Lee dies NOW I AM PI**ED

Since I have no metallic relaoding experience, I have nothing to compare them to. I have loaded thousands of shotshells so I have some reloading savvy.
 
Quote:
Since I have no metallic relaoding experience, I have nothing to compare them to. I have loaded thousands of shotshells so I have some reloading savvy.



Then you will understand that using them, when compared to a conventional sizing die, is like using a MEC shotshell press, then buying a Ponsness Warren. There are enough differences between the two that you have to spend some time and effort to learn the best way to use the new press ...... and that will be different than the best way you learned to use the old one.
 
Quote:
What type of press are you using them in.If its a RCBS or a style that can camover at the bottom of the stroke then you may have the die adjusted incorrectly it seems to be a common problem.That may not be the case but if it is go back and reread the instructions they will tell you to adjust the die until it touches the shellholder then turn the die down two more full turns then apply the 25lbs on the press handle and it works perfectly at least mine do.



This was my first thought also.

Either way, it is not the fault of the dies......
 
I use the collet dies for the .270win and have had good success with it. When used with the Lee turret press you have to go all the way to the end of the stroke where one of the above posters said, "feels spongy"....then crank hard. I've had the loose bullets, too and I just adjusted a bit and paid attention to the force needed to get the same amount of tightness on the neck.
 
Quote:
Welcome to the lee dies suck club.

Plank owner here.



Im gonna refer to YOUR signature here and pretty much leave it at that.
 
O.K. I appreciate all the post but is clearly NOT OPERATOR error when you set them up EXACTLY the way the instructions tell you. ran the ram on my Hornady 007 all the way to the top and run the dies down until they touch the shell holder then one full turm more exactly the way the directions say to do it. Anyway you slice it its in black and white how to set them up and they failed period.
 
I have been using Lee Collet dies for many years. Currently I have 10 sets in a variety of calibers. I have yet to have a problem with any of them. Of course, there's always the first time I guess.

I too don't like that locking ring deal and that's the only complaint I have with them. I always replace the locking nut (shouldn't have to) with Lyman nuts.

Personally though, I don't like Lee dies in anything except the Collet.
 
I love my Lee Collet dies.

Definetly worth taking the time to learn how to use.

With all the different press's in use out there, one set of directions can't cover all the variables.

As great as they are when used correctly, I am surprised Lee has not given up on them.

Just to much room for operator error.

Hawkeye58
 
Quote:
Quote:
Welcome to the lee dies suck club.

Plank owner here.



Im gonna refer to YOUR signature here and pretty much leave it at that.



/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I love it! Good one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've never had good luck with them, but to each his own.
 
Quote:
O.K. I appreciate all the post but is clearly NOT OPERATOR error when you set them up EXACTLY the way the instructions tell you. ran the ram on my Hornady 007 all the way to the top and run the dies down until they touch the shell holder then one full turm more exactly the way the directions say to do it. Anyway you slice it its in black and white how to set them up and they failed period.



I haven't bought any collet dies recently, but the old instructions were to turn the collet down 1/2 turn from the point the die touched the shell holder. I often had to turn mine down 3/4 turn to deal with the harder brass of multifired cases.

But, if the instructions you got said to turn it down 1 complete turn and you did, then you simply got a die which was defective in some respect. That happens with virtually all manufactured products. It would take several pages for me to describe the issues I have had over the years with Lyman loading gear. So, I will spare you the details and just say that if one buys enough reloading stuff, it happens to all of us at some point. And, you were the unfortunate recipient this time. LOL
 
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Welcome to the lee dies suck club.

Plank owner here.



Im gonna refer to YOUR signature here and pretty much leave it at that.





I love it! Good one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've never had good luck with them, but to each his own.



See, that right there is a genuine good natured attitude. Glad it came across the way I intended it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Yes but TWO STRAIGHT SETS ????? I have reloaded for lets just say a few years and this is a first for me to but its my first dealing with Lee as far as dies. All I know is it wont happen again atleast not with Lee for me
 
If it has happened twice to you, then there's a decent chance that you may be doing something wrong, or that something else is wrong with your equipment. I can't really imagine what that might be, though. Don't know for sure. But the odds of getting two bad dies is pretty small. You don't have a black cloud overhead following you around, do you? Or recently return from Louisiana after insulting a voodoo witchdoctor, did you. LOL

It would be nice of someone with a lot of experience with the Lee collet die could watch how you set it up just to make certain it's not something you may be doing unknowingly to cause the problem. But, as small as the odds are that you got two bad dies in a row ...... it is possible. And, you are describing the correct set up procedure as I remember it to be.
 
The instructions also say that if its a press that cams over at the bottom which mine does that it takes two full turns after you contact the shell holder to prevent putting too much pressure.
 
If you have a press that cams over, Lee does not want you to cam the press over........screw the die in so you feel the pressure, but do not cam it over.
 
Quote:
If you have a press that cams over, Lee does not want you to cam the press over........screw the die in so you feel the pressure, but do not cam it over.



What presses don't cam over? I have used early model Lee Challenger and Turret, Herters Model C and RCBS Rockchucker and they all cammed over. The instructions which came with the older collet dies said to turn the die down 1/2 turn more, after contacting the shell holder (ram being fully up).

And, two turns down after contacting the shell holder???? That would probably pop the tops off my collet dies. LOL They must have made some changes in them since I bought the last one.
 
Back
Top