CTL312-160-2R

[JonB]

This is more of a test for posting photos.
But this mold was a recent purchase, and shows how Lee is progressing.

 

[Brad]

Looks good. I can tell you now that the first photo is a bit large. I try to keep the image size down, I like 4x6, so people don't have to scroll too far to see the image.

I like how Lee is beveling the edges and cutting a bit of venting in the mould top. they are learning?

 

[JonB]

Yes, I'm with you...as I said in the first post, this is a test.
I'm playing with sizes.

 

[Ian]

Jon, welcome aboard! Can I beg you to post the measurements of the nose right in front of the front band, in the "middle", and near the ogive to give me an idea of what sort of taper the main nose part has?

 

[JonB]

Ian, You bet.
I just testing photo importing and was planing to start a new thread for SL68 testing, if you don't mind?
I will post that bullet info there, as it's my most recent SL68 test

 

[Ian]

SL-68 on a TL bullet? I've used it on plenty of pistol TL bullets but not rifle yet. Please go ahead with the thread, I'm confident the basic recipe is close enough to right to make a "public release".

 

[JonB]

These boolits in the above photo were lubed with SL68B
and were sized to .311 (they drop from this mold at .3110 x .3115)...so not much sizing.
spoiler alert.
I did see a small amount of shiney (Lead?) particles when I pushed a tight dry patch through the barrel.
While I couldn't see any lead fouling (my eye's aren't the greatest). I, then cleaned the bore with Ed's Red and noticed a tiny amount of shiney particles with the first patch, but not any after that. I'm thinking the next batch of similarly preped bullets will get a coat of BLL over the SL68B.

 

[358156hp]

Possibly a bit of shaving from the leade of the throat since it's in flake form, but I'm just guessing of course.

 

[Ian]

Try casting some more of them from 50/50 pure lead and wheel weights. Those look like they have far too much antimony in them and you're getting abrasion leading from the alloy shearing. The small TL bands aren't helping. Those would probably be best just coated with BLL, it's pretty good stuff.

 

[Reloader762]

I've been shooting that same bullet cast from my Lee old style mold for several years now,mine drops close to .314". I originally bought it for my SKS rifles but it does triple duty as I use it in my M44 and size it down to .311" for use in my Sav.99 in 300 Sav.

First 5 shot test group I fired in the 99 with the Lee .312" TL bullet.

 

[Brad]

Looks to me like the 99 Savage likes that bullet pretty well.

 

[Reloader762]

The 99 doesn't seem to be to picky with cast bullets,it shoot the Lee 150 gr. RNFP just as well. I hope to get some of the Lee 170 gr. RNFP bullets downrange later on this Spring. My Mosin likes the Lee .312" bullet as well,I had good luck with it first time out. This 5 shot group was actually fired by myself and a buddy of mine. I had only loaded up five test loads so I shot the bottom two almost one hole and my buddy shot the top three right above so I know the load is good to go.

 

[Josh]

Fiver is going to give all kinds of grief for crimping them bullets...

 

[300BLK]

Its an excellent bullet. Jon's is much newer than mine (old style blocks) but seems to cast similar diameter. Sized .311" they are a staple from my 30s including 30-06, 308,and 300BLK. I've owned other examples of this that cast as large as .316".