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June 6, 2007, 02:47 AM | #1 |
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Lee's collet die guarantee.
Here it is.
Lee Collet Die Set "There is no loading system that will load more accurate ammunition than Lee Collet Dies. We guarantee it in writing with every set. No one but Lee has ever dared to make a guarantee like this "Smallest group size or your money back." A collet squeezes the case neck against a precision mandrel for a perfect fit with minimum run-out. No case lube is needed. Cases last ten times longer, so the savings on only 35 cases will pay for the dies." From my personal experience this is a very accurate statement. Brass lasts forever. Groups shrink. No lube needed. What more could you ask for? I would ask for a Redding Collet Die! LOL To touch and feel a Redding die is to touch and feel perfection IMO. As soon as you look at a Redding die, you know you are looking at quality. When you look at a Lee die, you know that it is "Good enough" LOL. But yet Lee dies work. I will say that Lee collet die is great. All of my other dies are other brands. And my Lee collets all wear Hornady rings. My perfect die? A Lee collet made with the perfection of a Redding with a Hornady ring. LOL |
June 6, 2007, 12:23 PM | #2 |
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I have used Lee collet dies for about 20 years. I got my first set with my first 223 bolt action rifle. My handloads from the Lee Pro1000 shoot 1/2" easily. My brother spends a lot more time loading his 223 ammo to get 3/8" groups. I suppose if I took as much time loading as he does, I could outperform his loads.
I have a set of Redding dies for my 22-250, the BR set with the micrometer bullet seater. When I bought a set of Lee Collet dies for my 22-250, my brass life almost doubled, from 5-6 reloads to about 10 reloads. Gotta love it! I agree that Lee dies could look better, but it's what inside that counts. I'm not sure I like spending the extra money for Redding dies, even though they are beautiful.
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June 6, 2007, 07:42 PM | #3 |
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I will also support the quality of the Lee Collet Die. I've used others and none can come close as far as my experiences. However, I must state that I have never tried competition dies from anyone else. I figured that if a man could push 1/4" 5 shot groups with the Lee dies, any other performance gains would certainly have to come from the rig. My arsenal only includes improved factory rigs. These dies exceed my abilities with such equipment. These dies allow me to shoot thumb tacks at will at 100 yds. For sporting uses,I don't need any more performance than that. It builds great confidence.
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June 6, 2007, 08:23 PM | #4 |
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Lee Collet Die vs. RCBS X-Die
What's the difference between the Lee Collet Die and the RCBS X-Die? Why doesn't the Lee die need lube while the X-die does? Inquiring minds want to know.
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June 7, 2007, 07:15 AM | #5 | |
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Quote:
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June 7, 2007, 09:17 AM | #6 |
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I adjusted some Lee Collets to cam over at 100 pounds handle force at top dead center in my RCBS rockchucker press.
It broke the press. I sent it back to RCBS and they sent me a whole new press. The next year RCBS beefed up their design. |
June 8, 2007, 10:18 PM | #7 |
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Richard Lee is a very savvy character. He knows there are way too many variables involved in the production of an accurate load to prove or disprove the statement. He also knows that benchresters who jam seat find that "guarantee" outrageously funny. That being said, IMHO he's right as far as the majority of handloads are concerned. I have never found any other method to be superior when used in making cartridges to be used in a factory "off the shelf" rifle, and I have used them all at one time or another.
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June 10, 2007, 11:45 AM | #8 |
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I have sent things to Lee and I have emailed them.
The translated message is, "IT CAN'T BE OUR FAULT...Drop Dead!". In contrast, RCBS has girls with sweet voices answer the phone that will send me replacements for anything I break due to mis use. Both companies are a little out of balance. Forster has nice girls that promise to forward my ideas to the owners [read "don't call us, we'll call you."]. But they do sent new stuff to me if the problem is their fault |
June 10, 2007, 08:47 PM | #9 |
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The major difference is that Forster products are made to BR/match tolerances. BTW, I know at least one woman who takes calls there who would object to being called a girl, although I suspect she would secretly be flattered.
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June 11, 2007, 11:45 AM | #10 |
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+1 for Forster dies. Good stuff. I have them in .22 Hornet, .222, & .222 Mag, plus a .223 seater.
I also have Lee collet dies in .22 Hornet & .222, but use the Forster dies. If I get back serious about shooting my .222 Mag, I might get a Redding bushing type size die which was not available back then, BUT, it shoots awfully well with the Forster dies as is. It easily shoots under 1/2 MOA for 5 shot groups regularly. It will do 1/4 on occasion. |
June 15, 2007, 05:14 PM | #11 |
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Just got done checking some cases I'd sized with the Collet die versus some neck sized with a Hornady full length die. The Collet die showed about .001" to .0015". The Hornady showed consistently .003" runout.
Bullets seated with the Hornady seater ahowed .0015-.002" runout, the Lee seater consistently .003". Figures....what you gain on one end, you loose on the other. Guess I'll be sizing with Lee and seating with Hornady. Found these measurments to be fairly consistent across 3 sets of dies, Lee vs. Hornady. Calibers were .204, 220 Swift and .308. All checked in an RCBS Case Master guaging tool. Basically I spent $60 on a tool to tell me that the cheapass Lee collet dies really do work as advertised. Go Figure! Andy |
June 15, 2007, 05:39 PM | #12 |
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I an a green (rcbs) guy my self, but i have to admit that I use their dies exclusively for pistol loads.
As far as waranties are concerned RCBS will replace it even if it was your fault (like craftsman tools). Forester, only if it is thier fault. Lee, only if it is a blue moon. Hornady, only as long as that model is still making a profit for them (tried getting a replacement part for a new press and they said that I would have to buy it even though it failed due to their design and then I said ok here is my card, then they told me a 4 to 6 week wait for them to retool and then spoke with the head engineer and he said they would not remanufacture the part and I could not send my press back to get retrofitted even if it was their fault{last time I will ever buy a hornady product}.
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June 17, 2007, 07:11 AM | #13 |
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After reading this thread last week , I decided to break out my collet die and resize my final five rounds for my Savage .223. I used a Forster bullet seater , in fact the only bullet seater I have.
Anyway , don't know if it was a fluke or what - but it was the the best group I had ever shot with the Savage and one of the top 3 or 4 groups I had fired ever! Will definitely resize some more cases with this die! The few that I had tried in the Remington some months ago did well but really not better than the cases that were FL sized with my Redding die. Maybe it was a case of everything coming together with the Savage?
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June 17, 2007, 07:47 AM | #14 |
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Lee Collet dies
This is good to hear I just got these dies for .223 and look forward to using them. got the Lee Classic Turrent and my .45 groups have shrunk.
"Honey I've shrunk my groups"! |
June 18, 2007, 08:56 PM | #15 |
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Love my Lee Collet dies.
Best thing I ever found to keep my .303 British brass from giving up the ghost too soon.
Redding and Forster are nice, too, but I'm not a Benchrester. |
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