I Need a Mold for 308 Winchester

[chemist308]

I'm new to casting, but not so new to reloading. Now, casting bullets is the next in my progression. I need a bullet mold for 308 Winchester, but I'm not sure that the long 308 molds will work.

I envision I'll likely used wheel weight or linotype alloy depending on how stiff I want to load. But for the moment I can afford one. What style and weight should I get? I'm looking primarily at Lee molds, found here: http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1102469667.3282=/html/catalog/bullmol2.html

More specifically, I was thinking about mold C309-180, catalog number 90369. Will this work? My purposes are deer and black bear. I'll likely mostly paper punch too, though.

I don't want this to be a brand war. It'll probably be Lee because that's my budget.

[big boar]

I have molds from RCBS, Lee, Lyman, and LBT. In my opinion you will get pretty good bullets from Lee and for the price, will not be disappointed. They are a good way to get started. In almost every rifle I've shoot cast in, the heavier, longer, bullets were easier to get good results from and a 180 is heavy enough. After you get the cast shooting bug you'll eventually want and get more molds. From there on you'll spiral down into the depths of the cast shooting brotherhood to never ever live a normal life again, though you'll be happier and wiser for it. Fame, fortune, wisdom and great strength will befall upon thee. Your wife will think you're an idiot.

[chemist308]

The rifle is a Ruger M77 (early 90's model) if that makes a difference.

[docone31]

I have that mold.
Great!
I also paper patch it with great results.

[waco]

big boar called it
not only my wife, but all my "none shooter" friends think im a total retard

[Slow Elk 45/70]

:veryconfu Waco, you have "Friends that don't shoot"????? What's the Point???

Show them how!!!!:bigsmyl2:

[qajaq59]

Your wife will think you're an idiot. Mine doesn't, not after I showed her how much money I was saving with each shot. I easily go thru 400 rounds of .308 caliber a month. So the savings of lead vs jackets adds up real quick.

[EMC45]

My wife has also been enlightened to the savings of this insane hobby. She knows that when I'm out at the casting or smelting pot I'm not at the store buying jacketed or even cast for that matter. I also have the Lee .309 mold and it is great. 160gr. IIRC. It is a dbl cav and I reamed the gas check out of one cav so I can cast GC or plain base bullets.

[Tokarev]

My wife shoots what I cast only.

[oso]

The bore riding noses on some Lee C309's may be insufficiently supported in .30 bores. Please consider the Lee C312-185-1R for a very satisfactory alternative.

[Bigjohn]

After you get the cast shooting bug you'll eventually want and get more molds. From there on you'll spiral down into the depths of the cast shooting brotherhood to never ever live a normal life again, though you'll be happier and wiser for it. Fame, fortune, wisdom and great strength will befall upon thee. Your wife will think you're an idiot.

There is still plenty of room in the nuthouse. :mrgreen:

If you have the desiree to try a mold by another maker; look at the RCBS 308-165-SIL. It works well for me.

Keep your eyes open at garage sales and gunshows, one may turn up in good condition.

John

[Bret4207]

Either of the suggested Lee moulds will work great in a 308 if sized properly. For hunting I suggest the RCBS 30-180FN. Cast from straight WW and driven above 1600fps that boolit should give through and through (tat) penetration on average <175 lbs deer. Push it a little faster, say 2000 fps and you'll be duplicating the 303 Savage and that makes it adequate for any deer or black bear east of the Miss. That FN (flat nose) makes all the difference.

[Tokarev]

A few dozens of Lee 200 gr 309 bullits are sitting in front of me waiting until I have inspiration to load and try them in 308 Stevens 200 rifle. Would it make sense to start at 22gr 4064? That's the only rifle powder I have on hand at the moment, the only other one is pulldown Russian from 7.62x54R milsurp, they used 49 grains of it behind a 147gr bimetal bullet.

