Lee "Fat 30" mould

[Doubletap]

So educate me on this mould. Nominally a 180 grain. I've never seen any specs on it for diameter, but it sounds like something a micro-groove shooter might like, and maybe something for a tightly bored .303? Enquiring minds and all that you know.

Anybody have personal experience with it?

[mdi]

Is this mold known by any other name, part number?

[centershot]

I think he's referring to the 312-185-1R mould. Nominally a 180-185 gr. boolit, intended or the ".303's" of various calibers. It shoots acceptably well in my M44 carbine, as long as I keep it subsonic. This boolit is undersize in my gun, the old warhorse needs a .314-.315" boolit to be happy. I've tried it in my micro-groove 30-30 and a couple of '06's without success. It does shoot nicely in the M-44 though, makes a nice small game round moving along at 950 fps, si I keep using it. If you have any of the .303's with a normal sized bore, give it a try!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Typically Lee 312 molds drop around 312.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...-303-lee-molds

I had a Lee GB C311291 RN, this was suppose to drop fat boolits.
my mold dropped 174gr .313 boolit.

I also had a CTL-312-160-2R
it dropped a 163gr .312 boolit.

I also had a Lee C312-185-1R
it dropped a 179gr .311 boolit.

I recently bought a unmarked 6 cav Lee, maybe was a GB? it did look similar to the Ranch Dog style, but had the smaller Lee style tumble lube grooves (RanchDog has larger tumble lube grooves).
it drops a 140gr .313 boolit.

[jaysouth]

I have a C-312-185R 2 cavity that I reamed to be plain base. I powder coat it and shoot in .303 and RARR 7.62x39 loading as a single shot only. Size to .310 it also shoot very well in a T/C Encore 30-30.

[GooseGestapo]

Mine is a mis-labeled .309-180 RNGC. It was a large disappointment.
I just “Beagled” my .309-200gr RNGC. It throws to .315” and shoots splendid in my #4mk1 and ‘43
Izvesk Mosin Nagant @ .314”.

[beemer]

I have had a single cavity for close to 30 years. It is a good boolit and mold. Mine pours close to .314 and does well in my 5 groove #4 but the 2 groove not so great. I like to powder coat them, especially if I need a bit if increase in diameter.

[MT Gianni]

The "Fat 30" was a special order Lee mold that was spec'd at 0.316" as cast ww diameter. As with many of the special order lee molds in the day that wasn't what everybody got.

[lar45]

Let me see if this is the print for the Fat30

[lar45]

If anyone wants a new copy of it, I sent the print to Accurate and it is the 31-194F


We also did a fatter 30, sorry I don't have the print of it.

The Fat 30 was supposed to be for Milsurps with larger than .308 grooves. We gave it a tapered nose so it could be loaded to touch the lands of various cartridges.
I've shot it in my 30-06 with good results.