Neck sizing with Lee collet sizer

[bassman]

I have never had an Ackley chamber before and am considering trying one. I have a few questions on the neck sizing of brass with the Lee collet sizer. Is it possible to use a standard collet neck sizer for an Ackley chamber? For example: Can I use a standard 30-06 collet sizer on my 30-06 Ackley brass? I really like the Lee collet sizer and use them on all my reloaded brass. Lee doesnt make the neck sizer for 284....so can I use a standard 7mm-08 neck sizer for a 284? I understand the full length sizing must be done with the proper die.

Thank you Savage forum for all your knowledge. I have learned so much on this site!

[bootsmcguire]

On most calibers you can use the LCD (Lee Collet Die) for the parent round on the true Ackley version of the same round. I personally use my 243 Win LCD on my 243AI rounds and it works great. I know 22-250, 243, 260, 7-08 and 25-06 all work that way fine. I see no reason why the 30-06 to 30-06AI wouldn't work. As far as using the 7-08 LCD to size 284 I don't have my books in front of me but I am going to bet that unless the base to should length is close, it won't work without modification (which isn't too hard). I know that Lee will make you a custom LCD and a Dead-Length Seating die for about $60, all then need is 3 fired cases and a bullet of your choice.

What caliber exactly did you want to get in Ackley? Some rounds are not worth the effort and some get very substantial gains. The one thing I will say is using an A.I. chamber basically eliminates the need to trim.

[bassman]

Thank you boots for the quick reply! I want the 30-06 AI because I have another 30-06 standard and a ton of military brass. I really like the 30-06 and would like to have another with a good custom barrel. My standard 30-06 I use strictly for hunting and would like to use the Ackley for paper. I know I probably wont gain much in velocity but it will be easier to keep my brass separated between the two rifles..and I like the not having to trim part also. Could you explain the part about modification of the standard die to use a different length cartridge for neck sizing?

[bootsmcguire]

Well if the cartridge you want to use the LCD on is longer than the round the die was built for, then just put a washer of the desired thickness between the shell-holder and the base of the die. If the round you want to use is shorter than the round the LCD was built for, then you need to use a lathe and move the shoulder on the collet sleeve up the tube the amount of difference between your cartridges, then you will have to turn off that same amount off the bottom of the sleeve. Then you will need to make a washer-like spacer to put under the cap of the die. The spacer's thickness will be the same as the amount you shaved off of the sleeve. Hopefully all of that was understandable.

If you have to turn the sleeve, put the mandrel inside the collet before you put the sleeve in the lathe chuck, this will keep you from distorting the "fingers" of the collet sleeve. Also I have made my spacers out of SS just to keep the inside from rusting and SS usually has a better machine finish with less effort. I have used this method to build 6BR dies from 6PPC LCD and a 243 Seater, and also 30BR dies from a 308 Win LCD set. Both work great.

I do want to add that I have used the LCD for the 22 Hornet on the 22 K-Hornet (which is basically a 22 Hornet-AI) but it required me to build a .1875" spacer to affix to my shell-holder. This was due to the fact that the 22H has a very tapered body and the 22K-H has a sharper shoulder and blown out taper. The LCD when used with the spacer works like a champ.

As far as use on the 30-06AI it should work, I see no reason why modification would be needed but I don't have a 30-06AI so I cannot say with 100% certainty. Blue Avenger here at the forum I believe has a 30-06AI and possibly can shed some light from personal experience if he sees this and chimes in.

[Blue Avenger]

I use lee collet dies for most of my AIs, including the .30-06 AI. A few I have found used F/L die seats cheap, but still use the Lee for neck sizing.
Far as that goes I use a .270 win collet die with a spacer to size my .270 stw. I looked in the books for dimensions at the base of the neck on the 2 cases and subtracted the .270 win length from the 7stw to get my spacer thickness. Slip it on my 8mm rem case and size the neck. Lee's work by the shell holder pressing up on the bottom of the die. Lots of room inside lee collet dies.

[bassman]

Thank you all for the replies!! Now I can make a better decision!!
Cant thank you enough for the valuable info here.

[kkeene]

Big fan of the collet dies. You may need to occasionally full length re-size your Ackley cases. Lee also makes Ackley FL die sets at a pretty fair price.

I like my 22-250AI, mainly for the reduced trimming requirements.

Keith