where did the 314-185 lee go?!?!?!

[Oklahoma Rebel]

I was looking to order a lee C314-185-1R boolit mold, and of course, with my luck, I cant find any for sale! its really frustrating. it is for a mosin nagant and needs to be sized to .313, that's why I need it. I'm worried the 312 will be slightly too small. I think that's my groove diameter. but I got a bunch of 313's from George (very kind of him!) and they work great. do you suppose if I got the .312 and didn't size them they would work out ok?

[ukrifleman]

Did you mean the Lee 175/.324 mould/(No. 90274)

As far as I know, Lee don't produce a 185/.324 mould.

[gwpercle]

It must be discontinued, my oldest catalog goes back to 2013 and it's not listed.
I wanted a .314 for a 303 British Enfield, but I never could find a Lyman 314299 that was in stock, or snag a reasonably priced used one on Ebay. So I just ordered ordered a Lee C312-185-1R and crossed my fingers . I got lucky , my Birmingham Small Arms 1942 built No 4 MKI has a .311 bore so the .312 is just fine. I was going to buy a .314 just in case.

Looks like Lee now goes from .312 to .324...no in between !

My , new type Lee (w/ LH and mould description on block top) , double cavity mould, drops a boolit .3135" and I run it through a .313" lube size die. alloy is 50-50, COWW and range lead + 1% tin. I just measured some and they are an honest .313. If you don't size mine , they would be .3135. For some reason, or it seems from my readings , that the double cavity Lee moulds cast just a little larger boolit than the 6 cavity moulds. With Lee it's a $20.00 **** shoot as to exact size.
You could also powder coat them and pick up another .001" or so .

If you want to make dead sure of the diameter, NOE's are spot on. His site show diameters of .314 , .315 and .316....and you can bet on those being right on or Al will make it right. They cost more but if you plan on doing a lot of boolit making with one, they are worth it. They are SWEET and so addictive...
Gary

[RU shooter]

Don't believe Lee ever offered a .314 dia mould a .312-185 yes if you want it bigger a little foil tape applied on each face of the blocks will make it happen . Or you may just luck out and it will drop at .314 as is but on the other hand it is a Lee mould and may drop small Lee is like a box of chocolates you never know what you'll get but for 25 bucks roll the dice .

[Oklahoma Rebel]

yes I was mistaken, I was confusing the 314299 by lyman, for a lee mold. my memory aint the greatest! lol thanks guys. I will order the lee 312-185 and hope its casts 313. wish me luck! Travis

[Desertbuck]

I have a old single cavity Lee mold and the box says diameter .312 weight 185 gr. That's the only one I am aware of Lee ever made that is close to what you're after. That's what I used in my 91/30 that I sold my father-in-law and we still use and it works.

[Boolseye]

Yep, it was a 312. Mine dropped too small for my Nagants. They still make it.