Quote:
Not sure how the Lee collet die works. In my RCBS die the FL die sizes the neck under bullet diameter and the expander ball sizes it up to provide the
correct neck tension. Does the Redding body die do anything to the neck?
Can you explain how the Lee collet die works.
|
The Redding die only sizes the body and if adjusted so, will move the shoulder back. It does nothing with the neck of the case. This allows you to adjust and properly size the case body for proper headspace without any influence of the neck of the case (and yes, you can use a full length die, but it works differently).
The collet die is a very inexpensive die that simply presses the neck of the case against the mandrel of the die. This will do two things your FL die cannot do:
- it will provide case necks with lower runout than your FL sizing die can do.
- it will resize your neck without "working" it as much as your FL sizing die will. This is because as you mention, a FL die undersizes the neck, then the expander opens it back up. This work hardens the brass more and unless you anneal your case necks, you will probably suffer neck splits earlier.
An added benefit is that the Lee collet die required absolutely no lube. On a FL die, if you don't reduce the friction by some means, bad things can happen. It can pull the neck off center, stretch the neck, and if you hear a screech when your expander pulls back through the case neck, one or more is probably happening.
I also use the collet die for neck sizing and only size the body and move the shoulder back a couple of .001" when chambering starts to get difficult. The Lee collet die does have a learning curve, and if you are unwilling to read and follow the directions, you probably will damage the die.