which all purpose 30 cal mold

[tmax64]

I have been casting pistol bullets for several years and have decided to get a 30 cal mold for "just in case". 30 cal rifles that I could potentially cast for (mine or friends/family) would be a 308, 30-06, 300win and 300 weatherby. I'm thinking a 170/180gr mold might work well for the 308 & 30-06 and could be used if you had too in the 30 mags. I've got 100+ lbs of wheel weight lead, 30+ lbs of linotype and some soft lead. So if you were going to do 30 cals with 1 mold what would it be?

[Marlin Junky]

If your gonna point 'em at critters, 311041 would be as good a place to start as any... at least with the '06. I think I'd rather buy an older Lyman mold or one of the many variations available today from the custom mold manufacturers than a brand new Lyman mold though.

RCBS 30-165-SIL will work in both the .308 and '06 if it still casts .302" on the nose but its smaller meplat is not going to work as well on flesh and blood. BRP's 311041 can be seated out farther than the traditional Lyman design and will probably work better in the .308 than the latter (because of the .308's short neck).

Success is also possible with the Lee boolits but if the nose casts at or less than your bore diameters, go for the higher driving band surface to overall length ratio designs (i.e., C309-150 or 160).

MJ

[MakeMineA10mm]

If you go with a medium-weight (170-180gr) or heavyweight, any bore-rider or Loverin style should work well. I have a Saeco #315 that does all my 30-cal work for now, and it works great!

[Blammer]

311284, 311466, and 311041 are standards, can't go wrong with any of them

[geargnasher]

Lee 170 grain RF is tough to beat for "universal" needs, it will chamber in most 30 cal bolt or lever guns.

The 311041 is an all-time classic, as is the 311407.

Gear

[docone31]

I prefer the Lee 180gn mold, two cavity.
I use it with plain lead, or paper patching.
Works well.

[462]

Ideal/Lyman 308291/311291.

[1Shirt]

Right now, the 165 Ranch Dog is pretty high on my list. 6 cav, shoots well in all of my 30's, and is not a bad looker. In the Lymans, would go for 31141HP. Like the 150 lee also, but it is not much of a looker. In heavy, can't beat 311284HP.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Artful]

Right now, the 165 Ranch Dog is pretty high on my list. 6 cav, shoots well in all of my 30's, and is not a bad looker. In the Lymans, would go for 31141HP. Like the 150 lee also, but it is not much of a looker. In heavy, can't beat 311284HP.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

I got a lyman ranch dog in 35 cal - liked it so much got the NOE version in 30 with two plain base and three Gas checked cavities - I have to fire up the pot but in my mind this is sort of the best mold for all 30 cal's. I even want to try some in my 30 carbine contender barrel.:bigsmyl2:

[Bret4207]

RCBS 30-180FN. Works in everything I've tried it in and has that FN for hunting.

[NHlever]

The designs already mentioned will work great in most situations, however you should consider the neck length of the cartridges you are considering, and choose the designs that don't require seating the gas check in the powder space. So a Lyman 311299 might work better than the 311284, etc. Having a reasonable meplat diameter, or hollow point is also going to factor in if you plan on hunting game as others have mentioned.

[excess650]

I think you have to take magazine length and neck length into account, so because of the short neck on the 308 and 300 WinMag, the 311299, 311644, and Saeco 301 would be on my list. None of these have much of a meplat to them, and all weigh 200gr-205gr.

I really like the Saeco #315 tapered design (175gr), but haven't tried to push it for velocity. It has more meplat than those mentioned above, but still not large.

The 311041 and Ranch Dog 311-165 seem more suitable for hunting, but both were designed for the 30-30 with its long neck. Similar designs (to the 311041) are the Lee 170FN, Saeco #305 and #307, RCBS 180FN, but with the exception of the Lee, all have longer shanks than the 311041. This isn't a problem if you don't mind the GC being below the neck or even below the shoulder.

Maybe a modified NOE K31 boolit with larger diameter nose and wider meplat would fit the bill?:popcorn:

The OBVIOUS answer is to forget the 308 and 300mag, and use 30-30, 30-40 Krag, and 30-06 for cast![smilie=p:

[NHlever]

"The OBVIOUS answer is to forget the 308 and 300mag, and use 30-30, 30-40 Krag, and 30-06 for cast! ".................. or just give up, and buy a couple of molds. :D

[Kraschenbirn]

Picking just one from what I currently have on hand, I'd have to go with the 31141 as it performs adequately in everything except my Garand. Note that I said "adequately" because, so far as accuracy at upper-end velocities (such as one might desire for hunting), it's NOT the "best" in any of my guns.

Bill

[wiljen]

for the 308, 30-40, 30-06, and 300 Mag, I'd lean toward the 311407, 311284, or the 311332.
the 31141 is hard to beat in the 30-30.

[NHlever]

I wasn't familiar with the 311407 so here is a link to a drawing of it for others in the same boat.
http://www.tmtpages.com/web_images/pages/Lyman%20Mold%20311407%20%20177_gr.htm

[Artful]

311407
http://www.tmtpages.com/web_images/images/Lyman%20Mold%20311407%20%20177_gr.jpg

Ranchdog to compare too
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/TLC311165RF/bullet/sketch.jpg
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5_16&products_id=31

Notice RanchDog version is microgroove/TumbleLube design - NOE Version has larger grease grooves.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=75612

thought it might be nice to see some of the others
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/1111-005-311466FNHP.jpg
NOE group buy 311466 with HP option

311284
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/NOE%20311284%20HP%20Work%20Completed/PICT0003-39.jpg
showing HP by Eric to NOE mold

311291
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/th_CastBullets_20090207_001.jpg

[tmax64]

Thanks gents. I like the looks of that RanchDog mold.

