fulll size vs. collet

[mrmiskin]

Well I have graduated from some .223 into the .270 and 30-06 and have run into a collet sizing die. No if I am reading right once the brass is fired it is form fitted into the chamber of your rifle and there is no reason to full size any more. What exactly does the collet die do just flare the neck back out so you can reload?? Should you full size from time to time to make sure that you dont have bulged cases?? OK Thats it for now and thanks in advance for the information

[Jack]

I think you're looking at the Lee collet neck sizer- which sizes just the neck.
You'll get different opinions about whether you need to full length size cases after they've been fired in your rifle.
My opinion is that you'll end up wanting to full length size at some point, if not every time, so you'll end up buying a full length sizing die. For game hunting, getting the last tiny bit of accuracy isn't really needed- but perfect functioning is. For that reason, full length sizing is often the way to go on game loads.
There are so many factors involved, it's difficult to give an ironclad yes or no answer.

[Brithunter]

Hi There,

I have and use several Lee Collet dies, and after several re-loads the shoulder will need to be bumped back as they get difficult to chamber so eventually you will need a norml sizing die. Lee must realise this as in their Deluxe die set you get a collet and normal sizing die.

[Catfish]

I have been a big believer in neck size only dies for a long time, but I do not like the Lee collet dies. They do work, but you have to set them to cam over the top with a fair amount of presure. You will hear alot of people tell you that you will have to set back your shoulder with a FL dies every few loadings, but these are people that have never necked sized only or are running pretty high presures. Personally I like neck size only dies and dip the case necks in Mica mixed with number 12 shot. I seen Midway had a brush set of some sort to apply mica to case necks, but I have been doing it my way since the 1970`s and see no reason to change now. I started useing graphite back then and it worked just as well, but mica seem to be alittle cleaner. With the collet dies you do not need the lube but I load on a progresive press and don`t need the extra hassel of the collet dies, besides I don`t like the line they leave on the case necks. Just so you know where I`m comming from, I don`t like anything Lee. I think it`s to cheaply made and will not hold up under the volume of ammo I load.

[mrmiskin]

Yes you are right it is a lee set of dies and thanks for the information.

[Win75]

Originally posted by Brithunter
Hi There,

I have and use several Lee Collet dies, and after several re-loads the shoulder will need to be bumped back as they get difficult to chamber so eventually you will need a norml sizing die. Lee must realise this as in their Deluxe die set you get a collet and normal sizing die.

I also use Lee Dies, both Collet and regular.

I have never had a problem with Lee Dies.

At the present time I am not reloading in volume but have in the past and Lee has performed well.

I have not had to bump the shoulder on my cases after using the Collet Dies but I don't push the maximum load in my firearms either.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

As I said I have collet dies for several cartridges and yes high pressure is one reason for having to set the shoulders back but as this was when handloading for a .300 Win Mag in a Ruger No1B it was not a real problem, traded the rifle off so no longer load for the Win .300. I have not had to do so as yet in standard chamberings except 6.5x55 and I am loading for two different rifles in that so try to keep the brase seperate.

As for gettign lines down the necks??:confused: cannot say I have ever noticed them but it sounds as the necks are on the thick side to me. When changing brass make or lot I carefully check for excessive pressure and adjust accordingly :) .

[Dan in the Delta]

I use the Lee collet neck dies for every cartridge I load for except the 7.65mm Mauser. I think they're great.

One thing I do when I first get one of these dies is take it apart and polish out the tooling marks on the beveled portion of the collet and from the mouth of the collet sleeve. (In other words, where the collet and sleeve slide against each other during operation). I then apply a dab of grease around the mouth of the sleeve. Smoothing these parts out and applying just a small amount of grease makes them operate much better and with less effort.