Newb and a Lee Collet die

LongShot73 · #1 02-03-2013, 09:15 AM

This is the first round I've ever tried to make and I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. After spending all night on YouTube and reading forums I don't know what that is. I take my 7mm rem mag case and put it in the Lee collet die. It punches out the primer but doesn't size the neck at all. After initially setting up as recamended by lee and now bottomed out in the press so it can't cam over I'm sure I'm putting way more then 25 pounds of force on it. I'm about to break the handle on the press or break my table I'm sure. I can still insert a Sierra game king and pull it out of the case with my fingers. What do I need to do. Thanks.

LongShot73 · #2 02-03-2013, 09:56 AM

Well perhaps this is all the tighter the neck should be. I just went for it while bracing the press with one hand and pushing with the other. I crushed the case in. Should I be able to push a bullet in and pull it back out. It doesn't slide in and out with ease but I can do it.

kermodie · #3 02-03-2013, 11:23 AM

Somethings goofy for sure.
Did you take the die apart and clean it before using it? You should put a little grease on the taper between the sliding sleeve and cripping collet.

If you shake the die it should rattle and the mandrel/primer pin should be loose.

I just checked mine and the sliding sleeve protrudes 0.286 from the bottom of the die body. The pin protrudes 0.200 from the bottom of the sleeve. I can easily adjust neck tension from 0.000 - 0.0025 tight by adjusting the die up/down in the press. At 0.002 tight, there is slight resistance when the press cam over (maybe 3 lbs or so).

The way mine is adjusted, shell holder pushes the sleeve up 0.040 - from initial contact to full stroke of the ram.

I would take it apart and clean/lube it and start over.

Joe King · #4 02-03-2013, 12:52 PM

Just a thought but you might want to mic the mandrel, sounds like it's over sized, careful about the pressure your applying, you'll squirt the die guts out the top.

Joe King · #5 02-03-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongShot73

Well perhaps this is all the tighter the neck should be. I just went for it while bracing the press with one hand and pushing with the other. I crushed the case in. Should I be able to push a bullet in and pull it back out. It doesn't slide in and out with ease but I can do it.

no you shouldn't be able to move it

Sully2 · #6 02-03-2013, 01:12 PM

Find someone that reloads to help you get setup.

TJAY · #7 02-03-2013, 01:42 PM

Did you view this one.