Just a stab here but could it be the shell holder being used was not machined correctly and is causing probs? if you got one, try another shell holder. If no gots lemme know which one it is and I can loan you mine for testing. Is ya want, bring you die and some brass over to my place (Mililani) and we can do some testing on on my press, equip etc. You shouldnt have to crank that lock nut  for the decapper down like that. All my dies and shell holders are Leeann if ve never had any probs. Lemme know, ok? 

Just so we're not assuming the obvious. You are lightly lubing the insides of the neck?


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for the Lee dies, the top of the decapping/expanding pin does not need to sit flush with the top of the collet.  if it pushes up 1/8 inches above flush after reassembling the collet, then just leave it that way.

the lee dies are designed where the decapping/expanding pin will automatically adjust.  after reassembling the lee die, the decapping/expanding pin will re-position itself after it bottoms out on the web of the case.

there is nothing wrong with the decapping/expanding pin sticking out a bit from the top of the collet.  so long as the decapping/expanding pin is able to expand the neck and decap the case, it is doing its job.

if you crank down the collet and make it too tight, you're essentially turning your lee die into the RCBS full length dies.  the difference is that RCBS uses a replaceable decapping pin, which is designed to break for out of spec flash holes or berdan primed brass.

for the Lee dies, the top of the decapping/expanding pin does not need to sit flush with the top of the collet.  if it pushes up 1/8 inches above flush after reassembling the collet, then just leave it that way.
the lee dies are designed where the decapping/expanding pin will automatically adjust.  after reassembling the lee die, the decapping/expanding pin will re-position itself after it bottoms out on the web of the case.
there is nothing wrong with the decapping/expanding pin sticking out a bit from the top of the collet.  so long as the decapping/expanding pin is able to expand the neck and decap the case, it is doing its job.
if you crank down the collet and make it too tight, you're essentially turning your lee die into the RCBS full length dies.  the difference is that RCBS uses a replaceable decapping pin, which is designed to break for out of spec flash holes or berdan primed brass.

I had heard this somewhere before but wasn't sure how it effects accuracy. The Lee neck sizer will arrive on Friday so I can compare the two dies.

Just so we're not assuming the obvious. You are lightly lubing the insides of the neck?

Maybe not enough. I hate having the powder stick to the lube residue. I bought a bottle of Dillon Case Lube so I could try that on a Qtip instead of the Lee Case Lube.


 

Update:
I tried a second shell holder and used Dillon case lube on a qtip for the inside of the neck. I reset the primer pin so it's flush and seated the die in the press per instructions. The die goes down to a 1/8" gap (first photo). When I press down, the pin goes up 1/8" (second photo). The resized neck seems fine. When I try to resize a second case, it looks like the die doesn't go as far down the neck with a .005" difference. Next, I took out the primer pin and it seemed to resize fine but not sure if it matters with or without the ball pin. I use a deprimer die anyways so don't really need the primer pin in the sizing die. My Lee neck sizer should arrive tomorrow so I'll try comparing when it's here.

Update:
I tried a second shell holder and used Dillon case lube on a qtip for the inside of the neck. I reset the primer pin so it's flush and seated the die in the press per instructions. The die goes down to a 1/8" gap (first photo). When I press down, the pin goes up 1/8" (second photo). The resized neck seems fine. When I try to resize a second case, it looks like the die doesn't go as far down the neck with a .005" difference. Next, I took out the primer pin and it seemed to resize fine but not sure if it matters with or without the ball pin. I use a deprimer die anyways so don't really need the primer pin in the sizing die. My Lee neck sizer should arrive tomorrow so I'll try comparing when it's here.

the short answer is, yes, you need to keep the decapping/expanding pin. 

Bushido explained this earlier.

The pin has nothing to do with sizing the shoulder. It deprimes the case and the expander ball brings the neck back to proper size. Using a headspace gauge can check what you are describing.

the short answer is, yes, you need to keep the decapping/expanding pin. 
Bushido explained this earlier.

That's what I thought but wasn't sure. I used the Lee case length gauge and it barely fit in the neck without the expanding ball. Once the bullet is seated into the case, I guess it doesn't make a difference. It's just slightly more resistant when I will insert the bullet.

I received the RCBS neck die today from Amazon. They were a day early. I'm not sure why I thought it was a Lee. Anyways, the RCBS is smoother but doesn't go down the neck as far as the Lee dies so in the end, I guess it doesn't really matter how far down the neck the die goes. In the photo, the RCBS is on the left and Lee on the right.

My understanding is that the neck sizing is only relevant to bolt action rifles so I guess I don't need it. I'll send it back to Amazon unless anyone wants to buy it from me for $32?

That's what I thought but wasn't sure. I used the Lee case length gauge and it barely fit in the neck without the expanding ball. Once the bullet is seated into the case, I guess it doesn't make a difference. It's just slightly more resistant when I will insert the bullet.

I received the RCBS neck die today from Amazon. They were a day early. I'm not sure why I thought it was a Lee. Anyways, the RCBS is smoother but doesn't go down the neck as far as the Lee dies so in the end, I guess it doesn't really matter how far down the neck the die goes. In the photo, the RCBS is on the left and Lee on the right.

