

Wow. You will load that much & mic every one but don't take the time to find out what is really going on with the dies.

I understand you didn't ask for help which makes your opinion about them not carry much value. Even after all that the Lee fans are so sure of the product they still want to help you.

I still have questions. First I wonder why you care if they're withen .001". Then I wonder it they are all same headstamp. If they are all trimmed the same, bullets measured, crimped in a different step, & on...

 

[RustyFN]

thats the theory, but its a bad design. all 5 of my lee die sets walk out to different degrees. periodically i change o rings and it helps some. But they always walk out without some duct tape around the top.

I don't know if the design has changed but I doubt it. I have been loading 9mm, 38/357, 45 auto and 223 with Lee dies for five years and thousands of rounds and have never had that problem. I use the dies on a classic turret and Dillon 550. And my lock rings fit on the top of the tool head for my 550.

 

[Constrictor]

Wow. You will load that much & mic every one but don't take the time to find out what is really going on with the dies.

I understand you didn't ask for help which makes your opinion about them not carry much value. Even after all that the Lee fans are so sure of the product they still want to help you.

I still have questions. First I wonder why you care if they're withen .001". Then I wonder it they are all same headstamp. If they are all trimmed the same, bullets measured, crimped in a different step, & on...

wow, again your not listening. i figured out what was wrong with my dies many years ago and they are working fine now. It takes me a long time to mike them, i bring em to work and do them in spare time. I do size the cases every other time, except 9mm which usually are single time reloads.
My opinion about lee dies is just as valid as anyone else's, and isnt biased because i use them and actually prefer them despite their flaws!
Of course they are all the same headstamp! i make my ammo in "lots" give them a lot number and enter on spreadsheet. every time i open a new box of bullets, new lot, different headstamps, new lot, different lot of primers, new lot, different can of powder, new lot.
Now i dont claim to be a good shot whatsoever, but i do shoot in a local competition and need all the help i can get.

 

[jcwit]

This sound alittle like the guy we have at our range that buys new Star cases and loades them up, brings them to the range, shoots them, and leaves the cases for the rest of us.

I get lots of once fired Star cases this way.

 

[jcwit]

Are you measuring OAL or using a bullet comparator to measure length? If you are measuring from the tip of the bullet your measurement means nothing as its inaccurate from one bullet to another, even if they are match bullets.

 

[Constrictor]

This sound alittle like the guy we have at our range that buys new Star cases and loades them up, brings them to the range, shoots them, and leaves the cases for the rest of us.

I get lots of once fired Star cases this way.

the reason a rarely pick up my 9mm brass is i have 2 5 gallon buckets full of once fired brass. I always pick up my other brass, particularly 44 mag brass. The 44 autos loose a ton of brass.

 

[Constrictor]

Are you measuring OAL or using a bullet comparator to measure length? If you are measuring from the tip of the bullet your measurement means nothing as its inaccurate from one bullet to another, even if they are match bullets.

I am measiuring the oal length. this may not be the best way i dunno? im just doin everything i can to make the best ammo. 30 years worth of loading experience and im still learning!

 

[CollinLeon]

I am measiuring the oal length. this may not be the best way i dunno? im just doin everything i can to make the best ammo. 30 years worth of loading experience and im still learning!

For consistent pressure, you probably want the distance between the base of the bullet and the bottom of the case to remain the same. If your bullets are varying in length, either due to slight variations in their lengths or due to inconsistencies in the pressure used to seat them (i.e. the nose was flattened a few thous during the seating process, more so on one bullet than another), it would result in the base of the bullet being a different height above the base of the case (i.e. different case volume) even though the OAL of the cartridge is still the same. Theoretically, at least... For myself, as long as it chambers and goes boom, I'm happy enough since I don't load to the max nor do I shoot competitively...

 

[jcwit]

Here's a discussion on the same subject on another site with the same conclusion I put forth.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=137776