Lee Loader

Both my SMLE's produce the same results as pictured. I'm in the process of special ordering a custom die from Lee Precision to address the "blow out" in the neck area so that my case shoulders aren't worked everytime they cycle through a full-length sizing die.

I'm considering ordering 25 dies vs paying the setup fee of $150. If I did this, the cost of the order would be $21 a die.

I have a 30-30 that looks a lot like that . The standard 308 die has made a fine neck die for that application . Seems like a standard 300 wsm would do the job on a 303 and allow for a shoulder bump as needed as well . I could see if I can find it and send it down for a trial ?

I had some old Greek ammo that I bought because it was boxer primed and non-corrosive and it was on strippers. It was fine when I first got it back in the mid 90s. Now it shows neck splitting just like pictured about every other round. I also have some WRA 1943 marked loads and they split. I suspect old age hardened brass in both situations. I must try some new factory brass one of these days. So many projects so little time

Make smoke,

I found this reference on the enfield-rifles.com: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/uploads/3 ... _cases.pdf

Worked my way through smoking the cases and adjusting the sizing die off shell holder contact (1/2 turn, about .0355"). The thin, bright line on the shoulder means that I've got the die adjusted as fine as I can get it. Looks pretty good, will give it a try before I send anything to Lee.



I also bought Steven Redgwell's book, need all the advice that I can find as out of the 29 cartridges I reload; this has ended up being the toughest I've worked with. There is a lot too taking this old BP cartridge and making it perform with modern powders.



So for now, back to the bench. I need to determine the H20 capacity of these sized cases so that I can come up with some load references. With that done, I will be back up to the range before I go any further with a Lee order. Good thing I purchased 1,000 PPU bullets!

Case on the left is a brand new PPU. The one on the right a neck sized twice fired RP. I didn't have any not sized.

What die are you using to neck size with Macd?

I use the regular Lee die but backed out till it just touches shoulder. I set it up with a black felt marker by covering the neck and gradually screwied in die until the die mark touched the beginning of the shoulder. The cases chamber without forcing. I have some loaded up with Varget. I will post picture of fired case later in the week if I can get to the range on Tuesday. Like you I am trying to avoid excessive and repeated case stretch.

Macd wrote:I use the regular Lee die but backed out till it just touches shoulder. I set it up with a black felt marker by covering the neck and gradually screwied in die until the die mark touched the beginning of the shoulder. The cases chamber without forcing. I have some loaded up with Varget. I will post picture of fired case later in the week if I can get to the range on Tuesday. Like you I am trying to avoid excessive and repeated case stretch.

Thanks, Macd. That is what I did to set up my Pacesetter die. It ended up being 1/2 turn off shell holder contact, which, by the thread pitch math should be .035". I checked it with a gap gauge and that is what it is so I will add that to my reloading notes.

Have You tried the Lee Collet Neck sizing Die?

Was gonna send off for One. For My .303

orerancher wrote:Have You tried the Lee Collet Neck sizing Die?

Was gonna send off for One. For My .303

Yeah, I have one. On this last round of reloading, after full-length sizing, I could not chamber the cartridges. Hang on a day or two. I'm thinking that the detailed setup on the Pacesetter (FL) die will be better than the Collet. I have faced the same situation as I have with the 303 that I'm experiencing with my 30-30 win in the Sav 340. Of course, cartridges are very similar. The problem being that I can't chamber the cartridge after the pass through the Collet die as the case body needs a bit more sizing. With the 30-30, I get two to three passes before it must go back through the FL sizing die but that seems like a lot of working the case. Might be better off in the long run just to use the FL die adjusted a bit out of Lee's instructions.

I know I'm going to look at this with my levergun 30-30AI as that continuous cycle on the brass is not good, plus you experience the performance loss as a full length sized case is formed.

Offhand, I would say that fireforming the 303 to the chamber with full-length sized cases is costing me 200 FPS. I'm sure that is what my chronograph records will reflect.