Lee molds for 30\30 win

[rp85]

hello;

The 30\30 is a wonderful caliber for cast bullets. Need input on certain bullet molds. Does anyone have the Lee
C309-150-f or the Lee C309-170-f? If so do you have a problem with these bullets feeding into a lever action rifle??

Have four different 30\30 rifles. H&R single shot, 2 different model 336 Marlins and a model 94 Winchester. All 4 rifle have the same problem. If the nose diameter of a cast bullet is large than .300” than it’s not possible to chamber the cartridge in these rifles. Reducing the o.a.l. of cartridge results in extremely short cartridge. NOTE; body diameter is not the problem, the nose diameter is the problem.

Have 19 different casting molds and tired of buying molds hoping they will work.

thanks for any input.

rp85

update; Tried several times to contact lee, but never received a reply. Resorted to writing an actual letter which got a reply. Had 3 e-mail exchanges with a lee engineer and their engineer said with cast bullets “The bore ride diameter and nose diameter are identical.” Guess I got 4 flukes because there is a .005” difference between bore riding diameter and the bore diameter.

all I was trying to find out can I expect the nose diameter be .300” or less with the C309-150-f or the lee c.309-170-f.

[Adam20]

I got the 309-150 it casts 298 and 308 on bands, just about useless.
It sits there until I give powder coating a try.

[wmitty]

The short throat is preventing the bore riding nose from chambering; have you tried a 311041?

[Kraschenbirn]

The short throat is preventing the bore riding nose from chambering; have you tried a 311041?

Haven't tried either Lee mould but agree on the 311041. Functions just fine in both my Savage 340 bolt-gun and Marlin 336...and functions just as well in my buddy's Win. 94AE. Btw, we both load the 311041 awfully close to factory velocities, too.

Bill

[Maineboy]

The C309-150F is a great boolit in my 3 30-30s. I have an 1894 Winchester, a pre microgroove Marlin 336, and a Savage 340 bolt action and no feeding problems in any of them. I also shoot it in my other 30 caliber rifles, 30-06, 308, and 300 Savage with very good results and no feeding issues. I've never tried the 170 grain version but have used the Lyman 311041 with good results.

[Rcmaveric]

You could always nose size with NOE nose sizer tool. I use the Lee C309-150-RF in a Mossberg 464. Mossberg 464 is supposed to be a Marlin 336 replica. It works nicely for me. My throat is longer so i end up using the first lube groove as a crimp groove. if i powder coat then its seats above the crimp groove. Feeding is fine and accuracy is good either way. My throat measures .310 and that's what i size to.

[Cleatus]

I plan on trying 31-130C & 31-165C from accurate in my Marlin 336W. It will be several weeks before the mold arrives and I can post some results, but worst case, I'll get to try casting with a brass mold for the 1st time. All I've ever used is Aluminum molds and curious to see how casting with brass or iron compares.

[Oily]

rp85 I have the LEE 311041 6 cavity and have some cast up and sized at .310 and coated with BLL. PM me if you are interested and will send you some to try.

[popper]

31-165R should get very close to 041 style but drop the nose down to 0.297 in front of the drive band - will give tolerance for PC. Dump the crimp groove, I've been shooting using the Lee FCD, full fps and loaded in the tube (marlin) for years, no problem. 2 hole mould is plenty.

[quilbilly]

Both the Lee 150 RFGC and the 160 RNGC shoot and feed extremely well in my Mossberg 464. My RCBS Cowboy seater die puts a small flat point on the 160 RNGC so it feeds safely. The 150 drops from my mold at 158 gr.

[gwpercle]

I have the Lee 170 gr. F GC double cavity and a 1973 Winchester Model 94.
I cast the boolit and size them .309 and seat in the crimping groove. They chamber and extract easily.
Not sure why you are having so much trouble....return the mould to Lee , it should chamber in at least one of your rifles....leads me to suspect the mould is the problem....Gary

[michael.birdsley]

The C309-150F is a great boolit in my 3 30-30s. I have an 1894 Winchester, a pre microgroove Marlin 336, and a Savage 340 bolt action and no feeding problems in any of them. I also shoot it in my other 30 caliber rifles, 30-06, 308, and 300 Savage with very good results and no feeding issues. I've never tried the 170 grain version but have used the Lyman 311041 with good results.

I have a savage 325c in 30-30. Could you powder coat the 311041 boolit instead of a gas check?


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[Maineboy]

I have a savage 325c in 30-30. Could you powder coat the 311041 boolit instead of a gas check?


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Sorry, I don't know anything about powder coating. I have shot gas checked boolits without the checks and just tumble lubed, they weren't as accurate as when they were shot checked.

[Leadmelter]

I use the RCBS 150 or 180gr without a problem. These are vintage molds from the 1980's. I believe it is a copy of the Lyman mold.
Leadmelter
MI

[c1skout]

I have the Lee 150 and use it in a Win 94. I just went and checked a handful of boolits and the nose measures right at .300 from my alloy.

I don't have any trouble feeding them in my gun.

[shootrj2003]

Just getting back into cast bullets,what is "nose diameter" pardon my ignorance,I know what ogive is,I know what meplat is,I even have an idea of how to figure an ogive ,but nose diameter esapes me.also I would like a good 30/30 mold for about 170 gr. For my lever.i see at least one person had trouble getting one style to cycle in his Marlin( I dotes on Marlins...)so I would like one that would be sure to cycle in both of mine,336 and 1893 and if it also be useful in my Mauser,that would be fine too,I am all set up for 32 win. Spl. but had to sell some for an important cause, now I am looking to replace my flock but this takes time so I am trying cast in the 30/30,
Also I see powder coating is a new thing here how is it done with bullets?

[sigep1764]

Nose diameter references the diameter from side to side of the boolit that is not encased in the case. This can vary from bore diameter to slightly over depending on what you subscribe to. I shoot a boolit in my 30-30 that has to be seated deeply because the nose does not clear the rifling enough. It is the 31 157R from accurate.

[RU shooter]

Most of the Lee moulds are a crap shoot on the dia some come in right at .300 some are plus minus a thou or two . You can play with your alloy and and maybe try to shrink or grow as needed or has been said size just the nose (bore rider) portion

[FredBuddy]

I have the LEE 150, with wheel weights
the nose is .3001, .3002.

I have 7 30-30's, the only one that won't
chamber this boolit is the Marlin 30AS
with microgrove rifling.

I prefer to powder coat; if so, this boolit
won't chamber in the TC Carbine.

Then there's the 1949 336A which will
chamber this boolit (all are sized .310)
even if powder coated, but not loaded in
nickel plated brass !!

The H&R, 788 and the win 94's aren't
so picky.

I tried nose sizing-----a giant PITA.

There are many other little things
I have learned in the last 3 years, and
yes, I have other moulds now.

[charlie b]

Just getting back into cast bullets,what is "nose diameter" pardon my ignorance,I know what ogive is,I know what meplat is,I even have an idea of how to figure an ogive ,but nose diameter esapes me.....
Also I see powder coating is a new thing here how is it done with bullets?

When 'we' refer to nose diameter it applies to certain bullet designs such as the Lee's mentioned in here. The rear section of the bullet where the lube grooves are located is sized to fill the grooves of the bore (eg, .309"). The 'parallel' forward section (nose) is sized to fit the bore dia (distance between the lands, eg, .301"). Both the rear and front sections need to fit well or the bullet may not be accurate.

There is an entire section of this forum that deals with powder coating. The powder is applied and the bullets baked to cure the coating. No lube is needed. The coating increases the bullet diameter .001-.003" depending on how it is done. Multiple coats can also be applied.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...d-Alternatives