Lee C285-130-R

[jules]

Looking for info on this one. I have only cast for straight walled cases so far but would like to start doing bottle neck I now powder coat everything and would be doing so with this one. Is anyone shooting this in a 7mm caliber at lower velocity somewhere between 2000 to 2400fps? Any info will help.

[joebaja]

I shoot that one at well below 2000 fps for 7mm TCU. I find it is a bit more accurate than the Lee "soupcan" mold of similar weight. I gas-check and HiTek coat mine, but am running below 1500 fps. Fun way to make use of range pickup 223 brass.

[charlie b]

What rifle do you have chambered in 7TCU?

[Hamish]

jules,

Shoot away. 7TCU, 7BR, 7mm Mauser,,,,,the Lee bullet shoots. Low velocity, high velocity, whatever.

[joebaja]

TC Contender

[jules]

Yes Contender. It's a wildcat. Based on a the 307 Winchester case. Thanks guys.

[quilbilly]

I have both the T/C Contender pistol and carbine in 7mmTCU as well as both of the molds, the 130 RNGC and 140 RFGC. The 130 RNGC give me the best accuracy and the 140 RFGC is an excellent hunting boolit. In the carbine I get my best accuracy at about 1900 with the RNGC.

[jules]

I have both the T/C Contender pistol and carbine in 7mmTCU as well as both of the molds, the 130 RNGC and 140 RFGC. The 130 RNGC give me the best accuracy and the 140 RFGC is an excellent hunting boolit. In the carbine I get my best accuracy at about 1900 with the RNGC.

Awesome! I ordered it this morning. I have never slugged the barrel but I went ahead and ordered the .285 Lee sizer and I'll be using Sage checks. Not sure how well the .285 will fit the case.

[jules]

I picked up the Lee mold and it works great. It cast .285. But I am having a problem with the Lee sizing die. It is marked .285 but after I run them threw the sizing die they are coming out .283. They are too loose in the case neck. It's the only way I have to crimp on the gas check. Not sure what to do.

[RickinTN]

Your die is mis-marked apparently. Hone it out, or take the time for a replacement from Lee. It will be loose in the bore like it is in the case.....not a good thing.
What diameter is it dropping from the mold? May be able to use it that way.
Rick

[wmitty]

You need to lap the sizing die to open it up to .285”. Easiest way is to get some fine grit valve grinding compound from auto zone and roll the .283” boolits on a flat surface with some compound spread on it. This Imbeds particles in the lead surface. Run three or four of these thru the die until they no longer increase the inside diameter of the die. Doesn’t take very long - maybe fifteen passes. Run an unsized boolit thru the die and mike it to see what the diameter is. If you want it larger load up the compound on the surface of the unsized boolits and start running them thru the die. Check the diameter that the die has been opened to every five passes or so to prevent opening the die up to much.

[quilbilly]

I am sizing mine to nominal 284 with the gas checks. It would seem easier to me to just tell Lee about your issue with the mislabel and get a replacement.

[jules]

Your die is mis-marked apparently. Hone it out, or take the time for a replacement from Lee. It will be loose in the bore like it is in the case.....not a good thing.
What diameter is it dropping from the mold? May be able to use it that way.
Rick

.285 from the mold

[richhodg66]

I have found that to be a good bullet in a few 7mm rifles. You need at least a .285 sizer, and .286 would likely be better. I shoot a whole lot of the "soup can" bullet from the Midsouth mold which I think is just a flat nosed version of this one, though a 7x57 Sporter. I size mine to .287.

[Wally]

I use the Lee C285-130-R in my Savage Axis 7mm-08...it is very accurate sized to .285".

[jules]

Thanks for the ideas gents. I used some 350 grit paper wrapped around a small wooden rod with some oil on it and rolled it like a rolling pin. Then polished it with Mothers mag polish. Took about 5 mins. I wish I would have caught this 250 boolits and gas checks ago.:cry: Had them powder coated too.

[Hamish]

jules,

Take the undersize pc’d bullets any give them another coat or two until they are as big as you want them.

[jules]

I'll try that.

[jules]

This batch is ready to load. I really like how the Eastwood clear came out.

[jules]

Got out with my Contender and these yesterday. I started at 25yds and was happy with it. Not so happy at 100yds. Opened up to 6 inches. Here is a picture of the Contender and 25yd target.
279631
279632

[sigep1764]

If you have Red Dot, try loads from 10 grains to 13 grains. 10 grains for me get me around 1400-1500fps, 13 grains gets to around 1600-1700fps. W 748 in the 34 grain range will do about 2000fps.

[Shopdog]

As cast on the main body,very slight nose bump on the bore ride section,creates an adjustable meplat. Load to a lite-med jam in prepped cases. 37-38g of Varget is a sweet spot in 7-08's here. This is about 1/2 way into JB,book loads. Same setup with H4198 is also deadly acc down around 2000fps.

[paul edward]

Is anybody using this boolit in a 7mm Rolling Block?

[BCB]

I've used that Lee boolit in a Contender 7-30 Waters with minimal results

I went to the Lyman 287246 and had much better luck

Still, the 7-30 Waters prefers jacketed bullets--1" stuff at 100 yards with copper

Good-luck...BCB

[Finn45Colt]

Rifle is coming this or next week, SAKO L46 cal 7x33. Bought that Lee mold and cast 200 boolits. Once pc:d they are .287", 125gr. From NOE ordered bodybushings .285" .286" .287" and .288". Cartridge is small and Boolit has to be seated deep, maybe I get some where up to1500fps out of it . Sako factoryammo use 76gr fmj,2430 fps.
Loaded subsonic -1400fps suits my plan having The opensighted smallgame walking rifle :guntootsmiley:

[Finn45Colt]

Got rifle this morning, slugged barrel using .287" sized boolit. Out of barrel came boolit and it wont go trough .286" sizer with thumb pressure. Exellent, just cast and once pc:d boolits are just fine for L46.

[sigep1764]

Got rifle this morning, slugged barrel using .287" sized boolit. Out of barrel came boolit and it wont go trough .286" sizer with thumb pressure. Exellent, just cast and once pc:d boolits are just fine for L46.

Please disregard my previous statement of using 10 or so grains of Red Dot powder. You are shooting a 33mm long case and that load would be drastically over pressure.

[Finn45Colt]

Gonna start with Vihtavuori N310 3.5- 4.0gr , barrel is 24" so I am 100% sure boolits will come out subsonic.
Thank you sigep.

[bruce drake]

jules,

Take the undersize pc’d bullets any give them another coat or two until they are as big as you want them.

MY advice as well. use them for fireform the cases for simply tin can plinking and you'll have no problems.

[Finn45Colt]

This week I am able to go shoot and get 7x33 brass, now I have none. Sako factory ammo cost 1,20 € /one. Ammo is easy to find here.