???? Anybody take one apart??? + pictures

[Chuck 100 yd]

I got a new Lee Factory Crinp Die made for the .308Win. today.

I plan to shorten the collet and use it for my .308MX. The MX case is aprox 1/10" shorter than the .308 Win.case.
I didn`t think about it before but what holds the collet inside the die body??? If I just put the hole thing in the lathe the friction of the cutting tool will make the collet spin in the die body. Any suggestions other than just grinding it by eyeball? I may have to use a draw bolt to pull and hold the collet tight into the body and just machine both away from the side.

[Scott Young]

i have taken them apart, i don't remember anything out of the ordinary about it. they are pretty straight forward.

[Scott Young]

i have taken them apart, i don't remember anything out of the ordinary about it. they are pretty straight forward.

ignore this. i was thinking you meant the neck collet die. your suggestion would work with a brass screw with nut.

[1886]

Chuck, The collet will just spin if you try to modify it while in the die body. Put the die in a padded vice and knock the collet out of the die body with a brass punch. Work from the top of the die body. The collet will be easy to remove as it is held in the die body by a circular wire clip. I think your idea will work just fine. Some folks modify the .44-40 FCD to make it suitable for the .44mag so your idea is probably sound. Regards. 1886.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Thanks guys, I wondered how it was held in there. I did not want to damage it getting it apart.
I couldn`t think of another case that was shorter than the .308MX and still has the body diameter. A .30-30 FCD wont work. This way I can use it for .308 Win if I ever wanted to although I can`t think of any reason to try to crimp the .308 Win ammo.

I tried to roll crimp using my Hornady dies and Speer bullets for my .308MX but it will buckle the case before any notable crimp is applied.
I want to start playing with cast in this gun so will modify this Lee FCD to get the job done. Range reports to follow. Thanks again.

[Leverluver]

Are we talking a Lee FCD here? Jeez, it only has one moving part. Pull the collet out and trim as necessary. I do to modify or polish them all the time. In fact I polish every one I get. They are really very rough and crudely made but a bargain for the price. It is getting it back together that can cause problems. The spring clip doesn't want to go back in the die body. While applying some pressure to reinsert the collet, be turning the collet counter clockwise at the same time. Usually this will cause the spring to "wind up" on itself and reduce it's unspring diameter so that it will slip back into the body. Voila

[Chuck 100 yd]

Thanks Leverlover!

[Chuck 100 yd]

Hate to keep draging this back but some of you may want to see.

I found this pic in Lee`s site. They must have changed the way they are made. No wire ring (clip ) in it or noted in tha parts list.

I found a .30-30 case will just catch the chamfered edge of the collet and extend through the collets jaws, thus it is held centered in the collet. I drilled out and threaded the primer hole to 1/4 x20 tpi in my lathe.
A 1/4" draw bolt and flat washer holds the collet tight in the die body`s taper.


All that is left is to turn .175 from the base of the collet.

I made up a dummy round this morning and find it works GREAT.

Lee`s site does say that if you are using the NEW Lee seating die that little is gained by using the rifle FCD due to the modified taper crimp that is used in the new Lee rifle dies.
I use a Lyman M-die to flair and expand the case mouth for cast bullets and just wanted to remove that flair. This modified Lee FCD does this well.

Some will say, just run the loaded round back part way into the full length sizing die to accomplish the same thing. Well, It takes me longer to remove the decaping stem and readjust it again than it does to use the FCD and also making things in my lathe is fun!!

[Andrew]

Awesome. I love custom stuff.