Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die - Any Good?

[Welding Rod]

Any input on the Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die for use with a bolt gun?

Anyone noted a measurable accuracy gain over conventional neck sizing and/or full length sizing?

 

[918v]

The gain is in runout. The die produces brass with half the runout of even the best bushing die.

 

[TonyAngel]

Yes, it works very well; however, I've found that it really isn't for me. From what I can tell, most that neck size do it for the added accuracy and case life. There are some drawbacks though.

From what I've seen, you can only neck size so many times before you have to do a full length size. After so many firings, you're going to notice that the bolt gets a little hard to close and a bit sticky upon opening. How many firings you can get through before having to full length size depends on how hot your loads are. The hotter they are, the more often you will need to full length size.

I have an after market barrel on my rifle with a really tight chamber. All I do is just full length size for every loading to guarantee that I'm not going to have a problem in the middle of a timed match. I did, however, setup my full length sizer using a chamber gauge so that I'm only sizing enough to bump my shoulder back a couple of thousandths. When I size, I'm working the brass as little as possible. Just take note that in some cases, you can't just follow the instructions that came with your dies. For example, if you are using Lee dies and set up the full length sizing die according to the instructions, odds are that you are over sizing your brass by a lot and are probably creating excessive headspace.

Sizing the way that I do, I have Winchester brass that has a dozen loads on them and they still look good at the base.

If you're shooting bench rest and are chasing .1" groups and lower, neck sizing may be for you. All I'm looking for a 1/2 MOA accuracy, which is plenty good enough for what I do.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a set for my .22-250. I really like them and get good results with the ammo I load from them.

 

[familyman555]

I did some testing on neck sizing vs full length and also tested chamfering the flash hole. Using the Lee collet sizer. With both neck sizing and chamfering I got a 1/3 reduction in group size. This was consistantly the group size reduction for two different rifles firing 308 and 223 bullets. I also used two different 30 caliber bullet weights and got the same 1/3 group size reduction. The 308 brass was by Remington and the 223 brass was Winchester. Neck sizing or chamfering the flash hole by itself had mixed results as compared to full sized or un altered primer holes. With my Savage Model 14 bolt action rifle the bolt has always closed on the neck sized cases without feeling any unusual resistance. The cases also feed well. The full length article is at the following http://www.chuckhawks.com/neck_vs_full_resizing.htm

 

[amlevin]

I use a collet die for my .308. Find that I have to FL size after 5-6 reloads.

The collet die produces cartridges with run-out far less than any of my other dies. Run-out as low as 0.0002" with most 0.001 or less.

I also find it nice that no lube is necessary and therefore no "clean-up" other than a quick brush of the primer pocket.

Accuracy for my rounds has never been better.

 

[rsrocket1]

I use the Lee collet neck sizing die for my 308's also.
With full weight and full charge loads, the groups are very consistent, even with mixed brass.

It really stands out with my light bullets charged with Unique. There is virtually no case wear and nothing more than a quick wipe down and back into the progressive.

I am very careful in first setting the shoulder length of my cases because there is nothing more frustrating than a stuck bolt when trying to chamber a round where you didn't bump the shoulder properly the first time.

 

[kelbro]

I have been using a 223 collet die for several years with excellent results. 223 and 223AI.

 

[ranger335v]

After I bought my first Lee collet neck sizer I didn't delay getting one for all my rifle cartridges. Lee's machining is less than perfectly smooth so I've cleaned/polished the collet and die mating cones of them all but it wasn't something I HAD to do before using the dies.

The difference in accuracy from neck sizing is never huge and it may be none. What is certain is that my highly selected and carefully processed case necks WILL last longer with the Lee die than any other and the accuracy is NEVER worse. I wouldn't swap my Lee collets for anyone's costly bushing neck dies.

An occasional "FL" sizing is needed no matter how we neck size. I simply use a body die in conjunction with the neck die and keep on truckin'.

 

[hey_poolboy]

I've used the Lee dies for years on .223 and .22-250. I have done as ranger335v mentioned and polished them a bit. I have also thinned the mandrel a thousandth to alter neck tension. Neither of them was actually NECESSARY, just experiments. I make it a habit to run the case into the die, turn 90 degrees and run it up again to ensure as uniform neck tension that I can. Seems to work fine, I can get .75" groups @235yds out of my Kimber .22-250 barrel.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Lee Collet neck-sizer die...

Welding Rod--I have LCNS dies in 8mm Mauser, .243 Win, .300 WSM, and .30-'06. I find that these dies give me xlnt accuracy. I like that the die requires no case lube, so, no cleaning of sized cases.

With the .300 WSM, I find that I have to FL resize every 3-5 loadings. So what? With the milder cartridges, no FL resizing has been necessary. Proof of the pudding? Here is a 10 shot group from the .300 WSM @ 100 yd, benched. Disregard the fouling shot. Group is 0.72". Whether I could do better with another die or not is immaterial to me.