Better accuracy from homemade converted LC brass using Lee collet die.

[Boulderdash]

Torque Wrench...............sideways

[TreeTopFlier]

Torque Wrench...............sideways

cool thanks for posting. Looks like the way you have it set up should give you correct torque application without making any calculations.

[cwlongshot]

NICE WORK!!! CW

[Bgd]

This is interesting. Just ordered a lee collet die. I am going to try this on my LC brass. will post results.

[cwlongshot]

I only quickly perused the 8 pages... but reciently watched the first two videos in this series. I like Johnnys Bench he is intelligent knows more than he lets on and lays things out for all to understand.

PT 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx84P7q2JgI&t=2s

PT 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMJK2xz4mc0&t=1s

PT 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J9tlry4oTA

I always had high regard for Redding & Forester and lower regard for Hornady and little for LEE. While for me, Lyman, RCBS, Pacific, Bonanza where always above average quality.

I have three or four Forester seating dies, but no sizers. After watching I ordered a Forester 300 BLK die to try.

CW

[TreeTopFlier]

This is interesting. Just ordered a lee collet die. I am going to try this on my LC brass. will post results.

Looking forward to your findings.

[TreeTopFlier]

I had a chance do a little more testing. This was the end of the day, last round of fire. I forgot and left the targets as I was cleaning up but I did snap a pic of the two targets so sorry for the poorly laid out shots.

So two targets 100yds, everything was identical. Fresh made LC brass. H110 18.2 gr (trickled up) 125 SMK at 2.100" CCI 41. I was shooting with a bipod.

Without a collet die (target grid is 15/16")


With a collet die

[Bgd]

I had a chance do a little more testing. This was the end of the day, last round of fire. I forgot and left the targets as I was cleaning up but I did snap a pic of the two targets so sorry for the poorly laid out shots.

So two targets 100yds, everything was identical. Fresh made LC brass. H110 18.2 gr (trickled up) 125 SMK at 2.100" CCI 41. I was shooting with a bipod.

Without a collet die (target grid is 15/16")


With a collet die

Looks like quite an improvement with the collet. I just received my collet die and seized a few cases with it. It takes some getting used to. Not sure yet if I am putting enough pressure on the die to seize the case. Using a rock chucker and just press down to where I am sure the collet has closed all the way and then a little more pressure for good luck. I have the die screwed down far enough that the press will not cam over. Can't wait to load some rounds and see if I have the same improvement you see. I will be one happy camper if my groups close up like yours.

[golfindia]

I have a few Lee collet dies. I didn't go through all 8 pages of this thread, but the torque wrench isn't necessary. The collet either closes, or it doesn't. If you set up your die to be closed on the top of stroke, or you stop when you feel the collet close, you're good.

I've never seen any noticeable difference neck sizing only in 300 blk single shot guns in hundreds of rounds (and no, a 5-shot sample size is not statistically significant....). The main reason, I think, is I use all converted brass. Considering this, the "neck" portion of this brass is always going to be uneven. While the lee collet die will give you consistent neck tension, it doesn't fully work like it's designed unless the brass is true (uniform thickness all the way around). If you use all factory brass, it may be worth it. If you are dead set on neck sizing, I think the bushing neck size dies are better, and if you turn your case a 1/4-1/2 turn and do it twice you may get better results.

The only reason I use the collet sizer on 300blk single shots is to save a step and not have to lube. Even at that, I don't use it much anymore because keeping a separate pile of brass is a pain.

[TreeTopFlier]

I had a chance do a little more testing. This was the end of the day, last round of fire. I forgot and left the targets as I was cleaning up but I did snap a pic of the two targets so sorry for the poorly laid out shots.

So two targets 100yds, everything was identical. Fresh made LC brass. H110 18.2 gr (trickled up) 125 SMK at 2.100" CCI 41. I was shooting with a bipod.

Without a collet die (target grid is 15/16")


With a collet die

Looks like quite an improvement with the collet. I just received my collet die and seized a few cases with it. It takes some getting used to. Not sure yet if I am putting enough pressure on the die to seize the case. Using a rock chucker and just press down to where I am sure the collet has closed all the way and then a little more pressure for good luck. I have the die screwed down far enough that the press will not cam over. Can't wait to load some rounds and see if I have the same improvement you see. I will be one happy camper if my groups close up like yours.

Ive probably tested this 8 times now and had similar results every time with more than one shooter. I have more options to test loaded... fire formed, annealed etc. Lee recommends a min of 25Lbs of pressure on the handle which given the leverage provided by the linkage probably equates to hundreds of psi force on the contact point of the mandrel. I also rotate each case 90 deg and give it another swage. On presses that cam over they recommend shell holder contact and then 2 more full turns to prevent cam over.

I have looked for cases that had uneven neck wall thickness around the radius, run them through the die and checked them again. In my case, I was able to see the neck thickness even out till it was equal. To me this was good feed back that I was using enough pressure. Good luck