New Lee Molds- is .309 .309?

[Mark Daiute]

My larger Lee molds cast large enough that I can size a bullet from a .515 mold "down" to .515 or a .459 mold down to .459. My experience has been that .309 molds cast at... .309.

I would like to get the 170 grain flat nose bullet but would like it at .311.

Any thoughts? Experiences? Do I have to go NOE?

Thanks,

Mark
Maine

[LAGS]

My Lee .309 molds mostly cast at .3095 depending on the alloy.
But if you cant Lap out a mold like I do, then the better money would be spent on the NOE mold.
But I have taken things like the Lee C311 - 155 GC two cavity mold out to .316 by making a cherry out of Zinc that I cast in the mold with a stem on it , or a wing nut handle. ( Not thru the Spru plate )
I did that when I upgraded from a Two cavity mold to their Six Cavity version, and had little use for two molds that cast the same thing.
But I had a few rifles that needed a larger diameter bullet.
So I really didn't have much to loose, since a used Two cavity mold isnt worth all that much.

[Grmps]

My lee .3 Molds using WW
SIZE BRAND # GR CAST SIZE NOSE
0.3 LEE 311241 156.324 0.315 RN
0.3 LEE 90368 171.004 0.3102 F
0.3 LEE 311291 182.724 0.3112 RN
0.3 LEE 309-230 227.832 0.3117 SP

[Mark Daiute]

My lee .3 Molds using WW
SIZE BRAND # GR CAST SIZE NOSE
0.3 LEE 311241 156.324 0.315 RN
0.3 LEE 90368 171.004 0.3102 F
0.3 LEE 311291 182.724 0.3112 RN
0.3 LEE 309-230 227.832 0.3117 SP

Thanks, Grmps, I'ts the 90368 that I'm most interested in and if it casts at 0.31 I'd be happy. The 311241 and 311291 must be Clones of the other's guy's molds? What product number do they go by for Lee? If I could get a Lee 311291 I'd deep six my Lyman copy that barely reaches .309 with Linotype.

[gwpercle]

Mark ,
You may want to look at the Lee .312 moulds. Lee goes from .309 to .312 with no .311's listed in my latest Lee catalog .
Hoping a .309 mould will drop oversized to .311 is dicey at best.
The Lee C312-185-1R (#90371) might be a better option , my two cavity mould drops them 3120 - .3125 and can be easily sized down to .311 . Possibly the .312 size could be used in your gun . I use this boolit in a 303 British Enfield , run through a .312 sizer just to lube it.
Making them smaller is easier than making them bigger.
My older 2 cavity Lee .309 170 gr. FP drops them .3095.
Gary

[ShooterAZ]

I have the Lee C309-170F and it casts at .3095. A .310 sizer barely puts a mark on it. Surprisingly (or not) I also have the Lee C309-150F (new style) and it casts at 311+ with my alloy. I really wish my 170F would cast at .311+. It's one of Lee's "old style" 2 cavity molds...I may order a new one in hopes that it casts like my 150F.

[Mark Daiute]

Mark ,
You may want to look at the Lee .312 moulds. Lee goes from .309 to .312 with no .311's listed in my latest Lee catalog .
Hoping a .309 mould will drop oversized to .311 is dicey at best.
The Lee C312-185-1R (#90371) might be a better option , my two cavity mould drops them 3120 - .3125 and can be easily sized down to .311 . Possibly the .312 size could be used in your gun . I use this boolit in a 303 British Enfield , run through a .312 sizer just to lube it.
Making them smaller is easier than making them bigger.
Gary

I have the 312-185 for my Brits as well, I just happen to like that flat nose for hunting, or let me say that I think it would be good for hunting, out of my Krags

[Mark Daiute]

I have the Lee C309-170F and it casts at .3095. A .310 sizer barely puts a mark on it. Surprisingly (or not) I also have the Lee C309-150F (new style) and it casts at 311+ with my alloy. I really wish my 170F would cast at .311+. It's one of Lee's "old style" 2 cavity molds...I may order a new one in hopes that it casts like my 150F.

That's what I was hoping for as well! Why do the mold makers make molds that drop boolits that can't be sized down? I wish Lee made a series of .311 molds

[GhostHawk]

Agree, once you pick a bullet design/shape you should be able to specify what size you want them to drop at for Pure, or know variants of alloys like Lyman #2.

