Lyman 314299 bullets dropping at .3105

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jasonf

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I bought the lyman 314299 hoping to get a bigger bullet for a worn .303 barrel that tumbles bullets from my other molds up to .311.

However with straight COW the bullets are only .3105?

I believe that the lyman molds are made to use #2 alloy so hoping that by adding more tin the diameter will increase. I have a limited supply of 50/50 and 95/5 solder and some type metal. I was wondering how much I should add roughly to a 10 lb pot to make a differance? I don't want to waste it all on trial and error.

Anyone else had this problem? My lee molds seem to drop bullets to the correct size with the same COW.

I keep my lead pot around 650 and pre heat my mold. Bullets look nice and the mold is easy to cast with just to small.
 
Barnes_270 said:
Another option is to powder coat - multiple coats can bring up the diameter nicely.
Click to expand...

I agree that this is the OP's probable best/easiest option. I just don't think adding alloy hardener will bump from .310 up to .314 (at least most of what I've read on the subject points in that direction).
I've read that 1 or 2 thou dia manipulation doable with alloy formula changes is possible but anything beyond that is improbable....Jet will probably have a much more "learned experience" than I certainly do on mold-alloy deviations.


The only thing with bumping up dia.'s with powder coating (and I've done lots of experimenting at this), a reliable consistent way of sizing & uniforming the finished product is essential. I have had some amazing results up-sizing cast slugs but I first size the slugs "as dropped" in a sizer same size as mold dia. and then size again In a "desired finished dia. sizer" after the coating is cooked.
 
This is the reason I no longer buy new Lyman molds. I had the same problem with that mold several years back. I sent it back to Lyman and waited over a year for it to come back. When I checked it, it was still undersized. I called their customer support and was told that it met their specifications. I ended up opening one cavity to .314" using a cast bullet and grinding compound in the drill press.
There are plentry of good custom mold makers around, so no need to deal with crappy ones.
And yes, I $&@! on Lyman whenever their name is mentioned.
 
I had the same experience with my Lyman 314299. I sent it back, they sent me a new one, same story. .310 sized bullets which are great for my M1917 .308 but not my LE Mk.4. I ponied up for an NOE 316299 and just size down to whatever I need from there.

Powder coating takes too long for me when my 45/45/10 lube works great up to 2300 fps.
 
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Tried again with half COW and half what I think is linotype. I cast at 600 as the bullets where frosty at 650. They did come out a little bigger at .312, better but still not what I was hoping for.

Is this linotype??? I was told it came from a printing shop.
 
Hard to tell from a picture if it’s Lino. Lino usually has a ringing sound when hit. Adding pure lead may increase your diameter. My Lyman mould casts 0.314 with WW. Lyman has two mould sizes for this bullet 311299 and 314299. Lee also has a mould meant for the 31 cals which I have had good results with. Mine casts at0.312. For a lighter bullet lee also makes a 160 gr meant for the sks which casts at 0.313.
 
Harder the alloy - smaller the bullet. To have a mold that fit - buy from accurate mold. Specify your alloy ( ypu have to in the ordering process )and ask for tolerance to be centered on your target diameter. In a .303 I would not shoot anything less than Lyman #2 or WW quenched.

This is a very good refetence on bullet and alloy .
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
 
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Janeau said:
Harder the alloy - smaller the bullet. To have a mold that fit - buy from accurate mold. Specify your alloy ( ypu have to in the ordering process )and ask for tolerance to be centered on your target diameter. In a .303 I would not shoot anything less than Lyman #2 or WW quenched.

This is a very good refetence on bullet and alloy .
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
Click to expand...

As per your reference and my experience, the harder the lead alloy, the larger the bullet. Soft lead shrinks more on cooling as evidenced by the pronounced dimple in the top of pure lead ingots.
 
I had one like that.Single cav,abused a bit but made nice bullets.

They shot really well out of Israeli 308 Mauser,then again all GC bullets I tried shot really well out of it as long as brass was of decent quality:)
 
Snider shooter said:
Hard to tell from a picture if it’s Lino. Lino usually has a ringing sound when hit. Adding pure lead may increase your diameter. My Lyman mould casts 0.314 with WW. Lyman has two mould sizes for this bullet 311299 and 314299. Lee also has a mould meant for the 31 cals which I have had good results with. Mine casts at0.312. For a lighter bullet lee also makes a 160 gr meant for the sks which casts at 0.313.
Click to expand...

I made sure I ordered the bigger Lyman 314299. I tried both of those Lee ones first.
Thanks
 
Janeau said:
Harder the alloy - smaller the bullet. To have a mold that fit - buy from accurate mold. Specify your alloy ( ypu have to in the ordering process )and ask for tolerance to be centered on your target diameter. In a .303 I would not shoot anything less than Lyman #2 or WW quenched.

This is a very good refetence on bullet and alloy .
http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm misreading it but from the chart "Bullet alloy as-cast & final dia. sized (.308 sizing die)" it looks like the harder the alloy the larger the 'as cast' diameter.
 
Aside from Powder Coat, another option is Paper patching them. Still fiddly.

Really, if you are not able to get the results you want from the mold, get another mold and try again

You can #### about with the mold by lapping it or 'beagle-ing' it (adding a layer of aluminum tape between the halves) but if you want to just have it work, skip all that and buy a mold that drops a bullet you can use.
 
Changing alloy will make less than .001" increase. My NOE 314299 throws an honest .3145" bullet.

Powder coating might work, depending on diameter of the nose. Sometimes a bore rider design won't chamber when powder coated.
 
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