trouble properly setting Lee collet sizer

L

lightjunkie

New member
I bought a lee collet sizer for my .300 Weatherby,and I followed the instructions manual ,and stopped tightening the dies once it touched the shell plate,well it's still so loose that the bullets slide loosely so I guess my question is can I tighten the die some.ore without damaging the sizer or the brass?And my next question is can I use the die setting to help find COAL by letting the loose bullet find where the rifling starts or will it be off because of the needed freebore?Thanks
 
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How old is your brass? How many times fired?
Could it need annealing?

Re the freebore question: if the bullet can move in the case mouth easily with some finger pressure, but is gripped well enough by the neck that a little stiction on the ogive (ie if it is stuck in the lands) won't pulled it out, then yes, you can use if to measure free-bore.

One way to ensure the above conditions is to dremel a cut length-ways down the neck at 90 degree intervals.

Be sure to keep that bullet as the future free-bore measurement tool.
 
lightjunkie said:
I bought a lee collet sizer for my .300 Weatherby,and I followed the instructions manual ,and stopped tightening the dies once it to u he'd the shell plate,
Click to expand...

I think you may have mis-read the instructions.

From Lee.

ADJUSTMENT FOR LEE PRESSES
Screw the sizing die in until it contacts the shell holder, plus
one turn more.
If you are using a Lee Precision “Classic”
series press, adjust the die 1¾ turns into the press. Run
a case into the die. You will feel the primer being extracted,
then the lever will come to an abrupt stop. At this point, the
lever must be pushed firmly (min. 25 lbs.) to close the collet
and size the neck. Extra bullet grip can be obtained by
screwing the die in an additional quarter-turn.

Other brands of presses that toggle or snap over center
at the end of the stroke provide no feel and can damage the
collet neck sizing die if adjusted as above. We suggest the
die be screwed in until the die contacts the shell holder, plus
2 FULL TURNS. This will prevent the press from toggling
over center and give the operator feel of the collet closing.

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/RM3512.pdf

Here is a video using the Lee Press, if you have a different press, screw it into the press two full turns instead of one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PWdVNg4O98
 
Okay thanks and I did not turn as far as that it was i think it1/4 turn on dies and the brass us in fire Remington and Federal nickel plated brass.
 
I have had to reduce the diameter on the mandrel on at least one die, maybe 2 before it would size tight enough. They are a pain but beat having to mess with lube.
 
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