Lee collet die question

[Alan in GA]

here is a quick drawing showing where a drill is used to open up the INSIDE of the collet die inner sleeve. I show how a rod is inserted into the opening at the four 'petals' to keep them from collapsing when tightened in the lathe chuck jaws [4 or 6 jaw]. Drill and test for K hornet shoulder contact or crush, Drill more if necessary until K hornet shoulder/body is not sized (crushed). Drill size has to be larger than hornet case body diameter giving no contact to the K case when inserted other than the neck. De-primes as normal!
Learned folk will measure several times and do it once, correctly : )
If I have to draw the chuck jaws I'm chargin' money! lol!

[IMG][/IMG]

[JohnHenry]

Thanks Alan. Ref. depriming; my normal procedure is to deprime using a Neil Jones decapping tool. Helps keep the dirt out of my dies and I get a feel as to the tightness of the primer pockets.

[Alan in GA]

....could be used for other RIMMED Ackley rounds such as the 30/30 AI. Rimless Ackley Improved rounds do fine in regular unaltered Lee Collet dies.

[Intel6]

When I started reloading for my different .22 Hornets (Anschutz's, T/C, Ruger #1) I discovered that the chambers of the Anschutz's and the T/C? were different than the chamber of the Ruger #1B. it has to do with the location of neck/shoulder junction. On the Anschutz's that junction is farther up on the neck and I found when I tried to use the Lee Collet sizer it sized down into the shoulder. The chamber of the T/C is different in that it does have the should moved up but it is right at the junction and the collet just slightly sizes down the shoulder.

The only way I was able to use the collet sizer was with a washer over the case on the shellholder so it activated the collet sooner and it didn't size down as far. I found it still decapped the old primer even with a decently thick washer on the case. I found doing the washer thing was a PITA so I just went back to using a backed out full length hornet sizing die so it only neck sized.

Neal in AZ

[Raid5]

Your drawing helped me understand your explanation. I assumed the collet part of the die was harder and would require a carbide drill.
Thanks, Dave

[SmokinJoe]

Well, I checked & the 22 PPC collet die is what I use for both 22 K-Hornet & 221FB.

[Alan in GA]

Great collet die if you can find one,...but didn't they stop making that one?

[SmokinJoe]

That is why I prefaced my original reply with "if you can find one". A call to Lee would be worthwhile probably.