Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

Lee Precision sizing die set

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SS_N_NE:
A while back, I got a Lee six cavity mold for .452" tumble lube bullets. Also got a .452" sizing die set with the Alox lube for the tumble lube bullets.

Some small pieces of lead got caught in my mold and caused some bullets to be oversize. Which turned out fortunate as when pushed through the sizing die....came out .4536" in diameter (at the max point, they never became round in diameter???).

Fixed the mold problem. Had read about Lee molds, so not really suprized by the usually results.

However the sizing die is a bit of a let down. How hard is it to make a round hole that slugs lead to a certain diameter?  Sent a complaint to Lee via their warranty site the other day and got a reply today indicating I should return the die with "six sized bullets and six unsized bullets and we will inspect and make sure the die will size to .452 +/- .0005" ". I am a machinist and don't understand how they intend to make an oversize hole make smaller bullets (yea, a touch of sarcasim).

Anyone else have experience with Lee sizing dies? Is this performance typical of Lee sizing dies?

I have a Lee Classic Cast BreechLock Press, several Lee carbide reloading dies sets and some other tooling that all seem to function properly. Their 20lb production pot and mold seem to function OK (although the bullets are not the best).  At least the ammo is sized correctly and functions OK with jacketed production bullets. Otherwise puts a dent in my bullet production.

bkoenig:
I have a few Lee sizing dies and haven't had any problems with them.  I would guess it's just a fluke.  As you said they're pretty simple and not hard to make - heck, I made my own Lee-style sizing die when I needed a sizer for my .38-55.

One thing that can affect sizing is the type of alloy.  I know some lead alloys can spring back more than others after sizing.  Regardless of spring back they should be round, though.

unfy:
My Lee push-through-bottom .40s&w sizing die works just fine.

The only way I can see it not coming out correct would be:

a) die is just bad (mistakes happen)

b) if the bullet is some how getting kinked / catty cornered as you push it through so that the bullet 'leans' if ya place it base down on a flat surface.

c) there are some alloys that are a bit more elastic than others

d) i assume your die aint got a hairline crack ?

SS_N_NE:
I have a number of bore gage tools, unfortunately nothing that goes down to .452".  I am sure different alloy could have different results (and Lee seems to agree with that point).

Got an email today explaining how Lee can't make their own bullets due to OSHA rules so they have customers send bullets.  They offered to replace the die with a picture showing the die rendered useless...guess it is hammer time.

No crack in the die but it does have a fairly rough ID compared to the nice OD surface of they typical die work. Noticed the die was even strarting to "lead up" even though the bullets were lubed with the supplied Alox.

I could machine my own die...but would be more costly than the $15 Lee kit (maybe).

unfy:
Mine's got a rough ID as well.  I assume this is to help align the bullet as it's being pushed through.

If you got a pair of calipers (which you should anyway!!!!) use them to measure the inside diameter :D

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