old marlin and the lee 170 boolit

[mainiac]

I just picked up the lee 170 boolit for my 30-30. Was shooting it today,and found out that this boolit fits hard in the lands,very hard.I suppose this is good for accuracy,but for hunting,when the gun is loaded and unloaded,i can see problems with staving the boolit up.

This boolit measures pretty exactly .300 on the nose section.Is this a fat stlye boolit,or does my marlin have a tight throat? The gun is a 1948 336.

This boolit is shooting pretty good,just starting out with it,and it is shooting 1.5 inch or so,@50 yards.

Guess im just wondering if this boolit acts this way,in other peoples rifles....real heavy land engraving.

[scattershot]

Maybe the boolit is seated out too far? For hunting, I'd definitely seat them a little deeper.

[geargnasher]

Assuming you're using something akin to wheel-weight alloy, I'd try casting faster and getting the mould hot enough for a light satin frost all over the boolits, I'll bet you can get them to drop at about .299" or less. My Lee 170 does this, and the 150 drops .298"X.310" boolits.

I don't remember exactly, but it sounds like your barrel is pre-MicroGroove and has the Ballard-style rifling which tended to be more correctly sized at .300"/.308" bore/groove.

You might also try the Lyman 311041 (31141) design made especially for the .30-30.

Gear

[DLCTEX]

My Marlin also engraves the Lee 170 gr. boolit. but with a good crimp it has not been a problem. It does take a firm squeeze on the lever to close on a round.

[mainiac]

My Marlin also engraves the Lee 170 gr. boolit. but with a good crimp it has not been a problem. It does take a firm squeeze on the lever to close on a round.

This is how my gun is as well,,lever closes rather stiffly,because the boolit is being engraved,at least .250-.300 along the nose.