Which bullet?

[BulletCaster]

I'm looking to get one mould to use in the 30-30, 308, and 30-06. I realize that one bullet will not be the best for all of them. Needs to be able to be used in the tube magazine of the 30-30.

I was looking at the LBT 170gr design for the 30-30 as they claim it should work well in any .30 up to about 2400fps, which is plenty fast for me.

A true flat point would probably work best if I want to use the Star for lubing.

Any suggestions?

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Hi and welcome to the forum. For a start you could/should consider Lyman #311291. It is a Round nose and one of the best bullet designs ever made for 30 cal. I use it in my 94's with tube mags. It has a flat nose counterpart....Lyman #311041, ( also for use in tubular magazines). Both weigh around 170 grs. No doubt there are many other bullet designs and maufacturers and numerous other suggestions are possible. Other forum members with much experience will help you further with their knowledge. As for velocity, generally anything over 15-1600 fps will need a gas check. There are a great many powders and loadings recommended for the three calibers you mentioned to be found in good loading manuals and again the vast experience of forum members will also provide you with other good possibilities. It'll take some time & patience. Good shooting. LLS

[Nora]

Welcome BulletCaster

Slug the barrels in all of them first. Make sure your mold of choice will throw .002+ over the largest one. Sizing down is easy. But if it is to small to start with it will not print well or possibly punch a lot of key holes down range.

Nora

[geargnasher]

I'm shopping for a .30-30 mould too, am enjoying the input.

Gear

[GabbyM]

You'll have a hard time sizing the long nose bullets in a star. You'll for sure need a flat point to do it. I have a Saeco 150 grain that works through my Star but the longer 30's I find it easier to just use my Lyman sizer. If the 150 gr is all you need then it would actually fit the neck of the 308.

[BulletCaster]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

I was pretty much counting on using gas checks. I have not sized rifle bullets with the Star, so I'm not sure how it will work. I have had pretty good results using it with the SAECO #356, which is a proportianately(that might be a made-up word on my part) similar bullet at .358 with a GC and flat nose.

[Bret4207]

RCBS 30-180FN. 30-150 FN. Lyman 311041 or 311291.

[softpoint]

RCBS .30/180 fn.:-D

[runfiverun]

rcbs 150 fn g/c is actually the one that shoots best in my 0-6.
it does second best in my bolt action 30-30 and best in the win 94.
the 180 would do fine also.
oh yeah the 150 is a snap to g/c and lube in the star.

[Shiloh]

I load the Lyman 311041 for my sons '94. Haven't tried it anything else. It'd be too small for the Krag.

Shiloh

[Blammer]

I'd recommend the 311041, I like it in my 30-06 and my 30-30.

[RayinNH]

Don't overlook 311407. No longer in production by Lyman, but there was a group buy recently. Contact SwedeNelson, there was a couple of over runs that may be available. I got in on the original GB moulds cut by Lee. A very good boolit...Ray

[looseprojectile]

I see this topic often.
It seems to me that the people that reply here have preferences for one or another boolit that works for them.
It is also apparent that these same folks are getting good results with the boolit that they reccomend.
That means, to me that most will shoot good if all is right with size and lube and alloy. That said, I will nearly always go with the old Ideal 31141 as it has worked in all of the .308 groove guns I have shot it in. Size to .310.
I must have six or more .311 and .314 moulds.
To recap, choose the boolit that suits the use that you will be putting it to.

Life is good