Lee 312-185 mold [Archive]

GunnyJohn

03-29-2014, 11:42 AM

I looking at buying a new 312-185 lee mold. Some of the reviews that I read state the mold cast undersized. Has anyone had this problem? I'm going to be casting for my 303 and I need to have a .314 dia boolit. I'm on a budget right now but want to get my 303 shooting lead. Thanks in advance for your info.

RickinTN

03-29-2014, 12:03 PM

I bought that mold to cast for my 308's and 30-06 hoping it would have a bore-ride section of .300" plus. It actually dropped with wheel weight alloy in the .297" to .298" range. I don't remember exactly the diameter of the body with this alloy but I think it was .312" maybe plus a touch.
Hope this helps,
Rick

Mk42gunner

03-29-2014, 02:26 PM

I have an old style two cavity 312-185. IIRC it drops ACWW at a skosh under .313", and the nose measures .302". It works well in various .30-.31 calibers sized to .311-.313".

You may be able to beagle one large enough, I don't know.

I think you are dreaming if you think the Lee 312 -185 will actually cast large enough for the typical .303.

Robert

Donor8x56r

03-30-2014, 08:01 AM

I have that mold and those boolits shoot just fantastic in few Mosins but i haven't heard once anyone getting it to work in 303.

Me thinks it sholud be re-named to prevent confusion.

Same goes for Cruise Missile-it seems to be much more at home in Carcanos rather than Swedish Mausers.

petroid

03-30-2014, 08:20 AM

I have that mold and it drops .312 at the mold closure and .314 at 90 degrees with COWW. My mosin slugs .3125 so I run the boolits through a .314 sizer first and then PC with HF red then add GC and size again. The PC fattens them up just enough. You can start dry tumble PCing with a small plastic bowl and a toaster oven.

GunnyJohn

03-30-2014, 09:03 AM

Could be I need to find a different mold. Thanks for your help everyone.

waltherboy4040

03-31-2014, 08:11 PM

I just picked one up but I only have digital calipers. Bands measure 312 and the flat surface in front is 301 hope this helps.

Boolseye

04-02-2014, 12:37 PM

I bought that mold for my Mosins, but it cast too small for their bores. Couldn't push 'em hard at all, this is with GCs installed with a .314" sizer.
Also, the GC shank was oversized–I ended up drilling out the shanks and making a plain-base mold. Can't recommend it, from my experience with Mosins(can't speak for .303 brit).