.300 Blackout Lee vs NOE

[gds]

There has been lots of discussion about the Lee 300 blackout mold and the NOE 300 blackout mold. I had a few problems with my boolits cast from both of these molds. But I found out most of the problem I encountered were self induced. I was getting the mold to hot and dropping them into water when they were too soft. This created bent boolits. :oops: The realization came to me when I tried to lube and size some boolits and I could see the obvious bend. :mad: Threw several hundred of each back into the pot and tried again. :mad:

For the most part after that the NOE bullet was the more accurate of the 2 after the fix. Except when I put the gas check on the Lee. Then they were on par with each other. Usually the NOE boolit was a little better. But they were close enough for Government work.

I cast some up and put them to the test today.

Boolits:
Straight Wheel weights Water dropped
Lube old Alox lube I had from an old gunshop
Lubed and sized in a Star Sizer to .310
I picked out the 5 best looking ones that I could find of each after sizing and lubing, that were within .1 gr in weight
Lee without Gas Check weighed 235gr
Lee with Gas Check Weighed 240gr
NOE Plain Base weighed 241gr

Cases:
LC 5.56mm
cut down and trimmed with Lee .300 Whisper Trimmer
Sized with Lee .300 Blackout Dies.
Fiochi Small Rifle Primers
10.1gr A1680
Velocity- Not sure Chrono Broke, But Subsonic.
Cycles action except the Lee non Gas checked does not always lock the bolt back on the last round.

Rifle AR15
Form 1 SBR on 80% home built receiver
Barrel 9.5inch 1 in 8.5 twist from Tactical Ammunition
Suppressor Form 1, 10 inch length
Scope : 1-4 MAMBA

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/1121121511a.jpg

Shooting was at 50 yds
Measurements are outside to outside

The results were a bit surprising this is the first time the Lee beat the NOE but it was what I shot.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/1121121511b.jpg

Because My handwriting stinks I will translate

Lee 240gr with Gas check
1.143 group
Best 3 - .769

Lee 235gr Without gas check
1.594 group
Best 3 - .987

NOE 241gr Plain Base
1.389 group
Best 3 - .917

[xacex]

I achieved a 1.2" group at 50 yards with the lee without a gas check, but had issues feeding the NOE. It is interesting that the lee with a gas check would do so much better. Maybe the exposed edge of the gas check on the boat tail is acting like a parachute to stabilize the boolit faster at this range, or there is deformation and gas cutting happening. I would think you would be getting some leading is gas cutting was occurring on the base without them. It worry's me putting a gas check so far down in the case, but you are not the only one doing it. At these pressures is there still a concern with the gas check seated so far below the neck?

[gds]

If there is I have not noticed it. I started with the lee 200gr gas checked and fired well over 500 rounds of it subsonic without a problem with the gas check or leading. Even pushed 155gr cast and 130gr cast upwards of 1700 to 2100fps without leading problems at all.

The NOE Bullet has not given me any problems with feeding.

[gds]

The other thing is I have done this test a few times without documenting it and the NOE always beats the other 2. the one time I document it the NOE does not do as good. go figure. Pretty sure it was operator head space and timing on that one.

[xacex]

Maybe it is my OAL that I have wrong with the NOE. What length are you running them at? Is your feed-ramp the standard M4, or is it modified? I like the lee 155 311 2r AK boolit so far. It has proven reliable, and has shown no signs of leading up to 1989 fps for me as well. I wish my pistol was as accurate as yours. I have the CMMG 8 inches, and has been a pill to get any accuracy out of. The 16" rifle has been fun, and on par with accuracy. Maybe it is the difference of having a stock. I haven't gone the SBR route because I cant use it hunting anymore if I do. Kind of useless ether way right now.

[gds]

My overall length is 2.135 for the NOE and 2.190 for the Lee. standard M4 feedramps. Seems to run fine with GI mags or Pmags.

That is the same 155 i am running. Rally like that boolit myself.

I just pop the pins and put it on my pistol lower to go hunt with until NC changes the hunting rules, to allow SBR.

[buyobuyo]

Nice information. I'm actually in the process of buying parts to build an SBR in 300 BLK. I've got most of the pieces bought or spec'ed already. Just need to decide on barrel length, handguard, suppressor, and start all the paperwork.

Not to get off topic, but one thing I've been wondering about is running cast through a suppressor. Do you have to worry about lube/lead build up inside the suppressors like I've heard about with rimfire suppressors? From my understanding most larger caliber suppressors aren't user serviceable, so do they have to be sent in for regular cleaning?

[gds]

Mine is a form 1 can that can be disassembled, and you do not want a sealed can if shooting cast boolits. Most of what i have to clean is lube. I get some leading also but mostly lube.

[buyobuyo]

So you built your silencer? That's awesome. You wouldn't happen to know of any user serviceable .308 cans would you? I've been doing as much research as I can, but it seems that all the commercially made .308 silencers have the endcaps welded.

Edit:

Out of curiosity, how does your's mount? Does it just screw on or do you index off farther back of the barrel too for alignment? What type of baffles did you use to make it? Any pictures? Video of suppressed/unsuppressed comparison?

[41 mag fan]

Interesting thread here. I've got a NIB 300 Blk I'm wanting to get started on this winter after the holidays

[gds]

I really am not sure about commercial cans as far as user servicible ones.

Mine has thread adapters for 1/2-28, 9/16-24, 5/8-24, and 14.1 left.

I am not a machinest and if I had not had the guidance, patience, time, and tooling of a good friend, I would not have been able to do it.

It was originally designed for my 9mm AR SBR upper but beefed up some to handle higher pressure rounds.

It is 10 inch main tube 1.500 inch OD. Exit End cap has replaceable insert in case it gets damaged(which it has had a few bullet strikes from mounting on an AK) One of these days when My buddy and I have the time i will make a new one.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/outertube.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/exitendcap-1.jpg

It has an inner tube that is 1.250 OD and just over 5.800 in length. this threads into the exit endcap and is kept straight in the tube by the blast baffle which is the only baffle made of titanium.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/innertube.jpg

The little holes actually do direct gases around the inner tube. Of course they usually get clogged with boolit lube after a while

Just standard K baffles made of brass.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/kbaffles.jpg

I was just going to make the blast baffle out of brass also but he convinced me to use the titanium he had. I am glad I did it his way. The pitting on here is from several bump fire mag dumps out of a 7.5 inch .223

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/blastbaffle.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/baffleassembly.jpg

The inner tube assembled
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/innertubeassembled.jpg

This gives a 3 inch initial expansion chamber when assembled.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/Shooting/Suppressor/expansionchamber.jpg

I do not have any way to measure decibels. But I can mount it on my Savage .308 and shoot full power loads with out hearing protection, as well as the 7.5 inch AR .223 upper. Also in the .308 loaded with 200 gr lee cast boolit and 7.2gr of Red dot it is really quiet :mrgreen:

[gds]

Interesting thread here. I've got a NIB 300 Blk I'm wanting to get started on this winter after the holidays

I am an absolute fan boy of the cartridge and honestly I came to it kicking and screaming, but after doing a lot of research it has become my go to gun. between me and my daughter have harvested 9 deer with it.

[gds]

Here is a picture of the NOE group I shot when I first got the mold. same loading as above,54325