175-230 grain BLK mold without lube groove?

[#40Fan]

Looking for a mold in the 175-230 grain range for use in a blackout that doesn't have any lube grooves. Palmettos bullets are the look I am going for, but I could even do without the BT.

Half tempted to order one through Lee Precision, but according to their site, max length is .9" for a dual cavity and 1" for 6 cavity molds. Waiting on an email reply to confirm that even though their 230-5R mold is longer than an inch.

Anything, anywhere that anyone might know of?

[LakeviewBulldog]

Try taking a look at NOE's HTC molds. I got one for my 45 ACP and that is the nicest casting mold I have.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=84_461

[popper]

31-184C RD style, grooves are NOT lube grooves. Works with Lancer mags and wide barrel extensions ( not original 223 type). None of my rifle moulds have lube grooves, just grooves for displaced metal. 31-168C will work with Pmags - I use it in the AR10. I use a PB 145 gr version of it in BO.

[#40Fan]

I have looked at NOE molds and couldn't find anything. Maybe I should have been more specific about the lube groves. How about no groves at all. Just a flat bearing surface. The Palmetto 203 grain is the look I am after.


file and image uploader

I'd really prefer a 175 SMK clone.

[rancher1913]

look under ht and coated boolits on the noe page, they have several.

[popper]

2 problems with that paletto boolit. 1) long slick side pushes a LOT of alloy to the base. 2) BT doesn't leave much room for powder. The Lee like that doesn't shoot well from reports here.

[#40Fan]

Rancher1913, are you referring to the noebulletmolds.com? If so, I have looked and haven't seen anything without a grove. BTW, which side of the divide are you on here in CO? East flat lander here.

Popper, #1, are you referring to while sizing or shooting? #2, Subsonic 300 BLK will have plenty of room left for powder, but I did mention in the first post I could do without the BT. The .309-230-5R that Lee makes isn't horrible. Not great either. If it had more meat on the bearing surface, I think it would be a good shooter. But, that is why I am here asking about other molds. I think I'll just have to molest the Lee mold to make it how I want.

[rancher1913]

yes its the noe site, they are not listed with the regular molds, they are under htc boolits for hightek, about halfway down the list. they selection is not as great as the regular molds but they do have them.

[waco]

NOE mold. No lube grooves......
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product...oducts_id=4672

[#40Fan]

Ah, thanks for the link.

[popper]

40fan. I don't shot subs. The BT, depending on powdewr choice will reduce the amount of powder you can put under it. May not be a problem for you, I had trouble getting enough under a 165 Amax, using Rx7. Those heavies don't leave a lot of room in the case, at least if loading in AR style. I don't know if the long 'tail' of alloy that ends up at the base affects subs or not, sure does on supers. Several have taken the BT out of the Lee and had good results. I haven't seen any posts stating the BT helps. Yea, theoretically.

[#40Fan]

I picked up the HT 174 grain mold. It does have a boat tail on it, but not the worst thing in the world. I wanted to go with the ~175 grain route because it is heavy enough to shoot subsonic and supersonic. I have been doing that with the 175 SMK's and been having great success. Reason I wanted a flat bearing surface is to have the ability to move the bullet seating depth without having to worry about groves/rings. I think this NOE will do the trick, but time will tell.

[#40Fan]

****, that was fast shipping NOE. Now, if only a $100 mold came with a handle

[kweidner]

Guess you found one. Back in the day i had accurate molds make me one. 220z is my design. I had it hollow pointed by eric and it is deadly accurate. I mean deadly to 150 yards. Try 2400 powder if it is a bolt encore or contender or if you run suppressed. Ssssssshhhhhhh don’t tell anyone that cast 220 grain is right at 1 moa to 150 and will expand in a hollowpoint and kill 200 plus pound pigs. This is our little social forum secret. Ssssshhhhh

[#40Fan]

Doh....didn't realize I was sent the wrong mold until after casting a few hundred bullets. Ordered the 174 and received a 168.



Email sent to NOE requesting a fix. Hope this goes well.

[popper]

You won't notice 6 gr difference. Try it, you might like it.

[#40Fan]

Funny that you can't even find this mold I was sent on their website, but you can find it on their forum. There wasn't enough people wanting it for them to go into production.

With my WW mix, I am casting them at 165 grains. Already on the edge of what will cycle in the AR with subsonic rounds. Don't want to go too much lighter than the 175 SMKs I am running now. I'll try a few, but it is going back.

[bsev81]

It is the same mold, unless they went back and fixed it since doing the group buy run. There was plenty of interest, the intent was to make it 168 grains but after cutting the molds the final product weighed 174. I have the PB version and don't remember exact weight but they are 170+, I load them supersonic though. Here's a thread that has the explanation from Al himself, post #72.

http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index....c,1659.60.html

There is also currently a group buy for a 200 grain version of this if you're on the edge of cycling, because as popper said you wont notice the weight difference from 168 to 174.

http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index....ic,1936.0.html