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Alpha, turning a few thou. off the bottom of the die is a common fix when a die won't set the shoulder back - i.e. the base of the die is in contact with the shell-holder but still won't bump the shoulder.
As you say - still useable - now that you've sussed it out.

I have machined a few Lee dies in the past and they are very impressively tough to machine!

This is worth watching. Not very scientific but you get the idea.

https://youtu.be/jrFjRUG5Ro4

Ovenpaa wrote:I have machined a few Lee dies in the past and they are very impressively tough to machine!

I have altered a few Lee dies in the past and the first thing I do is anneal them.

ukrifleman

For taking a skim off the bottom I do not bother with annealing, a reasonable carbide insert does the job.

Now that I understand the process I thought it was time to have another go. This time we are working with the .222 Remington round.

All testing was done using a Wamadet press and a Sinclair Arbor press. Standard lee shell holders were used and a set of Redding competition shell holders.
Dies used are:
L.E.Wilson neck bushing and decap die.
Redding body die.
Lyman full length sizing die.
Lee full length sizing die.

No surprises this time.
For reference the loaded rounds came out at 2.123" average cartridge over all length and using a set of the SHEDS gauges the measurement from the base of the case to the Ogive averaged 1.775". The neck of the loaded rounds were measured and averaged to give me a bushing size that would result in a .002" neck tension on this bullet. The average neck measurement with this bullet seated is 0.247" So a neck bushing of 0.245" is required to give me .002" I actually used a 0.244" giving me .003".

New brass unfired average length to the shoulder measured with a SHED shoulder bump gauge came to.1.315".
Fired cases averaged 1.316"

I started with the redding body die the average set back came to 1.297" this equates to .012" shoulder bump. I tried all the Redding case holders and the numbers did not change this surprised me may be its some thing to do with it being a body die only.

The lyman full length die set the shoulders back on average 0.008" and was reasonably consistent.

The Lee full length die also set the shoulders back 0.008". The measurement on the Lee dies was very consistent they all came out at 1.307" so no need to average them.
So the moral of the story is if you full length size .222 Get a lee die set and a lee shell holder and crack on.

I did a side by side lube test using Imperial sizing wax and Hornady Unique case lube for all the testing.
The Hornady Unique case Lube is the best I have ever used. I purchased mine from pukkabundhooks a while ago and there is still loads left.

My spread sheet is getting bigger. My re loading routine for the 6.5x55 and the .222.

I run the fired case through a L.E. Wilson neck sizing bushing die this sizes the case necks to give me a .002" bullet retention and removes the primer.
I then run the cases through a Redding body die using a Redding competition shell holder to give me the correct shoulder set back to provide a proper chamber fit. The cases now fit my chamber and both rifles work flawlesley.
I intend to carry on with my experiments next up is my Steyr .308 and the 7.62x39
I might even have a look at some of my military stuff. In the mean time I have a few other shooting related projects to keep me out of mischief.
hmm what's next