preferred brass neck size.

[BJung]

I plan to purchase a Lee Custom Collet neck sizing die for my T99 Arisaka that slugs at .3115". The inside neck diameter should be the same and my cast bullet sized at .3125" up to maybe .3135" for my cast bullets. Is the bullet diameter .001" more than the bore diameter for copper jacketed bullets too since I plan to shoot .312" Hornady bullets.

 

[Blue68f100]

When your use a bushing sizing die you need to know your wall thickness in order to determine your size. You normally want to end up around 0.002"( some application like more or less) neck tension. You also allow for 0.001" spring back. If your going to turn necks to have a consistent wall thickness you have to fudge a little on your wall thickness, using average. Hope this helps you. Using a bushing die allows you to change your neck sizing easily.

 

[BJung]

When your use a bushing sizing die you need to know your wall thickness in order to determine your size. You normally want to end up around 0.002"( some application like more or less) neck tension. You also allow for 0.001" spring back. If your going to turn necks to have a consistent wall thickness you have to fudge a little on your wall thickness, using average. Hope this helps you. Using a bushing die allows you to change your neck sizing easily.

The bushing die offers adjustability for me between a factory Norma case vs resized 30-06 cases that have thick necks. Thanks.

 

[243winxb]

Lee Custom Collet neck sizing die.

A .310" mandrel would seem to be a good diameter? Allows for some spring back of the brass.

https://support.leeprecision.net/en/knowledgebase

 

[The Glockodile]

I plan to purchase a Lee Custom Collet neck sizing die for my T99 Arisaka that slugs at .3115". The inside neck diameter should be the same and my cast bullet sized at .3125" up to maybe .3135" for my cast bullets. Is the bullet diameter .001" more than the bore diameter for copper jacketed bullets too since I plan to shoot .312" Hornady bullets.

Alternatively, how about using a run - of the mill neck sizing die and an expander mandrel instead?

That would obviate the issue with different neck thicknesses and not having to go into neck turning.

 

[BJung]

Alternatively, how about using a run - of the mill neck sizing die and an expander mandrel instead?

That would obviate the issue with different neck thicknesses and not having to go into neck turning.

I tried this but I had bad runout

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I tried this but I had bad runout

Wait... Are you going to bring up concentricity?

Because there seems to be some different viewpoints about that...

 

[BJung]

Wait... Are you going to bring up concentricity?

Because there seems to be some different viewpoints about that...

That's off topic. I'll start a new thread

 

[Hookeye]

I am not a fan of Lee as far as tools in general go.

But their Ram Prime and Collet dies are pretty darn good ( I hate lubing cases ).
Dont mind neck sizing a case, rotate 180 and sizing again. Got 1/2 groups out of a couple sporters at 100 yards.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

But their Ram Prime and Collet dies are pretty darn good

I agree, and use them both.

Richard Lee invented and patented what became known as the Ram Prime. As usual, the big companies copied him.

 

[Bcwitt]

The bushing die offers adjustability for me between a factory Norma case vs resized 30-06 cases that have thick necks. Thanks.

I split 06 cases in my 99. I would urge caution w those.

 

[Bcwitt]

I agree, and use them both.

Richard Lee invented and patented what became known as the Ram Prime. As usual, the big companies copied him.

Lee had some great ideas, he just took too many shortcuts on the maufacturing floor. The ram prime is a great tool, for sure, but they could have made the adapter from steel & slightly larger in diameter. They just went over board making things from plastic & aluminum that should have been steel.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Lee had some great ideas, he just took too many shortcuts on the maufacturing floor. The ram prime is a great tool, for sure, but they could have made the adapter from steel & slightly larger in diameter. They just went over board making things from plastic & aluminum that should have been steel.

Those are engineering decisions and the mechanical engineers who make those decisions are typically so overkill on "materials strength" we consumers end up with tools that are heavier than they need to be, rust because carbon steel has a higher tensile strength than non-oxidizing plastic or oxidation-resistant aluminum, and cost more than their real world value in the tool box. Bottom line, I don't disagree with your overall point but I do also see the point of reducing costs - production, shipping and TCO for the consumer - and weight while improving corrosion resistance. I have yet to break a cheap Lee plastic part or bend a cheap Lee aluminum part. But I treat my tools well so, maybe I'm different. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Bcwitt]

Those are engineering decisions and the mechanical engineers who make those decisions are typically so overkill on "materials strength" we consumers end up with tools that are heavier than they need to be, rust because carbon steel has a higher tensile strength than non-oxidizing plastic or oxidation-resistant aluminum, and cost more than their real world value in the tool box. Bottom line, I don't disagree with your overall point but I do also see the point of reducing costs - production, shipping and TCO for the consumer - and weight while improving corrosion resistance. I have yet to break a cheap Lee plastic part or bend a cheap Lee aluminum part. But I treat my tools well so, maybe I'm different. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I have broken several plastic priming arms for a loadmaster, several auto primers. I have a lot of lee stuff, & i appreciate the price point. I think i would like them better if they made more things from steel.EDIT as for corrosion, i kept a lyman o frame bolted to the bumper of my truck for several winters. A few shots of WD does wonders.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Lee had some great ideas, he just took too many shortcuts on the maufacturing floor. The ram prime is a great tool, for sure, but they could have made the adapter from steel & slightly larger in diameter. They just went over board making things from plastic & aluminum that should have been steel.

I can't deny what you are saying, except to state this: If it wasn't for Richards Lee's inexpensive but well designed tools, I wouldn't have had the financial wherewithal to get into reloading back when I was an underpaid young man.

I suspect I'm not alone.

 

[Bcwitt]

I can't deny what you are saying, except to state this: If it wasn't for Richards Lee's inexpensive but well designed tools, I wouldn't have had the financial wherewithal to get into reloading back when I was an underpaid young man.

I suspect I'm not alone.

Me too. I admit it.