RepackboxInline FabricationReloading EverythingTitan Reloading
Lee PrecisionMidSouth Shooters SupplyRotoMetals2Load Data
Wideners
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 26

Thread: Best 308/30-06 mold

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Granville, IL
    Posts
    147

    Best 308/30-06 mold

    I want to get a 30cal mold to use in a 308win rem 700police(26in heavy contour 1:12 twist) and also in a M1 Garand(no clue on the specs) that I plan to get tis summer. To start off I want to get ONE mold to work in both and go from there. Im thinking something in the 150-165grn rage because M2 ball had 150grn bullet but then again as I understand it the 1:12 twist of the 700 perfers a heavier bullet. Also would it be better for the Garand to have a pointed bullet? This would be used for targets, maybe a match or two, and who knows I might take it hunting but probably not. Please let me know what you think.
    I'll keep my guns and my money, you can keep the change!

    Μολὼν λάβε

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Lead Fred's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Washingrad
    Posts
    2,208
    I use the Ranch Dog 165 in my bolt guns.
    Will never shoot cast though my Garand
    I have sworn on the altar of GOD eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
    Thomas Jefferson

    " Any law that is NOT constitutional is not a law" James Madison

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Granville, IL
    Posts
    147
    Is there something wong with using lead in a Garand?
    I'll keep my guns and my money, you can keep the change!

    Μολὼν λάβε

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    SW Idaho
    Posts
    2,264
    NOE 311284.

    Rich

  5. #5
    In Remebrance


    Bret4207's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    St Lawrence Valley, NY
    Posts
    12,924
    You may never find one boolit that shoots great in both. Depends of what size your barrels/throats are. Standard designs like the Lyman 311284 or RCBS 30-180 often give good results.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master NHlever's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    1,398
    Starting from scratch I would choose the Lyman 311672, or RCBS 165 grain mold. They have a short body section that works well in the 308, and a tapered section ahead of the body to fit the throats well. Reported accuracy with both molds has been very good in both calibers. If you decide to go with a heavier boolit, I would look hard at the 311299 instead of the 311284 though the latter is more popular in bolt guns. It too has a shorter body section to better fit in the shorter .308 Winchester neck, and a somethat more pointed profile to perhaps feed better in your Garand. I believe that RCBS also makes a 180 grain mold with a profile similar to their 165 for an in between weight. Good luck with your choice, and good shooting. Keep us posted on how you make out! I've just started using the Lyman 311672 in my .308 bolt guns with a 1-10" twist, and have only tried one load so far, but it looks pretty promising. I'm also trying it in my old 30--30 for the 1-12" twist loaded single shot since it's pretty pointed. First 5 shot group with the old gun was just over an inch at 50 yards with the iron sights so that shows promise too.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    nicholst55's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Houston, TX Metro Area
    Posts
    3,606
    Quote Originally Posted by b money View Post
    Is there something wong with using lead in a Garand?
    Some will tell you that you'll foul the gas system beyond hope when shooting cast bullets in the Garand. All I'll say is that is not my experience with them, and refer them to this thread: M1 Garand Loads??. I'd also suggest doing a search for 'M1 Garand + cast' here on this board. A lot of folks are shooting cast bullets through their Garands, M1As, SKSs, etc. with success.

    That's not to say that developing a successful cast bullet load for your Garand will necessarily be easy; just that many have succeeded. You'll need the proper hardness of bullet alloy, gas checks, and the right powder(s). There's a lot of information available here on the subject, though.
    Service members, veterans and those concerned about their mental health can call the Veterans Crisis Line to speak to trained professionals. To talk to someone, call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, send a text message to 838255 or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

    If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, text a crisis counselor at 741741 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

  8. #8
    Moderator Emeritus

    wiljen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    4,525
    311284 or 311299 depending on the throat. I've seen short throated 308s that dont like the 299.
    Reloading Data Project - (in retirement)
    http://sourceforge.net/projects/reloadersrfrnce/

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    sqlbullet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Holladay, UT
    Posts
    1,398
    Quote Originally Posted by b money View Post
    Is there something wong with using lead in a Garand?
    Not that I know of. I have probably close to 1000 rounds through my two Garands. I get accuracy similar to or better than Greek surplus ammo.

    I am cheap when it comes to molds.

    Lee 309-200 runs great in my Garands and in my Remington 700 300 Win Mag.

    I recently added a Lee 309-160 but have not been to the range yet to put it on paper. I am paper patching these rounds and loading them up pretty stout.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    sundog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Green Country Oklahoma
    Posts
    3,497
    Ginger or Maryann? Laverne or Shirley?

