Some years back I had the opportunity of testing one of the early <?xml:namespace prefix = st2 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st2:PersonName><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas:contacts" /><st1:GivenName>Lee</st1:GivenName> <st1:Sn>Collet</st1:Sn></st2:PersonName> dies in 30/06 caliber. Using a once fired case and a <st2:PersonName><st1:GivenName>Lee</st1:GivenName> <st1:Sn>Hand</st1:Sn></st2:PersonName> Press I reloaded and fired the same case 110 times. The 110<SUP>th</SUP> time the case neck started to split and I discarded it. The case never required trimming. The load was one from the Lee charge table using the dipper. So it was not a hot load. I would be interested in hearing from anyone else that has done some testing on case life with the Collet die.

Welcome to the forum Leeman.

Some of my 243 cases have in excess of 30 firings on them. I do anneal the necks about every fifth firing. Like you the cases will eventually end up with a split neck and have to be discarded. I'm loading within five percent of top book loads. Great dies, but there is a learning curve when first using them.

Most of the equipment on my bench is that Lee Red stuff. I've been fillling empty cases now for better than 45 years and been thru a bunch of stuff and sure am happy with the loads those little Lee presses are making.