mold for 303 Brit

catnthehatt

catnthehatt

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I tried the search engine but came up a blank.
We were shooting C.I.L 215's out of my Leeper-made Ruger#1 today, and they were flying super in the big wind.
My buddy, who happens to shoot a lot of black powder with me, suggested I try to find a bullet mold for the rifle and shoot cast out of it.
Anybody know a outfit that will make one, besides Lee?
I'm pretty sure I can get one from them, but not sure about the boorder issues.

Cat
 
I've been using the Lee 312-185 with reasonable results out of a no1 mk3

100 yards - 17gr of AA#9



That being said I plan on upgrading to a lyman 314299 or something like that soon. NOE moulds sell online and have some good options.
 
What's the groove diameter on a Ruger? I assume it wouldn't be near as sloppy as surplus Lee Enfields that range from .311" to .317".
There are quite a few different production moulds around without having to go custom. You'll want 1-2 thou over groove diameter. I have a clone of the Lyman 314299 from Accurate Molds. They cut each mold to order so you can order any diameter you want and you select the alloy you'll be using. You can choose either +.001/-.001 or +.002/-0 for the tolerance and after a half dozen molds from them they always cast within .0005" of what I order with the specified alloy.
You could, for example, order the 314299 design but specify .312" or .316" when you make the order. Cost is usually a hair over $100 to my door.

If your barrel is .310-.311" you could give the Lee 312-185 that JR86 mentioned a try. I use those sized to .311" in my Mosin and 300WM and they work fine. All my 303B rifles are over .312" so they don't work in those.
 
If I'm not mistaken, Ruger #1s usually have a notoriously short throat. I think your best bet would be to do a chamber cast or pound cast. At he absolute minimum slug your bore so you're not wasting money on unusable (for your application) molds. And as mentioned above, stay away from Lyman molds as they generally drop undersized from specs. Besides, I think they are $100 at wholesale sports. That will get you at least a 2 cavity NOE to your door...or within a few bucks anyway after conversion from USD and maybe tax and border fee from Canada Post. Well worth the few extra bucks to get a mold you know will deliver the goods as promised. Molds are no problem to be shipped from the USA as they are not ITAR controlled. All reloading tools and equipment are ok to be shipped. Just not ammunition or reloading components.
 
Lee is just a good cheap way to get started. I paid $33 for my lee mould taxes in. I d recommend you go for the NOE if you don't mind dropping the cash. I will be!
 
I have a bunch of NOE molds and they are great,I also have Mihec and Lee and RCBS,but my go to mold for .303 is the Lyman 314299.My mold drops them right at .314 with #2 alloy.They work well as cast with Red Dot or Unique or sized and gas checked with IMR 4198 or 4227.The only shame is that SR-4759 has been discontinued.With cast bullets you need to get a lube-sizer to maximize the versatility of a mold to perform in different rifles.
 
I've lucked out over the years. I've picked up a SC Ideal and DC Lyman 311299 at shows. Both cast at 315. Sized at 314 they are the only bullets I use in my Lee Enfields and Moisant Nagants
 
JR86 said:
Im just trying to help the OP get into casting without needing to spend $1000. Maybe he won't like it. Lol
Click to expand...

Uh, the OP already casts , 445,.530 and .575, round ball, and has cast and shot bullets for , 30,32,35,38, .40, and .45,and .577- as well as 7 1/2 shot!:>)

Got sizers, molds furnaces, etc.
Just ordered a bunch of 205's , so I'll see how they work- not much of a gas check guy however, I'm a nekkid bullet type o' guy!LOL!!
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
Uh, the OP already casts , 445,.530 and .575, round ball, and has cast and shot bullets for , 30,32,35,38, .40, and .45,and .577- as well as 7 1/2 shot!:>)

Got sizers, molds furnaces, etc.
Just ordered a bunch of 205's , so I'll see how they work- not much of a gas check guy however, I'm a nekkid bullet type o' guy!LOL!!
Cat
Click to expand...

Missed that part! (Because you failed to mention that) I think I would get along great with the OP :D
 
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