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Thread: Recommend a rifle bullet for 308

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub Gar10's Avatar
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    Recommend a rifle bullet for 308

    I cast for several pistols and revolvers in all different calibers, but I’ve not cast any bullets for my 308 or 30-06. I was looking at the Lee molds, what weight bullet do you guys recommend? Right now it would be just for paper punching and possibly use for hunting if all goes well.

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    I use the Lee 170 gr FNGC and have had excellent results in both the 30-06 and .308. I push it to 2150 FPS in the 30-06 and 1850 FPS in the .308.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
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    Here is what Larry Gibson stated when I had ask him on one other post

    Molds from Larry Gibson for 308 Win
    My preferred mould/bullet for the .308 and several other 30 cal cartridges has become the NOE 30 XCB (310-165-FN). It has proven to be very versatile in velocity range and accurate out to 600 yards. As I was out of my "match select" XCBs and needing to cast some more on Monday I shot up the last of my "fouler/sighter" 308Ws I had loaded for my Match M70. I managed 3 sub or moa ten shot groups with them. Load was 23 gr RL7 w/Dacron filler running at 1980 fps. My second choice for 100 yard match level accuracy is the Lyman/Loverin 311466 (NOE makes that one also) or the RCBD 308-165-Sil.
    Other moulds of 150 gr or more that I've used with very good success in the .308W over the years are the Lee C312-155-2R, the CTL312-160-2R and the C312-185-1R is proving to be a better Lee mould choice.
    The MP 311-1655 and MP 311-180s also are excellent .308W cast bullet though I do not like the moulds in brass but prefer the aluminum blocks.
    The other Lyman Moulds I've used with excellent results are the 311299 and the 314299 (in worn throats) and NOE also make replica of those.
    Bottom line, for target/accuracy shooting I highly recommend the NOE 310-165-FN XCB bullet
    Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Mine does well with the 180gn Lee. It also did well with the RCBS165SIL and Lyman 311299.

    With regular lube I have found they don't like to go more than 2100fps and best accuracy was 1800-2000fps. IMR 4198, IMR 4895 and Varget have all given me MOA accuracy at 200yd.

    Note: accuracy and velocity limits are driven by your barrel twist. Mine is a 1-10 so I am very limited in velocity. If you have a slower twist you can probably go quite a bit faster. A general rule of thumb is 140,000rpm. Above that (with lubed bullets) and you will probably have accuracy issues.

    I started powder coating the Lee and accuracy has remained good. I even have a 2.3" group at 200yd when driven to 2400fps. But, I prefer the lower vel loads in the 1900fps range.

    My next bullet mold will be either the 311299 or the Acc 311-230E (many of the benchrest guys use this one).

    What is also fun are the subsonic loads. I have a couple of pounds of Blue Dot sitting. So, I use 7-8gn which is 1000-1100fps. I usually shoot my reject bullets with this load so accuracy testing can result in a few wild fliers. But, with good bullets I have had a couple of 1/2 MOA groups with them at 100yd. I've even hit the steel RAM at 300yd with them (it's a 'big' target). This is a load that is just fun to shoot and way more accurate then you would think.

    I have gone to two places for load and bullet data. For accuracy, the Cast Bullet Assn match results include the rifles, bullets and loads.
    https://castbulletassoc.org/match-results

    For plinking loads:
    http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm
    (I use the .30-30 data for my .308)

    Last, if you want to try some bullets out without buying a mold go to the Montana Bullet Works website. They make their bullets with std factory molds and do a good job at it.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

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    I use the Lee 200 gr boolit in my .308's @ 2100fps, pc'ed with Smoke's powder coat.
    Maker of Silver Boolits for Werewolf hunting

  6. #6
    Boolit Master

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    Speaking strictly of Lee products for .30 cal., both the 312-160 and the 309-200 have proven satisfactory for me. The 312-160 is the only boolit I load for my M1916 Spanish Short Rifle in 7.62x51 while the 309-200 is my 'go to' for the .30-40 Krag and works 'okay' in my .308 WCF M700. That said, there are much better choices for the .308 WCF; that same M700 prints consistent 1 1/2 MOA (or better) with the previously recommended RCBS165SIL and the Arsenal 308-188PC comes close to matching jacketed from my heavy-barrel Savage M10. btw: listed boolits are all PC'd using Smoke's powders.

