Question for Lee C312-185-1R Casters

[PBSmith]

This is Lee's 303Brit mould, catalog #90371. Am considering it for my over-sized .30-30 and oversize .30-40 Krag but need to know what nose and body diameters to expect. Have any of you measured, and if so, what alloy are the bullets you measured?

Thanks.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

3 years ago, I bought a C312-185-1R, it was one of the first "new style" Lee 2 cavity molds I bought. I did a test cast with it back then using COWW with no added tin, my notes say they dropped at .3125 and 181gr. and the nose is .298
...also my notes state the GC shank is a wee bit small, Hornady copper GC's just slide on/slide off, but they crimp on enough to stay put. Also noted, I had some .009 alum homemade GC that go on, nice and snug, then crimp on better than the Hornady.

I suspect this isn't the news you were looking for? maybe a mold from a current batch is a different size...it happens all the time with Lee.
But, it you think you can use this size mold, I could be talked into selling this one...as the nose is too small for what I bought it for...and have never loaded any...and haven't cast anymore since that first test cast 3 years ago.

[HangFireW8]

I got .314" with a .3000" nose using WW + 4% tin and a little lead shot, water dropped. Not my usual alloy, just what was in the pot at the time. After a couple weeks it measured 24BHN. Hornady GC went on normally.

I purchased it in September 2010 from Midsouth.

I have a FN Mauser in 30/06 with a .310" bore and .300" lands. Sized to .311, this rifle absolutely loves this boolit.

[OptimusPanda]

I checked the casting I have nearest to me from that mold. I get .313" on the bottom driving band and .302" on the nose.

[RU shooter]

from an older single cav. .312 x.300 from Lee ,polished the nose open to .302 . They are cheap enough and easy to modify if they drop undersized for your rifles

[TCFAN]

I have a 2 cavity mold of that boolit that I bought several years ago. Using 3 parts of COWW to 1 part of linotype my boolits drop from the mold at .312+ and the nose is .302. I size at .309 on the body and .300 on the nose to use in my TC Encore 30-30 rifle. They are the most accurate boolit I have tried in that rifle.I use aluminum home made gas checks. ...............Terry

[PBSmith]

Thanks all for your input. Maybe I'll write Lee and ask what to expect from the nose on recent production moulds of that number.

[leebuilder]

Hope I'm not to late. Never had one over .311, I beagled mine a got .313 all with COWWS. I found these boolits can be very accurate. Never measured the nose, I usually seat and fit to the chamber.
No idea how fast I have pushed them up to 2000 fps I figure using tables and load info, use them alot in reduced loads.
Be safe

[cmdrted]

I have the current lee molds with the cnc lightened look. using straight linotype I can't get them much bigger than .3135 ish, never any bigger. haven't looked at the noses, just followed the wisdom here and went "for the throat". I'm using the noe 314299 mold and getting excellent results in my no4mk2. sized 314.