"unknown" Lee Custom TLPB 311-140 FN

[JonB]

Or at least that's what I'd call it?
For some time, I've wanted a plain base 30 cal mold for loading very light loads in 30-06. I even considered mod'ing on of my Lee 2 cav 30 cal molds with GC.
.
Last April, I bought this used mold off the other forum. The Seller is a member here as well...A great guy and he gave me a great deal. With that out of the way, this mold is not what I expected. From the fuzzy photo in the sale listing and no mention of weight, I kind of assumed it was a PB version of the 175gr RanchDog, even though it was listed as:
"Lee Custom 30 Caliber Mold it is PB with multiple crimp grooves, bought for a project and sold the project before I cast with the mold."
Well, it ain't the RanchDog.
.
Then, before the mold arrived, another member congratulated me on the purchase and he said it was a 2008 GB by Junior of the Lyman 311041 PB. When I looked up that GB, that was a 170gr FN with multiple traditional lube grooves.
Well, it ain't that one either.

Now, I haven't cast anything since January, but on this 85º humid day, I went upstairs and turned on the AC window unit and plugged in the alloy furnace set to 690º and threw in some COWW ingots, and preheated the mold. I didn't clean the mold, it seemed pretty much oil-free, I just started casting. I believe this mold has been previously Lee-mented, the cavities seem extra smooth and it has a set-screw on the sprue plate hinge bolt. There also appears to be a couple square areas of residue on mold face, previous Beagling tape maybe?

This bullet is lighter that I thought it would be (140gr), but for a 30-06 light load plinker, it's probably a very good weight. The base band is .313 and the TL bands are .3105 and the nose is .300

I have the Lee TL312-160 with GC in the photos for comparison.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Maybe someone didnt want a GC? Is the depth of that fat grease groove conducive to GC dia?

CW

 

[Dimner]

Interesting bullet profile. I agree with CWs hunch. Either way, that's a nice looking bullet you cast.

 

[JonB]

First,
no markings on this mold, Lee seemingly always marks standard molds. New molds with size/weight and the older molds had the 5 digit part number.

The deep lube groove measures .274 and I just grabbed a random unsized 30 cal Lee bullet, the GC shank measured .284 (measured with dial calipers, so give or take .001).

Lastly, if this was mod'd, what possible mold could this have been?
I did measure the mold blocks depth, incase it could have been machined shorter, it was about .005" shorter than a New Lee 6 cav mold...but maybe there is that much tolerance in their extruding/machining of 6 cavity molds? Also, I mentioned the Lee-menting...some one did "break" the sprue plate edges with a file and the bottom is sure smooth. Maybe the mold block tops were sanded uniform?

 

[300BLK]

The cavities haven't been modded; I have its twin.

 

[fiver]

Junior was big into the 30-30 and hand loading with a whack-a-mole die.
jeez he's been dead 9-10 years or so now.

 

[JonB]

The cavities haven't been modded; I have its twin.

Do you know any history?
I guess it doesn't really matter at this point, but I am curious.
Was this a GB, or just a custom mold someone wanted?
Who designed it, and what was their reasoning?

 

[L Ross]

That is an interesting looking specimen. I have the RCBS 30-150-CM in plain base and the 30-150-FN in checked. The CM gets the most use with 14.0 grains of 4227 in the 30-30. I get no leading with it, but I have never chrono'd that load. I'm guess 1,400+ judging from the trajectory and the fact that it will slap down a ground set buffalo target at 75 yds. in the Tom Horn Match in Virginia, MN.

 

[JonB]

I have a bunch of Blue Dot, that I use to use for 44 and 41, but won't use it for that anymore. I did sell some of the BD at a gunshow a couple years ago, but shortly after that, I read somewhere about using it in Rifle. So I kept the remaining couple jugs for that, thinking the 30-06 would be fun...So I've been looking for a plain base bullet every since. So I have a use for this.

 

[300BLK]

As far as I know it was a group buy that I wasn't part of. I bought this one from someone over there, and it was new in box.

 

[Bret4207]

I believe a long time back that someone mentioned we/they should be keeping a history of GB moulds. Who knows what it is or what it was designed for now! Looks useful enough.

 

[Missionary]

I look at that mold and think a Savage 300 lever rifle. All those crimp groves would be fun to play with.
But would be a fine light bullet for any caliber .30 bolt rifle.. Near any OAL could be given attention to.

 

[JonB]

I look at that mold and think a Savage 300 lever rifle. All those crimp groves would be fun to play with.
But would be a fine light bullet for any caliber .30 bolt rifle.. Near any OAL could be given attention to.

Are you sure they are crimp grooves?
because I am not so sure.
I have a 38 cal NOE mold with two crimp grooves and each groove, the lagging edge is angled.
This 30 cal mold, only the leading groove has a lagging edge that's angled, all other grooves our symmetrical, like Tumble lube grooves...but I guess a fella can crimp in a groove that doesn't have a angled lagging edge.
Although, I guess for my use in a 30-06 boltgun, it's likely I won't be crimping anything.

 

[richhodg66]

Odd design, looks like the designer wanted a hybrid between conventional lube and tumble lube. Should be a good shooter. Most of my shooting anymore is cast in .30 caliber rifles, it seems. I like the idea of plain based, but have only begun to kind of dabbe in them.

Is the shank on that bullet real short since the .300 Savage was mentioned? Might also be a good one in 7.62x39 in a bolt rifle.

 

[300BLK]

Its a single crimp groove with TL bands and a conventional lube groove. The shank length appears perfect to crimp in the crimp groove while covering all lube in 30-06 or 30-30. Obviously a guy could crimp in the TL bands, but too long for 300 Savage.

 

[Bret4207]

Are you sure they are crimp grooves?
because I am not so sure.
I have a 38 cal NOE mold with two crimp grooves and each groove, the lagging edge is angled.
This 30 cal mold, only the leading groove has a lagging edge that's angled, all other grooves our symmetrical, like Tumble lube grooves...but I guess a fella can crimp in a groove that doesn't have a angled lagging edge.
Although, I guess for my use in a 30-06 boltgun, it's likely I won't be crimping anything.

Der-zackly what I was thinking. The top groove is the crimp groove and the rest look like lube, but you could crimp if you wanted to. With the good lubes we have now that's likely waaaay more lube capacity than needed, but who knows what the designer was aiming for? Maybe a TL option?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I see it as Brad does and outlines above.


Apologies for remaining content. I have deleted as it was miss posted.

CW

 

[JonB]

I see it as Brad does and outlines above.

What might be throwing you is "wadcutters" came in three versions.

1) was completely flush with case mouth. Flat and @ or slightly below case mouth. (Think primer seating)

2) was what you have here. A bullet seated just proud of the case mouth.

3) Almost like a conventional bullet in OAL but full bore diameter.

CW

you lost me...did you mean to post this comment in this thread?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

you lost me...did you mean to post this comment in this thread?

Yea my bad sorry Jon.

With two threads with questions about bullets and "goings on" here & I posted to wrong thread. Apologies.
Ill delete and move.

Cw

 

[RBHarter]

Jon I followed. It may have been mixed with the step nose WC but the same idea with adjustable seat and crimp depth applies here .

I'm having some vague tickle of passing interest in this but I was very new to cast and trying to figure out how to get a bullet identical to a 150/165 gr TTSX in a mould to take advantage of the BC and twist in the 8.5 & 10" 30s I had at hand .