.30 cal molds

[jonk]

I have the following:
311291
GB 311041 clone
Lee 200gr
Lee 150gr FN
Lee 312 185 gr
Lee TL 312 160 gr
Lee 120 gr RN
314299 (mainly for enfields etc)

I'm curious. If there was one mold you would just HAVE to add to this list, mainly for milsurps in 30-06, 308, etc., what would it be and why? Which of these have you personally done well with out of an 03? A3? M1?

I ask because while I've always done ok with them and they do GREAT in some guns (the Lee 200 grainer in my Swiss 1911 is a winner!) they don't do so hot in the US rifles. 4-5 inches at best at 100 yards.

[Ben]

jonk :

It is rare to find ANY 1 bullet mold that will shoot great in that wide of a variety of bore dimensions ( Swiss is usually on the " tight " side ) and war time production .30 cal barrels in other military rifles possible on the large side.

With that said, I have several Lee 200 gr. molds, I'm lucky with one of them, ----That one particular mold throws a .310 bullet on all the bands with a .302 nose

It shoots good in a variety of .30 cal. rifles.

Mike your Lee 200 on the driving bands and nose and report back, I'm curious as to why your Lee 200 gr. won't do better than 4 - 5 inches @ 100 yards? If the bullet has the proper dia. on the nose and is sized to .001 - .002 over your bore, it should be shooting better than that .

The Lee 200 gr. is a good design . ( If you get lucky and find a mold that will throw a bullet large enough )

Ben

[94Doug]

I think I'd add a Loverin design or two..... I think maybe the 311467 which seems to be a good choice for surplus rifles, and maybe a 311466.

[grouch]

I'd try 311284 - it's done well for me in a couple of '03s

[Larry Gibson]

jonk

+1 on 311466 because if you want to push velocities in the faster 10" twist .308 and '06 barrels this is the bullet.

Other than that you've got a good sellection. I've done well in most every '03, 'A3 and M1 along with every other '06 with 10" twist with 311299 and 314299. I've also done well with 311291 in most .308/'6 rifles. The more worn bores prefer the 314299. I've found a bullet that is usually sized not smaller than .311" shoots best in most all .308/.309" barrels.

The GB 311041 should be a very good bullet for most .30 and .31 cals. Mine drop at .313/.314 on the driving bands and .302/.303" on the nose when cast of WW/lino at 60/40 mix. The nose lightly engraves on all my.30s except for the tightest one in which it really engrages. It is perfect in my M94s and shoots very well in my 10 and 12" twist .308s. I haven't tried it in any of my '06s but expect it will also do very well in those. It is a perfect fit in all of my .31s; 7.65 Argies - 3 M91s and a M1909, my .303 Ross and my M91/30 Russian MN Sniper, it is a very good fit in the Finn M39 MN. I size and lube it at .314" which is good for the .31s. I then size the lubes and GC'd .314 bullets at .312 for the M39 and .311 for the .30s.

The Lee C312-185 is an excellent bullet in most .31s and a few worn .30s. The Lee .309-120-R is a great plinker in most any .30 and is a very good choice for full power .30 carbine loads. I've no experience with the other Lee bullets but see no reason they should have excellent results at least in .30s also.

Yup, you've a good selection there.

Larry Gibson

[MT Gianni]

I think everyone should try a Lee 113 fp in their 30's. It shoots great in most from 25-200 yards.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

at least 311332 and 311334, and probably 311284. all heavyweights, 180, 190 and 200gr from #2 alloy. 332 shoots well in the Garand and M1A, as does 284. I made Expert Class with the 332 at 200-300 and nearly at 600 yds several years ago when I had 20-15 in one eye and 20-20 out of the other. All three bullets have killed deer and elk more than once in the last 30 years for me here in Idaho.

I think 334 was a Pope design for the 30-40 Krag for indoor gallery practice.

Rich
Buff Killer