    Bill
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

    Jimmy Buffett
    "Scarlet Begonias"

  7. #7
    Boolit Bub Gar10's Avatar
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    Thanks for all of the information, I'm set up to use the LAM II, powder coat and I made a batch of 45-45-10 recently. I was just undecided on bullet weight and type. I'll start researching these molds.

    Thank you once again.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    If you want a plinker load 2.7 to 3.2 of bullseye worked great. I have a savage axis 308 that I size bullets to .311. I use a 100 gr lead pistole bullet or the lee 90 gr tl.314 90 swc or lee .311 100 2R . With 3.2 gr of bullseye they shoot like a match 22 lr. 25 to 50 yards I have had great accuracy with them lubed with alox or 45/45-10 lube. Also the lee c 312 155 2r shot real good with 5 to 7 gr of bulseye out to 100 yards sized .311

  9. #9
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    The C309150F and C309170F Lee designs will hunt and cut paper too. My 1-10" 30-30 loves them.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy Reverend Recoil's Avatar
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    With my 308 Win Palma rifle I get the best cast bullet accuracy with the RCBS 308-165-SIL and 23.0 gr. of Reloader No. 7.
    DRB #2276 President's Hundred 2021

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

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    I've had good luck with the 311299 and the 311291. Both shot well in my .308 and my .30-06.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    For paper punching I like the Lee 312-185. I size it to .311" for all of my .30 caliber rifles. I also like a PB 120-ish RNFP for plinking.

    Robert

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reverend Recoil View Post
    With my 308 Win Palma rifle I get the best cast bullet accuracy with the RCBS 308-165-SIL and 23.0 gr. of Reloader No. 7.
    Do you use a filler with your 23g Reloder 7 and the Rcbs 165 sil boolit?
    It's all chicken, even the beak!

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by Shuz View Post
    Do you use a filler with your 23g Reloder 7 and the Rcbs 165 sil boolit?
    I use that load with the NOE 310-165-FN "30 XCB" bullet. I use a dacron filler for excellent CBA match level accuracy out of my M70 target rifle. Runs 1990 fps +/-.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Filler depends on your load density. If not sure try it with and without. I only had one load that liked a filler. It was a slower load with the 165SIL bullets and 4895.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    Filler depends on your load density. If not sure try it with and without. I only had one load that liked a filler. It was a slower load with the 165SIL bullets and 4895.

    That same bullet using 4198 did not like filler.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy Reverend Recoil's Avatar
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    I do not use any filler. 23.0 gr. of RL-7 fills half of the case.
    DRB #2276 President's Hundred 2021

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by Reverend Recoil View Post
    I do not use any filler. 23.0 gr. of RL-7 fills half of the case.
    It's that other half that causes problems like large ES which leads to vertical stringing unless you can position the powder before each shot.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  19. #19
    Boolit Master facetious's Avatar
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    If you try the Lee bore rider check the fit of the nose. I have the 170gr, in my BIL's 30-06 thy would do 1.5". In my .308 I couldn't keep them all on th paper at 100 yards. On his the nose was a tight fit on mine it was a slip fit.
    We go through life trying to make the best decisions we can based on the best infomation we can find, that turns out to be wrong.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by facetious View Post
    If you try the Lee bore rider check the fit of the nose...
    In my experience, that's a MUST DO for almost any bore-rider. I use an NOE push-thru sizer with a nose-size adapter with dies .299-.301 in .001 increments for my .30 cals.

    Bill
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

    Jimmy Buffett
    "Scarlet Begonias"

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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