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Has anyone used one and seated .311" bullets?.

The reason I ask is a friend has one I can have that he's never used and I only want to load a small number of rounds at a time......but apparently the Lee Loader sizes the neck to .308 for some reason, whereas the 54r uses a .311" bullet.

There is a lot of conflicting info on the 'net so wondered if anyone on here has any practical experience with one.

Although I don't have this set yet but do shoot the calibre, you may find it comes with 2 different "buttons", one in .308 and one .311 as the 7.62x39 set does.

The 7.62x54 Lee loader will accommodate a .311 bullet. I have just dropped three bullets through mine to check.

lasbrisas wrote:Although I don't have this set yet but do shoot the calibre, you may find it comes with 2 different "buttons", one in .308 and one .311 as the 7.62x39 set does.

Isn't that the case with "normal" dies, not the Lee Loader?.

Alpha.....Cheers mate , I didn't want to have to use a .308 bullet in a .311" barrel.It seems odd to me that Lee would say use a .308 bullet for 54r when the vast majority are .311"+, I think the exception is the Finnish Mosins that are .308 (I'm sure Saddler will correct me if I'm wrong).

lasbrisas wrote:Although I don't have this set yet but do shoot the calibre, you may find it comes with 2 different "buttons", one in .308 and one .311 as the 7.62x39 set does.

nope

The Lee full size 7/8 threaded 7.62x54 dies only have one seating stem
Their 7.62x39 AK dies DO have two stems! Methinks that someone got their memo instruction bass ackwards

The LEE LOADER has ONE stem - that's the hit it with a hammer style set - the no press needed die system

Finns can slug at all sort of sizes. Mine is about .309/.310 - yet has the "D" mark to show it can be used with Soviet aggressor made ammo.
See, nice folks the Finns - very keen to return Soviet made ammo back to the makers.

I can't speak for this calibre and die set but for the Lee neck collet set you can use the 303brit die to neck size to .311" rather than the 7.62x54R size of .308"

If you size to .308" then you'll add neck tension onto the bullet which isn't a bad thing. You just need to make sure that it's not sized too small such that a .311" diameter bullet would crush the case if you try to seat it. Neck tension can be controlled using neck bushing dies so it's not uncommon.

saddler wrote:

lasbrisas wrote:Although I don't have this set yet but do shoot the calibre, you may find it comes with 2 different "buttons", one in .308 and one .311 as the 7.62x39 set does.

nope

The Lee full size 7/8 threaded 7.62x54 dies only have one seating stem
Their 7.62x39 AK dies DO have two stems! Methinks that someone got their memo instruction bass ackwards

The LEE LOADER has ONE stem - that's the hit it with a hammer style set - the no press needed die system

Finns can slug at all sort of sizes. Mine is about .309/.310 - yet has the "D" mark to show it can be used with Soviet aggressor made ammo.
See, nice folks the Finns - very keen to return Soviet made ammo back to the makers.

Well I have learnt something new in my 6 year shooting career, never seen those dies before ! Just watched a quick youtube vid to see how it's done, not something I fancy !

Having just looked at buying the Lee Loader having purchased Pacesetter dies in 7.62x54R I was under the impression that the Lee Loader sized the neck to .310 and the dies were .308, although my Pacesetter dies allow .311 bullets to be seated absolutely fine.

I wrote to Lee in America to see if they why they include a .308 stem but no .311 and they seemed oblivious.....god bless.

If you've never tried a Lee Loader, you don't know you are alive.....hammering those live rounds. It is strangely therapeutic and I have only ever set off one primer

I have quite a few sets in different calibers. I use them with a arbor press. I like them they produce good ammo. You just need to remember they neck size only.