I ended up buying 2 .312 185 gc. One to leave at .312 for my Yugo SKS which likes them fine as cast of range scrap with a gas check.

One that I leemented out to .314 and crimp checks on with a .314 size die for my pair of Mosin's.

I have sized the .312's down to .309 for .30-30 use. I just made a jig that used a block of HDPE plastic with a very tight fitting hole in it. A drill press with a busted v belt. And the drill I drilled the hole with reversed so the flat end is down. Added a 2' piece of PVC pipe onto the drill press handle.

Drop in a bullet, pull down, everything goes UGHHMH. Slide the piece of steel covering the hole on the press table out of the way, and push the squished but not flat pointed bullet out. Drop in another one, repeat.

It is not fast, but it makes nice big flat points. They do have to be sized again. It squeezed them out to .320 ish.

The block of HDPE is just laundry detergent jugs and milk jugs washed, labels peeled, place in oven or use heat gun to melt it together. Bit like playing with taffy, very hot, 350 ish, sticky. Tends to warp on cooling if you do not put it in some kind of a box or mold and clamp a lid on it.

When it comes out it can be cut, sanded, drilled into whatever shape you need. Easier than cutting metal, tougher than wood.

[RU shooter]

something to also consider when it comes to Lees range of sizes what do you need the nose be ? It could be right on .300 or since it's Lee anywhere from .297-.304 I had a 30-150 FN that was small and basicly the same bullet the 30-160rn that dropped big . Even my older 312-185 dropped small and needed a good shimming to get it to .312x .301 It's a **** shoot but least it's an inexpensive **** shoot .

[RU shooter]

Never realized the spelling for the the card game craps gets edited like a cuss word does ??

[Grmps]

Mark, The 311241 and 311291 belong to a friend of mine so I can't confirm they are Lees. the manufacturer names might have gotten mixed up when I sorted by the calibers .. sorry.
Under sized molds are not that big of a problem anymore, you do 1 or 2 coats of powder coating (a simple procedure) you can eliminate the lubing and gain up to .003 in thickness (depending on the powder you use). I have not lubed a bollit in a loooong time. powder coat and Hi-Tek coating eliminate messy lubing, and add color and diamiter to your boolits

[gwpercle]

I have the 312-185 for my Brits as well, I just happen to like that flat nose for hunting, or let me say that I think it would be good for hunting, out of my Krags
I agree , the flat point is desirable for a hunting bullet.
You may just want to " bite the bullet" (excuse bad pun) and order a .311 or .312 flat point from NOE , they have some nice looking designs. I hate to say it but they are sweet moulds to cast with.
I bought one , just to see what everybody was yapping about and in no time I have bought three more. They are worth the extra money. I ladle cast and the 3 cavity aluminum moulds are my favorite.
Gary

[Mark Daiute]

I agree , the flat point is desirable for a hunting bullet.
You may just want to " bite the bullet" (excuse bad pun) and order a .311 or .312 flat point from NOE , they have some nice looking designs. I hate to say it but they are sweet moulds to cast with.
I bought one , just to see what everybody was yapping about and in no time I have bought three more. They are worth the extra money. I ladle cast and the 3 cavity aluminum moulds are my favorite.
Gary

I have two NOE molds and they rain boolits and the 3 cavity 314299 is perfect. you are right I should just buyt the boolit!

[hwilliam01]

Mark,

I see you are in Newcastle, Maine. I am in Gardiner. Know where Cow**** Corner is? (Fr those of you who do not know....sorry for the language, but that is a real place).


My larger Lee molds cast large enough that I can size a bullet from a .515 mold "down" to .515 or a .459 mold down to .459. My experience has been that .309 molds cast at... .309.

I would like to get the 170 grain flat nose bullet but would like it at .311.

Any thoughts? Experiences? Do I have to go NOE?

Thanks,

Mark
Maine

[Mark Daiute]

Mark,

I see you are in Newcastle, Maine. I am in Gardiner. Know where Cow**** Corner is? (Fr those of you who do not know....sorry for the language, but that is a real place).

Uncle Podgy and Aunt Margaret owned Cowshidt Corner, loved them both. I've sureyed some of it for them.

[honus]

My Lee C309-170F casts at .309" to .3095" and my Lee C309-150F cast at .310" to .3105".