Lee TL312-160-2R for 308?

[Phoenix]

Anyone ever try this mold in any 30 cal rifle? I am interested for any/all of the following. .308, 30-06, 300 win mag.
I noticed that alot of the .309 molds cast kind of small. I have the 170gr FN 309 for 30/30 and it does good for my marlin. But for the higher potential pressures of 30-06 for example I am thinking something more like .311 like most of NOE and RCBS molds.

Was curious if anyone has tried this mold in their 30 cal rifle. I like the Ogive on this mold. I could size it down some easily enough. Altho that depends on the alloy I use. I was thinking something in the 22 Bhn range for the 300 win mag.

Also are your Lee .309 molds actually dropping .309? if so or if you are sizing to this size are they shooting ok in you 30 cal? it seems .309 would be little small.

Opinions please.

Thanks

[Recluse]

I have the 155 grain boolit and gas-check and load it for 30-06 now and then. I lapped my mold and it drops at .313 and I size it down to .310 for the 30-06 and to .312 for the SKS and leave it at .313 for the Enfield 303. I add linotype to the alloy and water-drop straight from the mold. Gas checks are installed and sizing is accomplished using a Lee push-through sizer and lube is applied via a Lyman 45 using a sizing die that is either the same size as the boolit or .001 larger so that it is a "lube only" operation--no additional sizing.

It's a very, very stable boolit and I've had superb accuracy with it using a variety of powders and charges.

:coffee:

[ukrifleman]

I use this bullet in most of my my .30cal rifles, except for my Lithgow SMLE and K31. I use it for 30-06, .303, .308, 7.7 Jap, 7.5 Swiss, 7.5 French and 7.62 Russian. My mould casts at .312 and I gas check either to .309 or .311, depending on which rifle I am loading for.
I tumble lube with LLA and use Lee bullet sizing dies.
If I want a heavier bullet, I use the Lee .303 185gn bullet sized accordingly.
Without a doubt, the Lee 160gn .312 7.62x39 bullet is very versatile and will suit most .30cal loads.
ukrifleman.

[NVScouter]

It's ok. In my 303 as cast it outperformed my .309 size loads in 30-06 or .300 WBY. I tried a few as cast (.313) and they performed the same as sized. I've left TL behind now for .30 and am very happy with more lube.

[Phoenix]

Thanks a bunch for the responses. I was thinking this would be a more versatile boolit than the .309s I notice alot of the boolits molds are .311 for 30 cal. I assume that is because it allows versatility to size down since you cant size up without modifying the mold. My current .309 lee mold works perfect for my 30/30 but my other 30 cals especially the enfield 30-06 need something bigger than .309

[6.5 mike]

I've had very good results with the 160 tl in my 325b bolt 30-30 & unique for a light load to fireform brass. Would be minute of tree rat head easy. Try doing a search for " Beagleing". It will let you increase the boolit diameter without altering your mold. BTW, welcome to the site, life as you know it will never be the same.