Modify Lee Collet Neck Die?

[spladi]

So here's my dilemma. I have a 338 Norma mag improved and I really wanna use a Lee collet die at least for the first firing or two on my brass. However Lee doesn't make a collet neck die for 338 Norma and going the custom die route from them is pretty expensive.

So what I'm thinking is I could buy the Lee collet die for 338 Lapua mag. Of course I would try the die first to see if maybe it works as is but I'm kinda doubting it will because the Lapua is quite a bit longer then the Norma. So what I have in mind is to cut the Lee die down, taking equal amounts off both the sleeve and the die body.

Now does anyone with experience with the Lee die and exactly how it works know if this is a doable modification to the Lee collet die and should work fine as long as I get the length right???

Your help is appreciated guy's
Joshua

I would wonder if the case's body taper of the improved and its shoulder angle and the neck length need to be considered

 

[biff's reloading]

Anymore information on your .475 RUM? Looks like and interesting cartridge.

Sure is. I'd originally wanted to build the biggest suppressor friendly cartridge possible on .534 so I could easily carry it and enjoy it. I had a 112 savage in 300rum so I started building 375rum and 475rum barrels for it.

When I was building, a local guy asked me for a rifle for alaska. I mentioned my project and after some discussion, he decided to have me build him one as well. This changed my idea from suppressed long range, to essentially a 470ne+p+. I also have 480 bisley and the big hard cast bullet was my new goal. I worked With dan a bit at mountain molds to cut a single cavity thatd drop 525gr bullet of 50/50 ww/lino that could be heat treated for extra strength, gas checked, and powder coated, with crimp groove for rifle length and front of shoulder at revolver length with a bore ride section ahead of that.

I cut the chambers with freebore and a stepped leade to match the cast bullet. I had the 7rum reamer for cutting the body, and rented a 470capstick reamer for neck and throat. I got lucky and it turned out perfect.

I built mine first to proof the concept, and did load work with 3 bullets. Big 525 cast at 2550 for stop power, 500tsx for "normal" stuff at 2600fps full and 2000fps light, and 400gr lee at 1750fps for light recoil loads that basically duplicate a hot 45-70 for plinking and deer season.

Once mine was done, I copied it for him. Thanks to covid hysteria the following year, it hasn't Made it to alaska yet. I'm still working on building molds for 1000gr bullets to suppress. I've make a few solid copper by turning down some 50cal mtac. 1:10 twist mcgowan. The difference in recoil is really surprising! Gotta build a heavier Bench stock to drop it in for that project !

I load the same 525gr bullets in 480 brass for the sbh, crimped on the front of the shoulder. My profile pic. They go 1050 and brass falls out without the extractor. I got them up to 1200 before pressure, but you cant hang on and the base pin strips its lock screw at that level!

The exit holes on the backside of a 22" hemlock.

Papa bear and baby bear. Daughters 300aac. Where the idea originally started.