LEE 309-230....

CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Ok so much of the 300 BO people have been a lil flat with this mold. Some LOVE IT, most I know or see/read about not so much... Self included.

Some time back I started a thread about milling the boat tail off and re threading the spure plate hole. I was cautioned about those blind, hardened pins holding the handles on. I thought maybe I could brill
Thru the center of the rol pins to "locate" then enlarge and push pins out. Well thinking and doing are different things... ;) The mold was put away and largely for gotten. Today a online friend made a video where one of his subs had modified this mold and sent him some bullets to try. Well they looked pretty good for how he said he did them. So I figured same as he did... WTH its a 20$ mold that I aint using!

I miked some bits and found I had a .3095 bit. So with a drill press in the garage, I set to work. Of coarse I also videoed it!


Video is in process with the wrap up, now but It just might work! Its a lil redneck I know and a mill woulds made it smoother. I did polish it off camera.

Here is first two casts.

4E639DD6-E014-446B-AD39-EE883BB780B7.jpeg

I ran them thru a .309 it was difficult. Not overly so just more then usual. This mold throws skinny for me. But I usually use .310 or .311 even. So that could be night and day different. I have quenched most of these to estimated 20 BHN and also left 20 or so @ 15 BHN. Powder coat is Dk blue softer light purple hard. Chosen because the purple is thin and smooth PC.

D95ADC11-800F-4747-92CB-5D4631BB685D.jpeg
Follow up video later tonight, after coating & sizing.


Im hoping it now shoots better. I could get 3" 50 yard groups before.
CW
 
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Tomme boy

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
Drill the mold on the opposite side of the mold and then push the pins right out. Then peen the hole edges over the pins when reassembling it.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
my 7 twist handles that bullet just fine.[like down to 3.5grs of 700-X if I use a rifle primer]
it's the 8 twist rifle that struggles with it at slow speeds, I just shoot a lighter bullet in that one.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Im windering how mych I changed things adding a solid 3/16" bearing surface. Slight redistribution on weight but rearward so positive direction.
Anxious to shoot these but my range is paving parking lot I cant walk from
Our fields carrying all to the benches... Ill have to wait til next week when they done.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Tomme boy said:
Drill the mold on the opposite side of the mold and then push the pins right out. Then peen the hole edges over the pins when reassembling it.
Click to expand...
Yea 100% ya suggested that to me previous. I wasnt 100% they used a hollow roll pin.
If this fails, thats my back up plan!!

Thank you SO MUCH for the molds!! I liked them allot! If they are seeking a new address... Send me a message please!!
CW
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
The old Lee moulds used straight roller bearing needles for the handle pins and they will ruin anything but a grinder. The new Two-bangers use a short, spiral shank Allen head pin that will unscrew if you use a new Chinese wrench with a good burr on the tip where it was sheared and pull while twisting.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Today I cast and coated about two hundred more of this mold.
I just went to run them thru the .314 then .310.... Like yesterday.... The First 6-8 went thru like pupu thru a Goose... So I measured and they are running .313/.314 yesterday they was .316-.318!!!
So switched to the .310 die. They sized easily in one pass. Only diff is PC I used. I know its thin and I can see that on the mic but why so easy this time. About same time frame from cast... Same alloy. Bullets weigh same 231.5 ish. NOT COMPLAINING!! ;)
CW
 
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CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I got to shoot this today!!!

I only had two loads, both with same aa1680 but two seating depths. My AR's like shorter crimped over the driving band. My Ruger takes then as intended crimped to the crimp groove. My "crimp" is a very light taper mostly to remove the m-die flair.

The "short" seating depth was 10g and the long was 10.5g Bullet was 237ish grains.

The short was MUCH IMPROVED over last trip. It shot about 2" in the Ruger American.
The long cartridges where MUCH BETTER! Producing just over ta just under 1" groups. Moving out to 100 yards... I needed to use last circle mark down. But the result was sub 3-4" groups @ 130 yards. FAR FAR FAR BETTER then this bullet ever could have hopped for!!

SO this mod is a WINNER!!! ♥️♥️♥️
CW
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have shot this a few times now. Its shooting far far better. ZERO sideways impacts. Went from 6+" groups with wild flyers to 1-2" Groups with minor flyers.
I have NOT WEIGHED or culled for anything but "looks".

CW
 
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