Lee c309-150-f mold question

[XWrench3]

so i am thinking that i am going to order one of these. does anybody have one? and if so, how big do the bullets drop when cast? i want to know if they are actually 0.309", or + or - . i know my barrel (marlin microgroove) slugs out @ 0.308". i was also thinking of trying some without gas chex, but if i do that, i know i will need a larger boolit. i have shot several lee cast boolits (LEE C309-160-2R) out of this gun, that i had chopped the nose off, just to see how they worked. the ones without a gas check, leaded pretty bad. the ones i shot with a gas check, leaded bad enough that after 6 shots, i was not hitting a paper plate @ 50 yards any longer. i put 3 jacketed bullets through, and they were back on target (actually, hit the bulls eye). i really do not want to spend $70-90 for a lyman mold (w/handles) if i do not have to. for $85.00, i can buy 1000 plinkers (0.308 110 grain raineer plated) to shoot out of this. that is a lot of plinking.

[Trapper-Jack]

I shoot the same boolet in a 30/06, Remington 700 BDL. I couldn't get it to shoot with the traditional fast burning powders. Went to Varget and get 4 out of five shots cutting the same hole at fifty yards. This is with a gas checked boolet. This is with air cooled wheel weights.

[RU shooter]

I had that mould and mine dropped with WW alloy at .310x.300. Thats not saying the one you buy will drop the same.

Tim

[Leftoverdj]

Lee specs are from nominal diameter to .003 larger. Most seem to cast .001 larger, but it's not something to count on.

The fast pistol powders can work very well when you can get the velocity you want at pressures the alloy will tolerate. Unfortunately, Lyman cast bullet data is full of loads that are safe for the rifle but way too high for the alloy.

If you want velocities in the 1800-2000 fps range, the fast rifle powers are the easiest to work with. 5744 and 4198 are excellent in normal sized cases. They are fast enough to give good burns at cast bullet pressures, but slow enough to give decent velocities.

[Newtire]

That's a great little boolit for a plinker in a 30/30 I know. Only thing is that it requires a gas check. Mine comes out at .310" and .300 but is getting real old.

I am thinking about buying a new double cavity to replace it when it wears out but have so many other great designs that I'm reluctant to spend the money.

If it's your choice of mould for a plinker though, i can't see where you could go wrong. Some guys on here report they have even harvested a Bambi or 2 with these.

[imashooter2]

My ancient 1 hole mold drops .312 x .302. Thousands of cycles and still going strong. It'll be a sad day when I have to retire it. :(

[TAWILDCATT]

that is very much like the LYMAN 311291.which I shoot in my 30 cal rifles1903 and win 94 30/30.in the 06 I use 13.5 of red dot at 1680. in win ?darn weather is either raining or so hot I cant get out.It nice now but the deer are moving and I dont want to drive them away.

[rond]

I size to .309 with a gas check, load H335 to over 2000fps with good results.

[qajaq59]

I use 50/50 ww/pure lead, sized to .309 with IMR 3031 and a gas check for my 30-30s. There's not enough leading to even mention.

One thing you might check is the price of the Lee sizer just in case they do drop too large. I don't think they are all that expensive when compared to the Lyman. And while I don't use one, there are a lot of guys that seem happy with theirs.

[XWrench3]

i already have a 0.309" lee sizer die. i was thinking about a 0.310 or 0.311 for the microgroove, since i already get a lot of leading @ relativly low speeds. BUT, that means that somehow, i need to get a boolit that is AT LEAST the size of the sizer. i looked at some of the 0.312 (303 brit, and 7.62x39) molds that lee offers, but none of them are flat nose. i will not HAVE to feed them one at a time (pointy nose/tube magazine=kaboom+missing body parts) forever, and it makes them almost worthless for hunting, as i would only be able to load the first one. or, i would have to beagle, or lap the mold until i get the size i need. with my luck, and lack of skill in that area, i would probably ruin a mold. speaking of beagling, how does the mold vent if you stuff one (or both)
side(s) of it up with sticky metal tape?

[RU shooter]

or, i would have to beagle, or lap the mold until i get the size i need. with my luck, and lack of skill in that area, i would probably ruin a mold. speaking of beagling, how does the mold vent if you stuff one (or both)
side(s) of it up with sticky metal tape? Beagling works well and is easy to do and or undo, As to venting the moulds that I have done cast just as well as before.All you need is a very thin strip of the tape or shim stock you dont want to cover the entire face of the block.

Tim