    That posed, I'll offer this. I have a 12 twist heavy barrel 700 in .308. It's a good shooter. It was a good shooter right from the box. It likes Nosler 125 gr Ballistic Tips real well - problem with that is they are pricey. To date, the best cast boolit load is RCBS 30-180-SP and 5744. I've tried probably a dozen or more different boolits and as many powders. I didn't pick this load, the gun did. The gun also picked the best velocity.
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  11. #11
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Near Selma Al
    Posts
    81
    I use the Lee C309-160-1R. Very close to the Lyman 311672 and you can buy 3 for the same price as 1 Lyman. If your gonna want to cast alot of them you can run 3 molds at the same time without a problem.
    They are short enough to miss the rifling on all my 30cals.

    Ray

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Peerless, MT
    Posts
    315
    Has anyone here tried the Lyman 311644? I've experimented a bit with it in the .30-06 but didn't get good results

  13. #13
    Boolit Master on Heavens Range
    felix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    fort smith ar
    Posts
    9,679
    Yes, I have. That boolit is very gun/load dependent. The design is correct enough but needs a longer bearing (shorter nose in effect) to be more general purpose in accuracy. But then, it would not fit the shorter throats. ... felix
    felix

  14. #14
    Boolit Master Lead Fred's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Washingrad
    Posts
    2,208
    Quote Originally Posted by b money View Post
    Is there something wong with using lead in a Garand?
    Nope, I have way to much invested in my M1, Its personal preference.

    I have 1000s of mil surp bullets for use in the M1, no need to use cast
    I have sworn on the altar of GOD eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
    Thomas Jefferson

    " Any law that is NOT constitutional is not a law" James Madison

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Lake Havasu City, Arizona
    Posts
    21,304
    Concur with 311299. This heavier bullet will give the best accuracy in both twists with medium and slower burning powders. You should get excellent accuracy upwards of 2100 - 2200 fps with the .308W and upwards of 1950 fps with the '06 M1. 311299 will also provide reliable functioning with in an accuracy range with the M1. Suggest you initially start at 28 gr of 4895 in both with a 3/4 gr dacron filler and work up in 1/2 gr increments until accuracy goes south. That will give you a base line for accuracy that you can then tweak using slower burning powders for perhaps a little higher velocity if wanted.

    Larry Gibson

  16. #16
    Boolit Master pdawg_shooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    S.W. kansas east of dodge city
    Posts
    3,008
    311284 for a heavy bullet, 311414 for a light one.
    45 AUTO! Because having to shoot someone twice is just silly!

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master
    rockrat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    5,311
    311291 @ 173gr should work fine for what you want. NOE had a GB on them, maybe you can find one. The 311041 (don't know about feeding in the garand though). BRP makes good moulds. His 311-180 sil might be the ticket. A group buy is going on now for the 311299

  18. #18
    Banned - Posts Deleted Because He Edited Them With Vulgarity When He Could Not Get His Way
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    exiting the building
    Posts
    1,468
    Quote Originally Posted by peerlesscowboy View Post
    Has anyone here tried the Lyman 311644? I've experimented a bit with it in the .30-06 but didn't get good results
    I shoot the 311644 in my 7.5x55 K31. It has a nose diameter that might be a bit small for lots of 30cal rifles.

    My Rem 700 30-06 really likes the Saeco #301 200gr. The Saeco #311 170gr is a tapered "silhouette" design that should be good in both the 308 and Garand. The Saeco #315 175gr is a multi-groove, tapered design better suited to manually operated arms, but is very accurate in my 30-30, 7.5x55, and 30-06.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master oldhickory's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Enders Pa.
    Posts
    1,160
    I've found either the Lyman 311332, (180gr. spitzer) and the Lyman 311299, (200gr. rn) to give good and easy to obtain accuracy in my .30-06's-.308's-.30-40 Krags. They're not the only .30 molds I use, but I can always count on them.
    Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

    Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

  20. #20
    Boolit Master



    Crash_Corrigan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Las Vegas Craig&US95
    Posts
    1,396
    I have been shooting my M-1 for about two years and have pretty much used only cast boolits in it. It likes the 311284 lubed with carnuba red from white labe and over 29-33 gr of 4895 and a tuft of dacron or 14 gr of Unique w/o dacron or even 13.5 gr of Red Dot. They all work well. Low recoil and fully functional. With the 4895 I am running about 1800 fps and I know I can bump the powder charge up from 29 grains but I have not bothered yet.

    The gas pistonl does not clog up and the Garand seems to like this boolit and powder. The warning about slow powders in the M-1 bending the Op rod applies only to J word bullets. With cast you are in a different ball park.
    Pax Nobiscum Dan (Crash) Corrigan

    Currently casting, reloading and shooting: 223 Rem, 6.5x55 Sweede, 30 Carbine, 30-06 Springfield, 30-30 WCF, 303 Brit., 7.62x39, 7.92x57 Mauser, .32 Long, 32 H&R Mag, 327 Fed Mag, 380 ACP. 9x19, 38 Spcl, 357 Mag, 38-55 Win, 41 Mag, 44 Spcl., 44 Mag, 45 Colt, 45 ACP, 454 Casull, 457 RB for ROA and 50-90 Sharps. Shooting .22 LR & 12 Gauge seldom and buying ammo for same.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check