Lee .309-200-RN & Lee .309-180-RN

[RobS]

I was just wondering if anyone has experience with these two molds (Lee .309-200-RN & .309-180-RN in either the 30-06 and the 300 Winchester Mag. I would like to know personal experiences in regards to accuracy and velocities along with powder used and if known hardness of bullets/alloy used etc. I have read that the 200 grainer may not cast out a bullet with a wide enough nose to grab the rifling??????

Thanks,
Rob

[docone31]

I use the 180RN.
I also paper patch the loads. I have experienced no negative aspects of this casting. I use fairly high loads and they outshoot jacketeds in all my .30s.
Mind you, I target shoot. I have no experience with this load on anything other than paper, or an occasional bowling pin or clay pigeon.
It would be interesting to see what a paper patched load does with 300Win mag.
It is excellent in 30-06. I also suspect the heavier 200gn would shine patched also.

[kycrawler]

200 gr , hornady gascheck sized .309 with bullshops speed green then a light coat of lla , federal large rifle primer in assorted 30/06 cases with 37 grains of imr 4350 shoots under 1 inch out of my howa/weatherby and 1.5 inch out of a junky winchester 670 i have at 100 yards . clocks between 1850-1900 fps and works good on white tails out to 200 yards

[Maven]

There's nothing intrinsiclly wrong with the design of either (I have the C-309-180 R.), but the execution. I.e., my mold (ca. 1983) drops a CB that's too small in both the body (~.309") and nose (~.299") and doesn't group better than 3 m.o.a. in my .30-06. Newer molds may be correctly dimensioned. That undersized CB is a tack driver in my K-31's though.

[RobS]

Thought I would mention that the rifle I am using is the 300 winchester mag 1/10"barrel (friend has the 30-06 with a 1/10" barrel). I have found that the 180 grainer casts out with a 3.01 to 3.02 nose and the 200 grainer with a 2.99 to 3.00 nose with WW alloy. With my 300 WM there is slight rifling engraving on the 180 grain bullet and the 200 grainer having just a touch of the rifling. It comes out that the 200 grain bullet is much more accurate, but the 180 grain is all over the paper. I initially thought it would be the oppisite. I used 42 grains of RX7 on both and don't know if it is the powder combination with the 180's. Any thought or comments?????

[RobS]

It's been a week since this thread started and I am trying to catch a few more opinions on this topic.

Rob:Fire:

[RugerFan]

I have a single cav C-309-180 R that drops .312" dia bullets. I size to .310", lube with FWFL and load with 28 gns IMR 3031 and get good accuracy in my K31. I wouldn't mind maybe having this in a 6 cav.

[oso]

If you want a larger bore riding section (.301") consider the Lee C312-185-1R.

[Freightman]

If you want a larger bore riding section (.301") consider the Lee C312-185-1R.
Great in all my .30's

[lead Foot]

I have the LEE 200 R the bore rider measures .305 which didn't fit thought it dropped out .312 would make a good .303B or mil 30-6.
lead Foot
:castmine:

[missionary5155]

Greetings Robs
What mix are you using ? Harder mixes cast fatter boolits. If that does not help..
I would you do the simple BEAGLE process. That aluminum tape flat opens a mold well. Hardly any cost. I suspect a role of tape could do all the molds I will ever see in my whole life.
Then you could always lap the cavities or just one to see how the fatter boolit shot.
Mike God Bless you.

[RobS]

I lapped the cavities of the 200 grain mold to simply prep it to drop bullets easier from the mold and the bullets now drop out a touch larger in diameter. I have a small bit of engraving from the lands of the barrel and bullets are shooting nice groups with the 200 grain bullets. As of right now I am not planning on working up the 180 grain bullets since I am having good results with the 200 grainers out of the 300 winchester mag pushing out at around 2,380 fps with 44 grains of 4198. I am shooting water quinched bullets, sized at .309 and lubed with either White Label Lube's BAC or 50/50 alox.