Reloading Newb Issues

[Bendite]

Hey all,

I could use some help with my new Lee setup.

I am reloading once fired brass from my Tikka 270 Win. I set up the press and the neck resizing die according to instructions. I run the brass through and it removes/decaps the primer but it does not appear to re-size the neck. However, the brass chambers very smoothly. A little more snug than factory ammo but very smooth none the less. It holds the bullet but very loosely.

It seems to me that I should be able to adjust the die and get the neck a little tighter around the bullet? I started making 1/4 and 1/2 turns to the die to see if that was the issue but the result is always the same.

Does the bullet seating die do any sort of crimp or re-size on the neck?

I have used my buddy's RCBS setup in the past and the bullet was very snug prior to bullet seating so I am sure that I am missing something.

Thanks in advance, any help would be great.

[Mercmar]

Sometimes, the collet fingers get sprung and need to be reset. Covered in Lee's instructions. You'll need to adjust the die until the press is camming over, in order to get the proper neck tension, assuming that the collet fingers aren't sprung.

[Riflemanz]

Re-read the die instructions and the seating die also crimps.You could just buy a lee factory crimp die and seperate the crimping stage.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I second the Crimp die. Takes the guess work out.

[Bendite]

So the Collet just closes in from the side as the final pressure is applied at the end of the stroke?

I went back and re-read and re-did everything. I can see vertical lines on the neck now. I guess I was expecting it to feel more like the RCBS die I have used in the past. More pressure and a definite metal to metal feeling.

I am going to get the crimp die. It says in the instructions that it is recommended for all hunting ammo.

The action on my rifle is super smooth with literally no slop when using federal ammo. I am wondering if the federal ammo is so close to perfect that the case does not really deform when fired. I just keep thinking that there should be more manipulation of the case during the resizing but I think I am wrong on that. It chambers like butter with no wiggle in the action so maybe I should just get the crimp die and send a few down range.

[p-nut]

I don't crimp my 7mm Rem Mag and they are very accurate.
My Remmy 700 love'm.

[LittleDave]

Originally Posted by Bendite

The action on my rifle is super smooth with literally no slop when using federal ammo. I am wondering if the federal ammo is so close to perfect that the case does not really deform when fired. I just keep thinking that there should be more manipulation of the case during the resizing but I think I am wrong on that. It chambers like butter with no wiggle in the action so maybe I should just get the crimp die and send a few down range.

The difference in the shape of the case before and after firing is more of a reflection of the size of the chamber it was fired in.

[fredj338]

Couple of things. You do NOT need a crimp die for bottleneck rifle rounds. Adjust the die per instructions. I size twice, rotating the case 180deg between. If you are not getting good neck tension, could be the brass is a bit thin or the Lee mandrel is too large. You can pull it out, chuck it into a drill press & polish it down 0.001" & that will help. It's a neck sizing doe, so the rounds will offer a bit more resistance when cahmbering.

[Mercmar]

Originally Posted by Riflemanz

Re-read the die instructions and the seating die also crimps.You could just buy a lee factory crimp die and seperate the crimping stage.

Reread the instructions again! The seating die that comes with the Collet Die set DOESN'T crimp. You won't need to be crimping rifle rounds that've been constructed with the Lee Collet Die set.

[Bendite]

Yeah, I looked at the seating die pretty good and I don't see how it could crimp...at least not the one I got.

Thanks for all the replies, I think I was just expecting it to do more but after I read the instructions again, I think I got it. I am rotating the case 180 and running it through the die a second time as stated in the instructions and it seems to be good.

For those of you will a Lee Collet Die, do you see the 4 faint vertical lines on the neck after you've run it through once?