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Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 28 Dec 2019 16:52
by Ranch Dog
Moving to the Challenger did eliminate the feel issues experience with the turret press. Everything went fine for three cartridges, and then the die started collapsing the cases. It is adjusted precisely to the instructions. Between each of the cases pictured, I took the die apart and tried to figure out what the problem was. These dies are very simple, but I don't have a clue. I'm going to see if I can send it back to Lee.

Image

My first Collet Die, for the 35 Rem, had this problem out of the box. Lee exchanged the die. Not sure how this will work with the custom die. The three dummy cartridges I made before this started, sliding through the action like butter. I was putting them together one at a time and thought I had this whooped.

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 28 Dec 2019 19:18
by mr surveyor
rd,

That's an interesting looking wildcat design .... but for some reason I just can't see it catching on


jd

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 28 Dec 2019 19:37
by Ranch Dog
Now that's funny. It is really strange, it just happens at the end of the stroke. No difference in feel between those that it happens to and those that does not.

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 28 Dec 2019 20:32
by mr surveyor
I have no doubt you'll figure it out. I don't know if I will ever have the pleasure (or dis-pleasure) of experiencing that issue, but I sure am interested in the cause.

jd

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 29 Dec 2019 04:05
by GasGuzzler
Looks like the first time I ever set up a powder-through expanding die :) Looking forward to fining out what happened.

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 29 Dec 2019 06:13
by Ranch Dog
What is strange is that there is little feel to the set back beginning to take place. The primer punch has just made contact with the spent primer, I hear it hear it drop and then jump a very light "bump" of the punch bumping the bottom — no difference between a good sizing stroke or the setback.

I checked the diameter of the mandrel, its right, the parts seem good. I'm getting ready to go through Lee's FAQs.

I've had the die longer than I thought, 4½ years.

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 29 Dec 2019 06:19
by Ranch Dog
This is what I tried between cycles, I will be a bit more aggressive with it today.

[BBvideo 560,340][/BBvideo]

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 29 Dec 2019 19:34
by Jeff H
Is the interface between the cone-shaped top of the collet and the corresponding cone-shape recess smooth? I lap them, clean them and apply a light grease. Eight different cartridges since the inception of the dies and no problems with that trick. From the factory, they can be a bit gnarly.

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 30 Dec 2019 18:16
by Ranch Dog
Jeff H wrote:Is the interface between the cone-shaped top of the collet and the corresponding cone-shape recess smooth? I lap them, clean them and apply a light grease. Eight different cartridges since the inception of the dies and no problems with that trick. From the factory, they can be a bit gnarly.
I've worked on this a bit this evening, they are as simple as can be but durn if I can figure out the issue. Immediately after the 1st, I will get with Lee.

Re: Collet Neck Sizing Dies have left the bench.

Posted: 31 Dec 2019 12:08
by Ranch Dog
I have a steel tapered round stock bar that I purchased years ago to spread the collets should they need it. I ran the collet over the collet, then exercised the collar against the collet using my gun vise. Not tight, more or less, feeling the fit. I put it back together and it seems to work. I did notice a crack in the collet when I was examining it closely, so I called Lee and will send it back in.

Image

I'm using these dies with my 30-30 Win, 308 Win, 303 British, 7.62x39, and 35 Rem. So six dies counting the 300 Savage.