[Mk42gunner]

The 311284 ahs been around for over 100 years. It was originally designed for the .30-40 and works well in most 30 caliber rifles. I also like the Lee 312-185 sized to .311 for my .308's and .30-06.

Robert

[arcticbreeze]

I will throw my vote in for the 311041. It has worked well in every 30 cal I have and is a great hunting boolit to boot. I use it in 30-30, 308 win and 30-06 with great success.

Marc

[white eagle]

as much as I would like to say that there is such a critter there isn't
having one mold for many rifle is a compromise and won't shine anywhere
better off to pick your cal and then the mold,boolit design

[stubshaft]

My go to mould for 30 cal is a 180gr LBT spitzer. Used it for silly wett shooting and hunting in everything from 30/30 through 300 WSM.

[MT Gianni]

I like Lee's 113fp aka the soup can. it is accurate past 200 yards, shoots well in 30-30, 308, 30-06, 7.62x39 and I have one mold fat enough to shoot in 32 pistol calibers. It fits the idea of just because and you can get any of the others listed above for hunting.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

I do believe I have poured about half a ton of old Lyman 311284 in a 2-cavity mould. It shoots well in every 30 caliber bolt rifle I have tried it in, feeds in a Garand, the old cranky HK-91, and an M-1A, and I believe it will as well in my 300 BLK when it arrives.

Rich

You aren't going for speed, so use a heavier bullet and get a bit more "thump."

[Recluse]

RCBS 30-180FN. Works in everything I've tried it in and has that FN for hunting.

I'll +1 this boolit.

Will also add that the Lee 185 RN is very high on my list.

:coffee:

[45-70 Chevroner]

I really like my RCBS 180 FN. It throughs a 190 gr boolit with WW and a little tin. It works great in my 06 and my 30-30. It has a long bore riding nose and still feeds real nice in the 30-30.

[Smoke-um if you got-um]

I agree with everybody that has recomended Ranchdogs 165 grain 6 banger mold. It is a great bullet that shoots well in most all my 30's. It has pretty much superceded my other 30 cal. molds, they stay on the shelf unless one has proven to shoot better than than Ranchdogs in a particular rifle. It is an excellent bullet design.

Mike

[tmax64]

How does one go about getting a RanchDog mold? I found his website but it shows that they are out of stock. I'm a newbie here and I hadn't even heard of RD until finding CastBoolits. I would like to find a 2-3 cavity mold with handles if possible. I have Lee TL pistol molds and have had good success with them so want to try a rifle mold of the same flavor.

[Dean D.]

The only .30 mold I currently have is the old Loverin designed 311466. I have been astounded at how accurate it shoots in all the rifles I've tried it in so far (30-40 Krag and 30-06). That said, it is too light for my taste to hunt larger game with IMO.

I am currently awaiting arrival of the recent NOE 311284 GB that Blammer honcho'd. I am thinking between the two boolits I should pretty much have most of my needs covered. Yeah....right....keep on sayin that... [smilie=l: :rolleyes: [smilie=l:

Addict????? Who me?????? :veryconfu [smilie=s:

[MakeMineA10mm]

How does one go about getting a RanchDog mold? I found his website but it shows that they are out of stock. I'm a newbie here and I hadn't even heard of RD until finding CastBoolits. I would like to find a 2-3 cavity mold with handles if possible. I have Lee TL pistol molds and have had good success with them so want to try a rifle mold of the same flavor.

You either have to wait til he has them back in-stock (recommended), or you can scour the for-sale ads at this website or others (like e-bay). The best other place to look for his 30-cal. mould would probably be the surplus rifle forums.


As far as a universal 30-caliber mould, I agree that it's probably impossible. BUT, I think some general-use moulds could be picked out.

I think the 311041 is probably the "univeral" hunting Flat Point (HP too).

I have been thinking of developing two other "universal" 30-caliber moulds. They would be similar designs, but one would be a medium-weight (170grs or so) and would be designed for short-neck/short COAL 30s, and the other would be a heavy (210grs or so) and would be designed for long-neck/long COAL 30s. Have the ideas all worked out in my mind, but I need to do some research first and then talk to a boolit drawer.

[tmax64]

Thank you all for your responses. I'm not in a big right-now hurry so I'll probably just wait until they come back in stock. I know and agree with those of you that say there is no single all-purpose mold. Molds are kinda like rifles, hard to pick out just one when each excells in there own area.

[pls1911]

You'll not be disappointed with the Ranch Dog mold. I would not be surprised if you never bought an other 30 cal mold, as nothing your lead bullets will be loaded in will exceed the factory ballistics for the 30-30, or roughly 2000-2100 fps.
Oh you can push 'em at light speed, but you'll only do it once.
Go heavy for the round (170-195 grains), moderate on the pressure (35k-ish), moderate on the velocity (1800-2000 fps), and your 30-30, 308, or 30/06 will put down your game very satisfactorily... and DRT if you place your shot through the shoulder.