Lee C309-170-F Dimensions

[Solothurn]

Does anyone have a drawing of the Lee C309-170-F?

I want to have a custom mold made that is .311" diameter and plain-base.

[Hick]

don't have the drawing but I do have a bullet fresh from the mold. 0.962 long and 0.311 diameter at the driving bans dropped using Lyman 2

[bmortell]

have you looked at the accurate molds catalog, a few look similar and have dimensions

[megasupermagnum]

I don't have the exact dimensions in front of me, but the Accurate 31-170E is a very close copy. If you have it, the cast bullet design software from TMT has it listed. My laptop screen is broken right now, so I can't see it. One you should consider is the Accurate 31-175BP which is the plain base version of the Saeco 315, and is kind of considered the gold standard for plain base 30 caliber bullets. My only problem with that bullet (mine is the gas check version), is the steep and deep lube grooves are not a easy casting bullet. On one hand, when they are good, you know they are good. On the other hand, it can be frustrating. I'm thinking of buying one, but with rounded lube grooves. I'm also having great luck with the Lee 309-170-F, plus it casts way easier, so maybe you are on the right track wanting a plain base version.

[Beerd]

some guys would just buy the Lee mould and remove the gas check shank themselves.
..

[FredBuddy]

I reamed the base off of an extra 150 gr Lee
I picked up in a box of stuff at an auction. Hand turned
a drill bit in a drill press to eliminate the shank portion
of the mold.
Even with my crude work, and powder coated, the
dang things shoot great in a micro-grooved Marlin.

Worked so well that I took off the bevel of an
extra Lee 158 gr RNFP and it shoots better
as a plain base than its bevel based brother
in my micro-grooved Marlin 1894C.

[centershot]

I reamed the base off of an extra 150 gr Lee
I picked up in a box of stuff at an auction. Hand turned
a drill bit in a drill press to eliminate the shank portion
of the mold.
Even with my crude work, and powder coated, the
dang things shoot great in a micro-grooved Marlin.

Worked so well that I took off the bevel of an
extra Lee 158 gr RNFP and it shoots better
as a plain base than its bevel based brother
in my micro-grooved Marlin 1894C.

FredBuddy, what size drill did you use on that 358-RNFP mold? I have two of them and have been thinking of doing the same thing.

[Good Cheer]

Maybe 5/16" for .313" diameter on the .30 caliber and 23/64" for .359"?

[Beerd]

if you get the base a little wonky your sizer will clean it up
..

[megasupermagnum]

if you get the base a little wonky your sizer will clean it up
..

It might hide it a little, but it wont fix a bad job. I've not done much with plainbase rifle bullets, and I have a question for anyone who has removed their gascheck shank. Does removing the shank using basic tools like a drill press really provide better shooting bullets than just shooting the original bullet without a gas check?

[braddock]

It might hide it a little, but it wont fix a bad job. I've not done much with plainbase rifle bullets, and I have a question for anyone who has removed their gascheck shank. Does removing the shank using basic tools like a drill press really provide better shooting bullets than just shooting the original bullet without a gas check?

I was wondering that, but sometimes we do things just because we can, you know like mountaineers and parachutists and other masochists.

[Charlie Horse]

I reamed the base off of an extra 150 gr Lee
I picked up in a box of stuff at an auction. Hand turned
a drill bit in a drill press to eliminate the shank portion
of the mold.
Even with my crude work, and powder coated, the
dang things shoot great in a micro-grooved Marlin.

Worked so well that I took off the bevel of an
extra Lee 158 gr RNFP and it shoots better
as a plain base than its bevel based brother
in my micro-grooved Marlin 1894C.

I'm fixin' to do this very same thing. Got an extra mold that's not being used, so no harm if it doesn't work. Just turn the quill by hand.

[Joe K]

No drawing but gives overall and crimp groove to nose.

https://support.leeprecision.net/en/...gth-dimensions

[Bazoo]

https://bulletmatch.com/bullets/lee-c309-170-f-90368

[solderboy]

https://bulletmatch.com/bullets/lee-c309-170-f-90368

Now that is a slick website.

[Bazoo]

Now that is a slick website.

Hey, thanks! I'm working on it. Once I get every bullet known to man entered it'll really be something. That's a little running joke we have, but it is the truth.