270 wsm Lee collet neck size dies

D in lv

D in lv

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Mar 6, 2019
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Longview wa
Hello guys
I'm seeking advise on Lee collet dies from our reloaders. I would like to give them a try but Lee collet dies are available only for the 300 in the WSM line. Other WSM caliber Lee collet dies are available by special order and are a bit spendy.

I have both a 270 wsm and 7 wsm (among others). I was wondering if one could swap out the collet and mandrel in the 300 wsm with those from another Lee collet die in the desired caliber. I am assuming it can't be done because no one has brought it up before that I can find.
Thanks in advance.
 
D in lv said:
Hello guys
I'm seeking advise on Lee collet dies from our reloaders. I would like to give them a try but Lee collet dies are available only for the 300 in the WSM line. Other WSM caliber Lee collet dies are available by special order and are a bit spendy.

I have both a 270 wsm and 7 wsm (among others). I was wondering if one could swap out the collet and mandrel in the 300 wsm with those from another Lee collet die in the desired caliber. I am assuming it can't be done because no one has brought it up before that I can find.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
No you cannot swap parts and have it work correctly. I've machined and honed parts to work and it was WAY too much work.
Last time I talked to Lee about it they can make one for $75 . Well worth it.

A great alternative is just go with Forster dies. Im a fan.
 
I have one in 270 WSM that Lee made. I sent in two fired pieces of brass and a bullet if I recall. And it wasn't very expensive and took a couple weeks maybe. It works well. Case growth is minimal and for me neck sizing works well for the 270 wsm for several firings, it's geometry was ahead of its time.
 
Last edited:
Just sent in a couple fired 270 wsm brass and a bullet to Lee. About 5 week delivery on a new set of neck sizing collet dies.

WSMs are hard on brass. I'm hoping for better brass life by reducing the resizing stress with Lee neck size dies. I currently go three firings of neck sized brass, then full length resize with forester dies. Two or three firings later, neck failure. A total of 5 firings. Primer pockets still ok but not super tight anymore. I'm thinking there may be 2-3 firings left in the primer pockets.

If that works, I probably can avoid annealing, and 200 pieces of brass should get me through the life of the barrel and then some.

Any experience with brass life and different dies?
 
I use lee dies for two 6.5 wsms , 270wsm, 7mm wsm, 30wsm.
Never ever lost a single piece of brass .Winchester or Norma. I run 'em hard ... believe it.
I full length size correctly, bumping the shoulders back. 002" every sizing.
 
D in lv said:
Hello guys
I'm seeking advise on Lee collet dies from our reloaders. I would like to give them a try but Lee collet dies are available only for the 300 in the WSM line. Other WSM caliber Lee collet dies are available by special order and are a bit spendy.

I have both a 270 wsm and 7 wsm (among others). I was wondering if one could swap out the collet and mandrel in the 300 wsm with those from another Lee collet die in the desired caliber. I am assuming it can't be done because no one has brought it up before that I can find.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I started using the Lee Collet dies and was disappointed that there are only available for 270 wsm via custom order. I wonder if I could neck size my fired brass by:

1. De-prime with a universal de-primmer that doesn't do any case sizing

2. Using a neck sizing die with the de-primmer and expander ball removed. Just to bring the neck circumference back down.

3. Finally using the Sinclair expander die with a 270 expander mandrel.
 
D in lv said:
Just sent in a couple fired 270 wsm brass and a bullet to Lee. About 5 week delivery on a new set of neck sizing collet dies.

WSMs are hard on brass. I'm hoping for better brass life by reducing the resizing stress with Lee neck size dies. I currently go three firings of neck sized brass, then full length resize with forester dies. Two or three firings later, neck failure. A total of 5 firings. Primer pockets still ok but not super tight anymore. I'm thinking there may be 2-3 firings left in the primer pockets.

If that works, I probably can avoid annealing, and 200 pieces of brass should get me through the life of the barrel and then some.

Any experience with brass life and different dies?
Click to expand...
Hate to say it, but your answer lies in annealing. There is an option you could consider, but it still requires annealing. Do a cast of your chamber. Neck down some 300WSM brass to 270. See if this thickens the necks enough that you can turn and fit them to the chamber, and reload with bushing dies and no expander. Allot of work, but might get what you are asking for, Still need to anneal, which will most likely fix the problem anyway. Sounds like your neck is on the lose side anyway, might get there with 325 brass.
 
I have the Lee collet in 270 wsm along with a Redding Body die and Forester seating die and this is the ticket ! Hands down beats Rcbs or Hornady neck sizing dies according to my measurements and test at the range . Annealing is a must , you don't need a $500 dollar machine to do it either. I do all mine by hand and have had no issues. Just takes a little practice. Norma Brass by far the best for the 270 wsm . I have picked up the Redding type S FL die and Forester FL competition die to do a comparison between all three . I should have it done by the end of August hopefully.
 
Collett dies are optional.

It is a special kind of Neck sizing die. Normal sizing is done with a FL die. Use one or the other.

No, you don't need it. And, they may not make one for the 270 WSM.
 
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