30-06 collet die

[rex9mm]

Hi i haven't reloaded 30-06 yet, but i would like to start. I am interested in lee dies. Does anyone know what kit i should buy? do i need the collet die? These will be hunting rounds. Also i have not found the collet die on the lee site to purchase separately. I have a 4 turrent press, by kit i mean dies..

 

[loadedround]

Any good quality dies like RCBS or Redding will work just as well. Unless you are shooting a precision bench rest rifle, I doubt if you would ever see any difference between the Lee dies and the others.

 

[rex9mm]

I want to buy Lee dies, which do i need for 30-06 hunting rounds? do i need the collet and crimp die?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a set of Lee dies and it includes the Collet Neck Die. If you are using the brass in one rifle and it's not a semi-auto you will get good results using a neck only die. It also lengthens the brass life too.

I bought the Lee Deluxe Die Set which includes a full length sizing die, bullet seating die and the collet neck die. If you already have 30-06 dies Midway sells the Collet Neck Die separately. The Pacesetter Dies include the Factory Crimp Die instead of the Collet Neck Die. I also bought a Lee Factory Crimp Die. Some people like the FCD and some feel it's totally unneeded. I like it.

Hope this helps, good luck...

 

[rex9mm]

ArchAngelCD - you answered my question perfectly!! thanks!

 

[rbernie]

I usually buy the Lee 'Pacesetter' sets, since I prefer to full-lkength size (I shoot my reloads in multiple guns) and because I also like to use a taper/factory crimp on the finished round.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

rex9mm,
I'm glad I could help...

rbernie,
I usually buy the Pacesetter dies too especially when buying for calibers like the 30-30 where the FCD is a necessity. Only when I want a Collet die do I buy the Deluxe dies because buying the FCD separately is cheaper than buying the Collet die separately. (I'm a cheapie) I wanted the Collet die for the 30-06 rounds I was building for semi-long distance for fun at the range. (400 yards) Fire formed brass seems to be just a little more accurate. (although it's hardly noticeable at only 400 yards)

 

[ranger335v]

"Any good quality dies like RCBS or Redding will work just as well. Unless you are shooting a precision bench rest rifle, I doubt if you would ever see any difference between the Lee dies and the others."

As a very long time reloader with a lot of dies from all makers but Dillion, I fully agree. Thing is, the others cost MUCH more than the Lees! Get the Lee Delux set and add a Factroy Crimp Die if you wish, that will give you total flexiblity.

I deer hunt with a 30-06. .243., .35, 7 mag. Sometimes I use neck sized ammo, sometimes crimped, sometimes neither; it depends on the load I'm using and which is better for that specific load. Nothing is automatically better or worse than anything else, have to test it to find what any rifle and the load prefers.

IF I crimp or neck size it WILL be with a Lee no matter what other dies I may use.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Also it should be noted that the Lee collet neck die will eliminate the need for lubing and thus cleaning lube from cases as well as dramatically extend the intervals between trimming.

Just remember though neck sizing is a bolt action ONLY affair!

 

[Grumulkin]

want to buy Lee dies, which do i need for 30-06 hunting rounds? do i need the collet and crimp die?

I use Lee dies as well as Wilson, RCBS, Hornady and Redding dies and am equipped to load for 35 or 40 cartridges. What I have found is:

1. While Lee collet dies do allow you to size cases without lube which is a time saver, they do not always result in as accurate ammo as that made by using traditional neck sizing dies or full length dies. I have never found the collet dies to make more accurate ammo than that made with traditional neck sizing or full length sizing. They may work for you or they may not.

2. You don't need to crimp bullets for the 30/06 but if you wish to crimp, nothing beats the Lee Factory Crimp Die.

3. I shoot a lot of Encores and Contenders and have found they digest neck sized rounds just fine. I would not use neck sized cartridges in an autoloader, pump or lever action gun though maybe they would work in those as well; I just haven't tried it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

3. I shoot a lot of Encores and Contenders and have found they digest neck sized rounds just fine. I would not use neck sized cartridges in an autoloader, pump or lever action gun though maybe they would work in those as well; I just haven't tried it.

I agree, neck sized ammo is best used in a bolt action rifle.

 

[DIM]

Don't get carry away with neck sizing, eventually brass will thicken after 4 - 5 neck sizing and you will end up with two choices, tossing it in the garbage or anneal it and FL size it, then of course you can neck size afterward, also I haven't seen much of the proof that brass life prolongs by neck sizing, if you adjust you FL die so it will just resize the neck and bump the shoulders your brass will live same as neck sized one, personally I hate collet die since my chamber dimensions are greater then Lee Collet would allow so it mutilate brass every time I tried to resize with one

 

[rogn]

Lee dies

If you use the Lee collet die read the instructions carefully and follow to "T". DIM I know whats wrong with your sizing and its very simple, someone has run the ram into the die without a case in plce and the neck does not enter the collet nand simply crushes the case. If the ie is diassembled and the tapers cleaned and molygreased afterslightly wedging open the slots in the collet, they should work nicely. After a bit you can feel even with 20 cal if the neck is not in the collet and stop to avoid crushing the case. Never had trouble with dies 5-6 years earlier, but now I disassember and tune before using. The directions dont seem very good or "smart" but if you follow them youllbe pleased.

 

[DIM]

I tried all nothing made it work my neck chamber is just to big and brass expands then it will not fit in I tried different brass from different rifle it works well... My fired neck measures .346" compare to resized neck which measures .335", however my lee collete die will accept expanded necks .342", I had to modify lee collete with sandpaper on the drill bit now it accepts necks larger then .342" but I would rather not use it...

 

[R.W.Dale]

I'm sorry but that's not a fault of the dies. When you have a chamber that far out of spec it's a RIFLE problem not a die problem. I'd be hating on the jacked up rifle and not the dies.

What kind of firearm and what cartridge? Either way with a chamber like that you're going to overwork your case necks in very short order.

For my bolt guns I anneal my collet sized cases on the 7th loading and they usually get discarded around the 12th due to thinning just above the case head. Not once will they see a FL die not even when new

 

[DIM]

its TC ICON PH in .308 I even send it back they checked it and reply everything within their specs, it does hold SUB 1/2 MOA

 

[Heavies]

I use the lee collet die in conjunction with a redding body die.
Run it thru the body die first to barely bump the shoulder and straighten the body.
Then I use the neck collet with a washer under it the partial neck size.
The washer leave a little ledge on the base of the neck that lines every thing up to the bore. Most accurate reloads I've made to date. (in my stock rem700)
Less you have to trim the better. IMHO minimal trimming=max case life.

 

[cuesandmore]

I just use the standard RCBS two die set. When finished, I use a Lee taper crimp die to just snug the the bullet in the case. Have had excellent results in a M1 and my bolt action.

 

[ranger335v]

"Don't get carry away with neck sizing, eventually brass will thicken after 4 - 5 neck sizing"

I've not found that to be true after twenty + years of using various neck dies, including several Lee collets. I do find it helpful to prevent neck splits to anneal after every 5-6 firings but I have .22-250 and .243 cases that have been loaded hot and cycled through a Lee collet sizer as many as 15 to 20 times with no problem at all. Neck thickening can't come from neck sizing, as such.

Neck thickening can happen, sorta, with an FL die IF the loader sets his shoulders back too far each time. That causes case body stretching which can/may eventually end up in the neck.