Looking for a 303 Brit mold- help

[retread]

I slugged the barrel on my newly acquired 303 British. 5 groove - hard for me to measure accurately but it looks to be about 316. Lee molds state 312 and Lyman 314. I realize these are dependent on alloy but I am nervous about buying a mold only to find out that it drops too small of a boolit to get good accuracy and lessen leading. Lee 8mm states 324 and Lyman 325. Problem with sizing down to 316-318?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, retread

[Bjornb]

I have 3 Lee Enfields, an 1891 Argentine Mauser in 7.65x53 and a P14 (Eddystone). Every one of them shoot well with the NOE version of the Lyman 314299. Hard to beat that bullet. PM me if you want me to send you some samples.

[runfiverun]

noe's 316299.

to measure a 5 groove slug you wrap it, measure the outside of the wrap, and deduct the wraps thickness x-2.
thin copper works the best for me, card stock works too.

[jugulater]

i have to second the NOE version of the 314299

i use it in both of my 1891 argentines, and both of my m91/30s. my favorite M91/30 has a .316 groove and it shoots the 314299 sized to .314 just as good as the other guns.

realistically you may need to get some samples of the NOE 314299 and the 316299 and see which one your gun likes better.

[retread]

noe's 316299.

to measure a 5 groove slug you wrap it, measure the outside of the wrap, and deduct the wraps thickness x-2.
thin copper works the best for me, card stock works too.

Thanks for the info. I will give that a try.

[retread]

I was wondering about coating with PC on a 314 to increase diameter by a bit. What are your thoughts on that approach.

[runfiverun]

it will make them thicker.
I dunno how much for sure or if the coat will be evenly distributed but it will generally add 1-2 thou.

[ukrifleman]

I slugged the barrel on my newly acquired 303 British. 5 groove - hard for me to measure accurately but it looks to be about 316. Lee molds state 312 and Lyman 314. I realize these are dependent on alloy but I am nervous about buying a mold only to find out that it drops too small of a boolit to get good accuracy and lessen leading. Lee 8mm states 324 and Lyman 325. Problem with sizing down to 316-318?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, retread

I use the 175gn Lee 8mm bullet, gas checked to .323 for my K98 and Berthier. I size it down to .314 for my Lithgow with no problems.
ukrifleman

[rsrocket1]

You can open up the mold cavity or simply "beagle" the mold. My Lee 312 mold drops at .315 with the copper tape. I then size them down to .314 with a push through sizer that I opened up to 0.314" using a dowel wrapped with wet/dry sandpaper. Shoots very well in my 91/30.

[leebuilder]

Plus 1 on Noe 316299. Other choise is beaglead lee 185gr.

[GhostHawk]

I've been using the Lee .312 185 gr beagled to .314, used thin alum tape.
While it may not be perfectly round, you don't have much invested into it if it doesn't work.

[retread]

What abrasive are you using on the 185 Lee to beagle? I use some toothpaste to smooth up some cavities on a Lee mold but I would think I would need something a little more aggressive to take .004 without spending a lot of time. Thoughts?

[runfiverun]

you'll lose too much squareness and such going .004
I have found .002 to be about the practical limit lapping out a mold.

the beagling process just opens the mold in one direction but it works well enough in the rifle at nominal cast velocity's to be worth the effort.

[Mike67]

ukrifleman are you able to seat that bullet so the gas check remains in the case neck or not? I put some dummy cartridges together and could not get them to chamber in my rifles.

[dondiego]

What abrasive are you using on the 185 Lee to beagle? I use some toothpaste to smooth up some cavities on a Lee mold but I would think I would need something a little more aggressive to take .004 without spending a lot of time. Thoughts?

Abrasive is not used in "beagling". Metal tape is applied to the mold blocks to increase diameter. See post #9.

[longbow]

Here's another vote for the NOE 316299. I have five Lee Enfields and all run about 0.314" groove with a little over 0.315" throat so I size to 0.315" with good results.

Also +1 on what R5R says about lapping if you are thinking of taking 0.004" out of a mould. I have gone as much as 0.003" and that was work. It is very difficult to maintain a round cavity when taking out much more than about 0.002" in my experience.

Beagling a Lyman 314299 might get you there but better is to go the NOE 316299 and if it is a hair small then Beagle that.

You might also want to get a larger expander button because when you go that large with the boolit and size the brass to normal neck size you will resize your boolits at seating, and work your brass a lot. I went with a Lee Collet die and made a 0.313" mandrel. Works great.

Larry Gibson pointed out that the Lee Collet Die can be used without a mandrel but I wasn't smart enough to figure it out. You just adjust until the neck is closed to the size you want.

Oh, another mould option just occurs to me too. Once you determine the groove diameter for sure, if it is larger than 0.316" then go to Accurate Moulds and Tom will make whatever diameter you need and beautiful moulds too!

Longbow

[dondiego]

When you are referring to a LEE collet die, is that the LEE Factory Crimp collet die?

[rsrocket1]

When you are referring to a LEE collet die, is that the LEE Factory Crimp collet die?

I think he means the Lee neck sizing collet die with the decapping rod.
I don't think there is a mandrel associated with the rifle FCD (at least not on the .308 and .223 FCD's I have).

[retread]

Here's another vote for the NOE 316299. I have five Lee Enfields and all run about 0.314" groove with a little over 0.315" throat so I size to 0.315" with good results.

Also +1 on what R5R says about lapping if you are thinking of taking 0.004" out of a mould. I have gone as much as 0.003" and that was work. It is very difficult to maintain a round cavity when taking out much more than about 0.002" in my experience.

Beagling a Lyman 314299 might get you there but better is to go the NOE 316299 and if it is a hair small then Beagle that.

You might also want to get a larger expander button because when you go that large with the boolit and size the brass to normal neck size you will resize your boolits at seating, and work your brass a lot. I went with a Lee Collet die and made a 0.313" mandrel. Works great.

Larry Gibson pointed out that the Lee Collet Die can be used without a mandrel but I wasn't smart enough to figure it out. You just adjust until the neck is closed to the size you want.

Oh, another mould option just occurs to me too. Once you determine the groove diameter for sure, if it is larger than 0.316" then go to Accurate Moulds and Tom will make whatever diameter you need and beautiful moulds too!

Longbow

I machine my own "M" dies for each of my rifles depending on slugging results and the diameter of the boolit intended. I usually go .001 under sized boolit. Lee crimp die with the carbide sizing ring have to be the worst idea ever for cast!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

PM sent on the Noe 316299