[GunFun]

I am thinking of getting the Lee 160 grain mold for http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-c309-160-r.html a 308 piston AR10 and also for 30-06. I'd like to try the Hi-tek polymeer coating or similar and attempt jacketed or near jacketed velocities. Or the 160

What are your thoughts?
My concerns are feeding in the 308/ cycling (If I am unsuccessful in getting enough velocity without leading problems)

and is this a heavy enough bullet to stabilize.

[Lefty SRH]

I'm having some good results from a RCBS 308-200-SIL. So far I am getting 2 MOA with iron sights and velocity is 2175-ish FPS from a Ruger Gunsite Scout which is a 16" barrel.

[Tokarev]

Old thread.

I used mine lubed with paraffin/ATF lube in Stevens 200 with 35.6gr 4064 and got 1.5-2 MOA at 100 yards.

[PhatForrest]

Mihec made an excellent brass mold in a group buy here not too long back. It oozes quality, and makes great boolits.

[LittleBill]

After you get the cast shooting bug you'll eventually want and get more molds. From there on you'll spiral down into the depths of the cast shooting brotherhood to never ever live a normal life again, though you'll be happier and wiser for it. Fame, fortune, wisdom and great strength will befall upon thee. Your wife will think you're an idiot.

I just read this out loud to my wife. She laughed and said "I'm not there yet!" I replied, "I'm not there yet either!" We're both still noobs. :razz:

[flyingmonkey35]

Hey gang I'm in the same boat.

I'm looking at something a can punch holes in paper @ 100 yard s

30/30 Winchester model 95

I plan on powder coating.

Would like to NOT use gas checks.

Plinking etc..

Thoughts.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Hey gang I'm in the same boat.

I'm looking at something a can punch holes in paper @ 100 yard s

30/30 Winchester model 95

I plan on powder coating.

Would like to NOT use gas checks.

Plinking etc..

Thoughts.

My thought
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=71_75&products_id=513&osCsid=89oabcug9uomjitb6utb5ork40

[GunFun]

I got a 6 cavity Lee mold of Lyman's 311041 in plain base. They also had gas check version. This cast at 183 grains and easily sized to .309" I poly coat them and they feed fine in .308 win and 30-06. I originally got the 160 grain lee mold because I was concerned about feeding in a semi auto with other profiles.

The mold made very good bullets very quickly. It releases very cleanly and all of that. Bullets were round and consistent across all cavities. I believe this profile is popular for 30-30 WCF and also the British fat 30s.

I was trying to find a link to the seller on ebay, because they were going for about the cost of blank mold blocks, but I don't see any at the moment. It's certainly worth getting if you can find one.

[Silverboolit]

Just a thought, try putting a boolit nose first into the muzzle end of the barrel. See if it goes in. Groove diameter is important, but so is the boolit nose going over the lands easily.

[MT Chambers]

The most accurate bullets in my .308 are: NOE version of Saeco #315 at around 175 grains, Lyman's 311644 and 311284, and of course #311041, all are gas check designs.

[Elkins45]

Hey gang I'm in the same boat.

I'm looking at something a can punch holes in paper @ 100 yard s

30/30 Winchester model 95

I plan on powder coating.

Would like to NOT use gas checks.

Plinking etc..

Thoughts.

I'm not powder coating, but my best results so far in the quest for the best plain based boolet from my 300 blackout have been with the NOE 311365 from water dropped COWW. Lube is 666+1 or Fryxell's MolyGraph mix.

[Leadmelter]

Waco
"Retard" is not a word spoken anymore. My nephew"s son was born with Down's syndrome and had leukemia twice with the last bout resulting in multiple chemo therapies and a bone marrow transplant.
Today, he is eleven yrs old and starting middle school. He is a joy in our family.
Please consider.

Leadmelter
MI

[Elkins45]

Old thread.

I used mine lubed with paraffin/ATF lube in Stevens 200 with 35.6gr 4064 and got 1.5-2 MOA at 100 yards.

Tell us about your paraffin/ATF lube. Are those the only two ingredients? What proportions?

That sounds like a reply cheap lube.

