Latest cast

[DrDucati]

Got new Lee 309-160-RN mold today. This was about surmounting the challenges of PC with the gas checks and also just the basic challenge of getting gas checks on straight.

I cast these with my mix of 50:50 linotype and plain lead. I got these to drop from the mold perfectly after just 5 or 6 pours.

After PC, I installed the gas checks with method described elsewhere on this forum, using post inserted into Lee push size die, bullet placed nose down in an inverted nose punch and ram up against the post. I found it was more steady using a .38 spcl brass in its shell holder to hold the nose punch. Must not have cured the PC sufficiently as the nose punch under pressure took off some PC. So, after sizing, I PC'd only the noses so they look decent. Pretty labor intensive when all said and done. Plus I'm going to run these through the sizer again.
Going to load as 30-30 Win with 27 gr H4895 and shoot em with my Winchester 94
169575

[1895gunner]

Looks good to me, thanks for sharing!

1895gunner

[Walter Laich]

It will get easier with practice

what color are you using?

[DrDucati]

It will get easier with practice

what color are you using?

It's acai starburst from PBTP

[harley45]

Looks good I those will shoot well

[DrDucati]

Ok, I used my Lyman Large Rifle Ammo Checker. Supposedly, you drop the loaded round in the gauge and if it fits, you're good. I learned the hard way this is not necessarily so.

It checks the cases but it seems the nose on these bullets are too wide, and they do not chamber in my Winchester 94 30-30. My C-309-150-FN work well, but these C-309-160 RN are too long.

I am on the lookout for a 6-cavity mold like the 309-150 or another that will chamber.

[Big Dangle]

Powder coated and gas checked rifle boolits look so awesome, good job!!!!

[toallmy]

Nice looking boolits ,

[popper]

C-309-160 RN are too long Can you seat them deeper? Drop down to 25gr. for starting load,should be in the 13-1400 fps range.

[DrDucati]

Thanks for the responses.


C-309-160 RN are too long Can you seat them deeper? Drop down to 25gr. for starting load,should be in the 13-1400 fps range.

Will that be okay not crimped over the crimp groove?

[popper]

I use the FCD to remove the bell only in AR 308 & 30/30, no problem. If they don't twist by hand or push in easy, your OK.

[Shiloh]

Nice looking boolits.

Shiloh

[DrDucati]

Follow up question: I examined the jammed boolit. It had rifling marks in the proximal 0.1" of the nose. So I am seating the boolit 0.1" deeper. This puts the base well into the shoulder of the case. Is that okay?

[popper]

They are GC so it's in the case, should work fine.

[DrDucati]

Good stuff. I did also find an old thread in which posters all agreed the longer Lee bullets need to be seated to the bottom of the throat and shoot fine in a Win 94. So while I still have a bit of H4895 left, I will reduce the Hodgdon load from 17.5 to 15gr to start.