hceuterpe Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) So I have a set of Lee 9mm dies. The 650 manual states the sizing die to be screwed in with the ram up until it touches and then tighten the lock ring. The Lee instructions state to screw in the sizing die until it touches the ram with it up, and then 1/4 turn.Which of the two instructions should I follow? Edited March 24, 2015 by hceuterpe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Whatever one works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinsey691 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 The shell plate is recessed in so die go further down, if u have a case guage that will help u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Set the sizer to just kiss the plate when handle is all the way down. You should toss the LEE ring and use Dillon rings. And you will probably want to put it underneath the tool head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glynnm45 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 What Sarge says, and one little caveat; Lee Dies are generally used in Lee Presses, so with a LLM or a Turret press, the Turret actually moves up a bit (especially with the 4 hole turret press) and I believe the 1/4 turn extra as listed in the Lee instructions are to compensate for the Turret travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassaholic13 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Set the sizer to just kiss the plate when handle is all the way down. You should toss the LEE ring and use Dillon rings. And you will probably want to put it underneath the tool head Actually, the Lee nuts work just fine... or can... Ditch the o-ring and turn the nut upside down. Fits on top of the tool head just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Set the sizer to just kiss the plate when handle is all the way down. You should toss the LEE ring and use Dillon rings. And you will probably want to put it underneath the tool head Actually, the Lee nuts work just fine... or can... Ditch the o-ring and turn the nut upside down. Fits on top of the tool head just fine. Just means more tools. I like to keep them all 1" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassaholic13 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Set the sizer to just kiss the plate when handle is all the way down. You should toss the LEE ring and use Dillon rings. And you will probably want to put it underneath the tool head Actually, the Lee nuts work just fine... or can... Ditch the o-ring and turn the nut upside down. Fits on top of the tool head just fine. Just means more tools. I like to keep them all 1" Depends how often you go adjusting them I 'spose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Or what tools you have at your bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianDourty Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I'm using Lee (pistol and rifle) dies on my 550 though I'm not sizing rifle on it, just loading. I set the dies up per the Dillon manual and verified with a case gauge and my pistol barrel. I had dumped the lee rings and replaced them with Hornady lock rings for use on my RockChucker but switched to Dillon rings with the 550. Easier to work with, more room on tool head, and the wrench is on the press. I don't anticipate much adjusting though unless i change my load as I have dedicated tool heads for each caliber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchRapp Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Set the sizer to just kiss the plate when handle is all the way down. You should toss the LEE ring and use Dillon rings. And you will probably want to put it underneath the tool head Curious about this statement... I have a 550 and have never heard of the lock ring underneath the tool head instead of on top. Both lee and dillon dies and have been using the dillon sizing die in my 550. I have read that the dillon die does not size quite as far down the case as the lee die does and have been experiencing about 2 rounds per 100 that won't gauge in my wilson case gauge. I was considering switching to the lee sizing die with the dillon lock ring thinking this might help with the problem. Like I said, just curious about the details of why putting the lock ring on the underside of the tool head is beneficial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Like I said, just curious about the details of why putting the lock ring on the underside of the tool head is beneficial. I have only done it when there were more threads available on the bottom side and the die had less exposed threads on top than the lock ring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Like I said, just curious about the details of why putting the lock ring on the underside of the tool head is beneficial. I have only done it when there were more threads available on the bottom side and the die had less exposed threads on top than the lock ring. Yes. The threads on the LEE dies run out too soon. If you really adjust it way down there is only about a thread showing on top of mine. It might hold but I use a socket instead of the wrench so it is easy to go underneath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekratman Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 That's a great new thing to know. With those Lee dies on the Dillon I worry that I only have half the threads of the nut engaged. Put the nut under the toolhead.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Another way is turn the toolhead upside down. Can't use powdercheck of course. It'll give you a few extra threads. But putting the locking underneath is a better way as the toolhead from memory has flats machined on the top. Btw dillon toolheads move up too. So setting it as per lee instructions would probably be ok too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob DuBois Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I would set the Lee carbide sizer using a small strip of paper as a go no go gauge. The carbide ring in a Lee die is closer to the mouth of the die and will crack if set to tight. You may need to put the lock nut under the shell plate as Lee's die is just a little shorter. For best results you may need to turn the powder through die down a few thousands. I used a drill press and sandpaper turn the powder through die enough that the sized piece of brass just slips on the powder through die. Polish with compound after sanding. Good idea to polish the inside of the powder through die also stops bridging. Lee's sizing die is an excellent design that sizes closer to the extractor groove and a little tighter than other brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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