[Steve Anderson]

I have been loading a load of LC cases using the Lee dies. The resizing/depriming die is not adjustable for neck location, just depriming pin extention. I have 2 different case gauges and both tell me my cases are fine. I hear people talking about adjusting the die to make sure the neck is correct, but there is no adjustment!, all cases are the same. They are 308, I trim all to 2.005. Do I have a problem? HighPowerNHRAShooter mentioned having the dies always set the same last time I asked this question, but I see no way to set these Cheapo dies! They are always the same setting as far as I can tell.

 

[B.A.R. gunner]

lee dies are cut so that you screw the die down until it comes to rest against the lee shell holder - youre done at that point. if it passes a case gauge then its in spec, why would you want to adjust it more? just curious?

read the instructions that came with the die set and you should see that somewhere.

 

[L999here]

....making it easy...

Lets not try to make a mountain out of a mole hill. Lee dies are just as good as any other dies. If it seats good in the head space gage,loads OK and shoots OK in your gun....you've done everything correctly. I sell Lee dies....I use Lee dies in all my Dillons (2-650's,2-1050's) and a .45 Camdex. Even had a couple of STAR machines reamed out to use 7/8 X 14 dies.....Lee there too. As long as you know what you are doing,work carefully,go slowly and check all your weights and procedures.....what else do you want...? If it ain't broke....don't try to fix it.....

 

[overbore]

Lee

makes a first rate crimping die also. I am blessed in that I could select from any for my 7.62 loads but the Lee crimp die is the most reliable crimp die out there.
Overbore

 

[Steve Anderson]

B.A.R.gunner

I never mentioned adjusting my cheapo Lee die! All I was saying is that it is not adjustable, what you get as far as shoulder position is fixed, no adjustment! All shoots fine and cases still look good. Thanks for your post! It was very helpfull. While I have you on the line, what loads are you using for 308 and military brass? Thanks, Steve A.

 

[scrat]

lee dies are cut so that you screw the die down until it comes to rest against the lee shell holder - youre done at that point. if it passes a case gauge then its in spec, why would you want to adjust it more? just curious?

read the instructions that came with the die set and you should see that somewhere.

Very correct. Another way. lets say you screw in the die to far when you go to size the case you may damage it. So you raise the ram with shell holder in place and screw down the die until it just makes contact with the shell holder then tighten the nuts

 

[B.A.R. gunner]

I never mentioned adjusting my cheapo Lee die! All I was saying is that it is not adjustable, what you get as far as shoulder position is fixed, no adjustment! All shoots fine and cases still look good. Thanks for your post! It was very helpfull.

i was unsure what you were trying to ask i guess. I use lee dies as well, and they are a great value and they work great. They may be cheap, but they have a GREAT stuck case removal procedure, and they produce consistent ammunition for me. The only gripe i have is the cheapo lock rings.

While I have you on the line, what loads are you using for 308 and military brass? Thanks, Steve A.

I was fortunate that i bought a bunch of 30 cal tracers (30 06 pulled tracers) a couple years ago, and i find that 41 grains of varget under the 30 cal tracer produces ammunition that functions as well as any surplus 308 out there. The only issue is that sometimes i set the sagebrush on fire from the tracer

Ive shot the same load through a M14, FAL, G3, and CETME and have experianced fantastic results

 

[L999here]

...favorite load for .308

I use the 147-150 gr. FMJ boat tail with Win primer and 41.5 gr AA#2231 for my generic load. And the 168 gr Sierra match king with 40 gr AA#2231. Both are mid-range loads and have worked in all the .308 guns I've tried them in.

 

[pbdeh]

I set the neck location on my lee dies. All dies should be set to a certain headspace meas. Screwing the die all the way to the shellholder may or may not produce proper reloads. The die should be adjusted down (entire die) until resizing produces cases 0.001-0.002" under min. cartridge headspace meas. You can find this dim. in a reloading manual. The best way to measure this is with cartridge headspace gauges that fit on the jaws of a caliper so you can get an actual measurement. I do not like the go/no-go gages for reloading.