My understanding is that the neck sizing is only relevant to bolt action rifles so I guess I don't need it. I'll send it back to Amazon unless anyone wants to buy it from me for $32?

what you're referring to is "neck tension," and, yes, it is also important.

Bushido mentioned this earlier also:

I'm thinking no. I would measure the case after sizing. Check that the expander ball is bringing your neck tension to about .003".

what you're referring to is "neck tension," and, yes, it is also important.
Bushido mentioned this earlier also:
Quote from: Bushido on May 22, 2017, 06:10:25 AM
I'm thinking no. I would measure the case after sizing. Check that the expander ball is bringing your neck tension to about .003".

The cases that were sized without the expanding ball look to have a .002" smaller OD than the cases with the expanding ball. Other than that, I don't turn necks or use seating bushings. I suppose the narrower OD neck has more tension on the bullet.

did you trim the cases?

Update:
I tried a second shell holder and used Dillon case lube on a qtip for the inside of the neck. I reset the primer pin so it's flush and seated the die in the press per instructions. The die goes down to a 1/8" gap (first photo). When I press down, the pin goes up 1/8" (second photo). The resized neck seems fine. When I try to resize a second case, it looks like the die doesn't go as far down the neck with a .005" difference. Next, I took out the primer pin and it seemed to resize fine but not sure if it matters with or without the ball pin. I use a deprimer die anyways so don't really need the primer pin in the sizing die. My Lee neck sizer should arrive tomorrow so I'll try comparing when it's here.

From the looks of your photo, your die is not adjusted correctly. There's a few forum members with open invitations for reloaders to visit their homes for a hands on demo. I would consider taking them up on their offer. It's a lot easier to show someone than to use a keyboard and try to attempt an explanation.

You aboslutely need the decapping pin in you Lee FL die. If you adjust your die properly and remove the pin, the body will be resized, the shoulders will be  bumped back but your neck will UNDERSIZED. With a properly set  Lee FL die, the neck will be correctly sized on the down stroke of the ram as the neck gets dragged over the expander ball which is part of the decapping pin.

I do use a neck die and a seperate body die for certain applications. I personally wouldn't neck size only for an AR platform which looks like what you shoot. Too much chance for the expanded shoulder to cause the bolt not to fully engage the barrel extension which could cause bad things to happen. My $.02

did you trim the cases?

After the sizing...

I decided to keep using the Lee die (with pin) and send back the RCBS (unless you'd like to buy it for $32). 

Thanks guys. 

are your issues related to your 7.62x54R dies or the 223 dies?

your initial posts are related to the 54R, but your recent posts and pics are 223.

I dont think youre screwing the dies far enough.
With no brass raise the ram to the top. Screw die till it touches the shell holder. Lee recommends an additional quarter or half turn in.

are your issues related to your 7.62x54R dies or the 223 dies?
your initial posts are related to the 54R, but your recent posts and pics are 223.

It was initially 54r then solved that with a RCBS neck die. Then I noticed a problem with my .223 sizing die. Both were bought around the same time. I decided the .223 problem wasn't as bad as I initially thought. It's great to have people like y'all to bounce ideas around with.

I dont think youre screwing the dies far enough.
With no brass raise the ram to the top. Screw die till it touches the shell holder. Lee recommends an additional quarter or half turn in.

Yep, as instructed. I think I'm just wearing out my Lee dies. I have a month to return the second RCBS die to Amazon. I don't feel bad about it because I pay $100 per year for the Prime privilege.

I think I'm just wearing out my Lee dies.

how many rounds are you making?
it takes A LOT of rounds to wear out a die

how many rounds are you making?
it takes A LOT of rounds to wear out a die

I agree but it sure seems like it.

I discovered there's an issue with using the 54r RCBS neck sizer instead of the Lee FL sizer. The RCBS has the .308 expanding ball and I replaced the Lee die with the .311 expanding ball. I'm not sure if I can put the Lee .311 into the RCBS but doubt it. The result is that the neck bulges a bit when I insert the .312 bullet into the .308 sized neck. It's supposedly a problem because it tends to bulge out one side more than the other so it's off center by .003". How much does this effect accuracy... who's to say? I bought size 4 lead weights at JHara and slugged the bore again. This time I got .312" which is a lot better than the .314" I got before with the larger lead weights.

I discovered there's an issue with using the 54r RCBS neck sizer instead of the Lee FL sizer. The RCBS has the .308 expanding ball and I replaced the Lee die with the .311 expanding ball. I'm not sure if I can put the Lee .311 into the RCBS but doubt it. The result is that the neck bulges a bit when I insert the .312 bullet into the .308 sized neck. It's supposedly a problem because it tends to bulge out one side more than the other so it's off center by .003". How much does this effect accuracy... who's to say? I bought size 4 lead weights at JHara and slugged the bore again. This time I got .312" which is a lot better than the .314" I got before with the larger lead weights.

I have both the RCBS FL and the Neck Sizing dies and they both came with the larger expanding ball that you can replace the .308 ball with. If yours did not come with the larger neck expander ball I suggest you write RCBS and I am sure they will send you one.

I was about to resize the cases when I read your post. I put them in a bag until I get the new expander ball. Unfortunately for me (not them), they are off the next two days so it will be some time.