[gpidaho]

oso: Have that mould plus three other Lee 30cal moulds like that one a lot but my best results in .308 are with CTL 312-160-2R Lee moulds work great for me and the price cant be beat.GP

[WILCO]

I don't want this to be a brand war. It'll probably be Lee because that's my budget.

LEE is a great choice for the money.

[DeanWinchester]

I have a 311-155-2r Lee in the S&S right now. Would probably serve you well.

[MT Chambers]

If you don't want a brand war, go to the CBA benchrest results and see how many, winners or otherwise, used Lee molds, also check the record holders for Lee molds.

[flyingmonkey35]

Just got back from the range.

30-30
150grn
Hfpc
6.2grns reddot

Target at 50feet. Fun to shoot but accuracy not so good.

111766111767

[Blammer]

yea, not much to say, just wanted to post some 308 pictures. :)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits%20fun/DSCN8800_zpsb926c050.jpg (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/blammer8mm/media/Cast%20boolits%20fun/DSCN8800_zpsb926c050.jpg.html) http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits%20fun/DSCN8791.jpg (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/blammer8mm/media/Cast%20boolits%20fun/DSCN8791.jpg.html)

[quilbilly]

My Rem 308 rifle likes the 160 gr. Lee boolit. It would be a good place to start.

[mac266]

I have molds from RCBS, Lee, Lyman, and LBT. In my opinion you will get pretty good bullets from Lee and for the price, will not be disappointed. They are a good way to get started. In almost every rifle I've shoot cast in, the heavier, longer, bullets were easier to get good results from and a 180 is heavy enough. After you get the cast shooting bug you'll eventually want and get more molds. From there on you'll spiral down into the depths of the cast shooting brotherhood to never ever live a normal life again, though you'll be happier and wiser for it. Fame, fortune, wisdom and great strength will befall upon thee. Your wife will think you're an idiot.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! :cbpour:

[flyingmonkey35]

Monkey - what boolit is that one? All bore rider? Not much meat in the neck.
112262

[Tokarev]

Tell us about your paraffin/ATF lube. Are those the only two ingredients? What proportions?

That sounds like a reply cheap lube.

Came across this old thread again. I realize this was an old question, but the same batch of the lube I was referring to is still on my reloading bench today as I did almost no shooting since the post you replied to.
Attaching the pictures of the lube with 2 Sharpie markers, Papermate pencil and a cap a from WD40 can for color reference.

The only 2 ingredients of my lube are really unscented candle paraffin and ATF. Made by dissolving a few candles in a few spoonfuls of ATF heated to 200 degrees.
When it solidifies it feels kind of like hand soap. Very cheap lube indeed.
The groves on the bottom is from dragging the bullets to be lubed.
When fired, it produces a small puff of white smoke, but works very well.

Here, without and with a flash:
153896153895

[Boolitmeister]

My Rem 308 rifle likes the 160 gr. Lee boolit. It would be a good place to start.

What sort of velocity and range are you getting from the Rem and 160? I am looking at a Rem 700 and a Pat Marlins gas check maker.

[robg]

I've got Lee 309 molds 115/150/160/180 gr molds ,the new ones are better than the old ones in my experience ,I'd get the 150grfn 2 cavity mold as you can use it in a tube mag rifle as well .great molds at any price.just my biased opinion.

[quilbilly]

What sort of velocity and range are you getting from the Rem and 160? I am looking at a Rem 700 and a Pat Marlins gas check maker. My Rem 308 rifle really likes the 1850-1900 fps range and i suspect yours will too. I have also shot a Loverin style 160 semi point GC at that velocity, a Lyman 130 plain base at 1300 fps , and a Saeco 183 gr spire point plain base at 1300 fps and all have shot well. Using that Lee 160 RNGC, the rifle especially liked 2400 powder giving sub-MOA groups but since 2400 is made of unobtainium nowadays, I have switched to RE-7 for the same velocity and it shoots about as well. Every rifle has a personality and yours will be discovered.