Oversie Cast Bullet in .30-06?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

SNIP...

I ordered the NOE version of 311299 and will be curious to discover what it drops.

I've had (and sold) the NOE 316299 and I still have the NOE 311299
The 316 was bought for a Krag which had a large Groove Dia of .3145
I figured I could size a .316 to .315 and be golden, But the boolit wouldn't fit in the chamber (the nose too large), the boolit's nose was .3065

The way NOE makes those same style molds with .002 different in size, also makes a boolit with a larger nose. I wasn't aware of that, when I bought the 316 mold.
...btw, that .316 mold dropped a .3175 boolit

My NOE 311299 drops a boolit that measures .3125 and the nose is .3030

while I've never owned a NOE 314299, I's suspect it to drop a .315 boolit with a .305 nose, which probably would have been too large for your Krag.

Take everything I just said with a grain of salt, as we all have our own technique using our own alloy, and results can surely vary. I own several NOE molds and nearly all of them cast a boolit about .001 larger (sometimes .002) than advertised, I suspect that is due to my technique. I cast with a 94-3-3 alloy for rifle boolits and tend to cast with the alloy as cool as possible, usually around 650º or 660º and cast fast enough to NOT have shiney boolits, but NOT heavily frosted, just a dull grey in color.

I hope some of the info I shared will help you out.

[PBSmith]

I'm guessing you would have been better off with the 314, you can size down - especially after lubing, but you really can't size up without special equipment (swaging).

Fogged again. That WAS a 314299 that I ordered. Thanks.

[PBSmith]

I've had (and sold) the NOE 316299 and I still have the NOE 311299
The 316 was bought for a Krag which had a large Groove Dia of .3145
I figured I could size a .316 to .315 and be golden, But the boolit wouldn't fit in the chamber (the nose too large), the boolit's nose was .3065

The way NOE makes those same style molds with .002 different in size, also makes a boolit with a larger nose. I wasn't aware of that, when I bought the 316 mold.
...btw, that .316 mold dropped a .3175 boolit

My NOE 311299 drops a boolit that measures .3125 and the nose is .3030

while I've never owned a NOE 314299, I's suspect it to drop a .315 boolit with a .305 nose, which probably would have been too large for your Krag.

Take everything I just said with a grain of salt, as we all have our own technique using our own alloy, and results can surely vary. I own several NOE molds and nearly all of them cast a boolit about .001 larger (sometimes .002) than advertised, I suspect that is due to my technique. I cast with a 94-3-3 alloy for rifle boolits and tend to cast with the alloy as cool as possible, usually around 650º or 660º and cast fast enough to NOT have shiney boolits, but NOT heavily frosted, just a dull grey in color.

I hope some of the info I shared will help you out.

Thank you Jon. Yes, very helpful info. It would have been a good idea of me to ask about this before I ordered the mold. I'll be casting in something softer than Lyman #2 (NOE spec alloy), so the diameters might run ?????

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Maybe you will be able to answer that yourself after you read the following:

Some time back, another member (243winxb) posted this info from Redding's website.
http://www.redding-reloading.com/ind...-moulds-charts

Bullet Sizes & Weights – How to Vary Them

The bullet diameters and weights presented in this list
are based on the use of Taracorp’s Lawrence Magnum
bullet alloy (2% tin, 6% antimony, 1/4% arsenic,
91.75% lead).
see the website for the lists/charts of Saeco's bullets

Bullet diameters and weights will vary considerably
depending on the lead casting alloy used. This variation
can be as much as 1/2% on the diameter, and 8% on
the weight among the most commonly used casting
alloys. For example, a .358-158 grain bullet might
show a diameter variation of .002", and a 13 grain difference
in weight.

Of the most commonly used alloys, wheel weights (.5%
tin, 4% antimony, 95% lead) will produce bullets having
the smallest diameter and heaviest weight, with
such bullets running approximately .3% smaller in
diameter and 3% heavier than bullets cast with
Taracorp's metal. Linotype will produce bullets with the
largest diameter and lightest weights. This alloy will
produce bullets approximately 1/10% larger and 3%
lighter than Taracorp. Other alloys of tin and antimony,
with antimony content above 5%, will produce bullets
with diameters and weights falling between those cast
from wheel weights and linotype.

Alloys containing little or no antimony will cast considerably
smaller than wheel weights and in some cases
will produce bullets too small for adequate sizing.
Within the limitations given above, the weight and
diameter of a cast bullet can be adjusted by varying the
alloy’s antimony content.

The size and weight of bullets of a given alloy will also
vary according to casting temperature. Higher temperatures
will result in greater shrinkage as the bullet
cools, thereby producing a slightly smaller and lighter
bullet than one cast of the same alloy at a lower temperature.

[PBSmith]

Again, thanks for that good information. I tend to cast hot, low antimony. - maybe hope here even if the 314 NOE is oversize.

In any event, it will be a good learning experience.

Appreciate your time and expertise.
Happy New Year
PBSmith

[Adam20]

I have noe clone of 314299 nose runs .304 and bands are .314 cast with coww ac. It works for my Argie 7.65

[Bigslug]

Seems to me like you're making some odd choices. .314" is likely to be HUGE for that Sako, and I would consider it HUGE for the Krag until I proved otherwise. My .30 cal standard is to size to .309". As has been said, the major concern is how much room you have for your case neck to expand to release the bullet. A pound cast of the chamber will readily determine that.

[PBSmith]

Update:

I bought the NOE 314-210-RN. With soft alloy the mold drops 0.304 x 0.315". In both the Springfield Krag and the .30-06 Sako Finnbear, bullets sized to 0.311-0.312" have given respectable groups with light charges of Red Dot and also with 17.5 grs H4227. I doubt that I can improve on the Sako groups, which in preliminary trials with this bullet is approaching what the rifle will do with jacketed (1.25 MOA). I intend to experiment with larger size diameters for the Krag (per Char-Gar's comment).

At spec COAL of 3.34" in the 06, the 0.304 NOE nose engraves slightly, and I intend to seat slightly deeper for that rifle, as Outpost 75 suggested.

The NOE aluminum blocks are among the best molds that I've tried. Just today I placed an order for another number.

Thanks, all, for your input on this project.
PBSmith