Converting a Lee GC design to PB

[Jim]

I bought a Lee 2 cavity 309-170-FP to make boolits for my Marlin 336 .30-30. I had a 'Senior' moment a coupla days laters and ordered another one! I gotta start makin' notes.

Anywho, in a coupla' days, I'll have two of these molds. So, I'm wonderin' what's the easiest way to open the GC portion of one of these molds to convert it to a plain base design.

I don't own a drill press and don't trust myself to try this with a hand drill. What I'm thinkin' about tryin' is to wrap a dowel or rod of the appropriate diameter with some fine grit emory cloth and spin it in the check shank area.

Any suggestions on the proper way to do this would be much appreciated. Even though it's just a $20 mold, I see no sense in ruinin' a brand new mold.

I'm listenin'.

[Ben]

Jim,

It can certainly be done. If you want to be 100% certain it is done right, send it to Erik or Buckshot.

I won't do one ( removing g/c shanks ) for the public ( too great a chance of ruining a mold ) , but I've done them for my own use. See results in the 2 links below :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?173556-Plain-base-a-180-gr-Lee-30-cal-mold

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?177076-Plain-Base-311291

[wwboolitmaker]

What diameter are you going to want the base opened up to?

[Jim]

What diameter are you going to want the base opened up to?

If I can get it to .312, that should allow for sizing down to .311 when I push it through my .311 sizer die.

[Ben]

Jim:

I had Buckshot remove a g/c shank on a SAECO # 315 a couple of yrs. ago.

I requested an " as cast " bullet base of .312", that is exactly what I got , see the results in the link below :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?113325-SAECO-315-Plain-Base

[Ben]

Jim,

BTW, I don't regret any $$ or efforts spent to remove the gas check shanks on several of my .30 cal. molds. With that said........I have many .30 cal. molds that I'd never dream of removing the gas check shank in. They simply shoot too well as they are. I wouldn't dream of tampering with them.

I've done quite a bit of " enjoyable shooting " with my .30 cal. plain base bullets in my many .30 cal. rifles.

If the technique is done properly, you'll not regret it.

Ben

[zuke]

Could you not just tell LEE you bought the wrong one and could they exchange it for you?

[Hickory]

I gotta start makin' notes.

I thought that I could just make a note also, but I keep forgetting to make the note.

[shredder]

I converted my 160 grain Lee RN Lee mould to solid base this morning using the tequnique described in the links above. Worked like a charm!! I am no machinist either but it seems any minute slop in the base as cast is removed by sizing as they come out perfectly round at .311. As cast mine are .312 - .313, and I lubed them up with a lithi bee concoction in the grooves. I hope to get out tomorrow and shoot some. Mine are cast using 2:1 linotype and pure lead. They weigh in at 151.5 grains. I cannot sctarch them with my fingernail.

Now on to powder concerns! I will rpobably start with 14 grains of Herco or 13 grains of Red dot. I also have some 2400 so I may load up 16 grains and see how that works as well. Range report to follow.....

[Ben]

shredder

I converted my 160 grain Lee RN Lee mould to solid base this morning using the tequnique described in the links above. Worked like a charm!! I am no machinist either but it seems any minute slop in the base as cast is removed by sizing as they come out perfectly round at .311. As cast mine are .312 - .313, and I lubed them up with a lithi bee concoction in the grooves. I hope to get out tomorrow and shoot some. Mine are cast using 2:1 linotype and pure lead. They weigh in at 151.5 grains. I cannot sctarch them with my fingernail.

Now on to powder concerns! I will rpobably start with 14 grains of Herco or 13 grains of Red dot. I also have some 2400 so I may load up 16 grains and see how that works as well. Range report to follow.....

*****************************************

I don't know what you are putting those plain based bullets in , 30-06, 308 Win. , Krag, etc ?

You may get away with those charges? They may shoot fine, but our goal with these has been to keep them in the 1,000 fps - 1,300 fps velocity range.


Two or three of us locally are shooting these and we've slowed things down considerably. Works great for us.

We tested 50 rounds, in 5 round lots, different powders, different charge weights of the powder, the same bullet was used in all 50 rounds, the Lee Plain base 182 gr., sized .311 ". We did not test any of the plain base bullets with powder charges that would have pushed the bullet beyond 1,400 fps.

You may be interested in seeing the results. Look close at row # 6 ! !

This 1st photo is of the Lee plain based bullets. Lubed
with Ben's Red and then coated with a thin layer of LLA,
sized .311 ".


http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/023.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Photo0884.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row1.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row2.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row3.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row4.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row5.jpg

[Ben]

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row6.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row7.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row8.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row9.jpg

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/Row10.jpg

[Ben]

shredder,

Those powder charges you've listed seem fairly " brisk ".
Those would be fine for gas checked .30 cal. bullets in
a 30-06, they may be a bit stiff for shooting plain base
.30 cal. bullets however.

I'd be interested in knowing your group sizes at 50 yards for your first " trials ". Photos would be great.

Ben

BTW....Most everyone now is very concerned about wasting powder , primers , and brass.

This is some cheap shooting , I have not calculated the cost, but IT IS CHEAP ! !

[MT Gianni]

Jim, I would not try it without a drill press, a level I trust, and a machinest vice. You might see if a mechanic in town has all of those. I use a 9" fitters level which you should be familiar with using as well. Get a drill bit 1/64th smaller than your finished diameter to account for drill wobble, though your sizer will fix a lot of those issues.

[Ben]

Jim

I fully agree with MT Gianni , there is little chance for success without at least a drill press and a machinist vise for your bullet mold.

Those two items greatly increase your hopes of allowing the bit to enter the mold cav. in a perpendicular fashion.

Also, be particular cautious with the " stop settings " on the bit, You only want the g/c shank removed , nothing more. Do some measuring as to just how deep you want the drill bit to go and set the " stop " for that drill depth setting.

Here is a photo of mine just prior to drilling out the g/c shank on a Lee .30 cal., 180 gr. mold. The bit is about to enter the mold in a " true 90 degree angle " with the top of the mold block , this is important ! The more precise the bit enters and leaves the hole, the cleaner the job will be and better pleased you'll be with the outcome.

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/002.jpg

[zuke]

Guess that'll answer a lotta question's.

[shredder]

shredder,

Those powder charges you've listed seem fairly " brisk ".
Those would be fine for gas checked .30 cal. bullets in
a 30-06, they may be a bit stiff for shooting plain base
.30 cal. bullets however.

I'd be interested in knowing your group sizes at 50 yards for your first " trials ". Photos would be great.

Ben

BTW....Most everyone now is very concerned about wasting powder , primers , and brass.

This is some cheap shooting , I have not calculated the cost, but IT IS CHEAP ! !

Thanks for the heads up on the charges.

Once I got back to my bench and looked at my notes I realized that pretty quick. Those are the loads I use for my gas checked boolits. I should say I am shooting 30/06. My load notes for herco include some trials I did way back when I bought my first can. I had used 8 grains with the 160gr gas check and it shot really nice.

I think I wll start down there at 6 -8 grains in 1/2 grain increments and see what comes up on the targets.
I get the low velocity thing and that is indeed my goal to be in the 1100-1200 fps range like a .22 rimfire load only for 30/06. I have only a little experience compared to most on this site.

I am learning a lot by hanging out here and really am starting to enjoy "the Quest" for excellent cast boolit loads!! Getting better at it.

[Ben]

shredder

I am learning a lot by hanging out here and really am starting to enjoy "the Quest" for excellent cast boolit loads!! Getting better at it.

_______________________________

I think you are clearly on the right track.
Please keep us posted with your progress !

Ben