Cast Boolit for 308 Winchester

[pistolman44]

What is a good 308 win. cast Boolit with a gc to use in this caliber? Since the neck is short don't know what length of a Boolit to use. The barrel has a long throat and 1-10. at 20" length. this rifle will be used for white tails mostly out to 100 yds. From what I have read is that the gas check should not be seated lower than the bottom of the neck.

[GabbyM]

RCBS 30-180-FN.
Mine cast between 197 and 202 gains with lube and check depending upon what alloy I use.
Big meplat for a 30 caliber. It has as good a reputation for dropping animals dead as any 30 caliber available. Don't worry about the bullet base below the neck.

[selmerfan]

I'll repeat - don't worry about the gas check below the neck. I'm currently using the Lyman 311299 and 311290 boolits with good accuracy. The 311290 HP will be my hunting boolit this year out of the .308 Win, unless the NOE GB gets done in time to work up a load with HPs from that mold. (I know, I don't NEED and HP, but the idea appeals to me.) The 311041 or RD 311-165-RF would also be excellent for your described purpose, as would the RCBS suggestion above. NEI makes a 178 gr. FN that would work also, it shoots well from my .308 too.

[rockrat]

I shoot a Lee group buy boolit. About 190gr and has three different crimp bands. It sticks way below the case neck, but accuracy in my 308 is outstanding. Varget is my friend.

[Char-Gar]

I chose the RCBS 165 Sil for my .308s, for just the reasons you mentioned in your post. You can set the bottom of the gas check flush with the bottom of the short neck and have the found function very slick in my four .308s. It has also produced accuracy as good or better than others cast bullets I have tried.

Unlike others... I DO worry about the bullet sticking it's feet into the fire. It may not be the kiss of death, but it is never a good thing.

[Nrut]

I shoot a Lee group buy boolit. About 190gr and has three different crimp bands. It sticks way below the case neck, but accuracy in my 308 is outstanding. Varget is my friend.

rockrat,
What bullet and how much Varget please..
Thanks!

[onondaga]

The RCBS 165 Sil Looks like a beauty for .308. I'm going to have get that.....Thanks a lot!!!

Do you know if it is shorter than the RD 165?

Gary

[geargnasher]

Gary, not shorter, but the nose is a bore-rider and it can be loaded longer in short throats up to the limits of the magazine, or you can single-load them. The RD 165 has a fat nose if it's the boolit I think you're talking about.

Gear

[HARRYMPOPE]

For hunting the Lyman 311041 or RCBS 180 FN of wheel weight and at about 1800 is good.

[rockrat]

Will have to get a pic of the boolits and go find my notes for Varget charge

[Char-Gar]

Gary... I am not familiar with the Ranch Dog mold in question. The RCBS 165 Sil is capable of sub-MOA accuracy if all the usual stuff is correct. I have also found it to be a sterling performer in various 30-06 rifles.

It is of course a bore rider with a fairly short body. This will of course require a good fit of the nose to the lands. I have not found this to be a problem in my rifles. I have;

Remington 700 VH
Savage 16
Wincheser 88 (2)

Best of luck...Charles

[onondaga]

Here is a link to a drawing of the RanchDog TLC311-165-RF boolit with measurements:

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/TLC311165RF/bullet/sketch.jpg



You can see the length and meplat diameter. This boolit drops at .311 with #2 alloy and weighs 175 grains in Lyman #2.

I asked about the overall length of the RCBS 165 Sil because I think the large diameter flat nose on the RD would make the RD shorter and allow it to be seated to allow more case capacity in lower volume and shorter necked cartridges. But the weight difference may make the lengths very close.

There is also a general link to the RD site at the top of the page, he is a sponsor member.

Gary

[cbrick]

I asked about the overall length of the RCBS 165 Sil. Gary

The RCBS 165 gr Silhouette bullet.
Length .980"
Nose length .640".
Bearing surface is .250" w/o GC. (drive bands only)
Bore rider nose diameter .3092"
Meplat .125"
Weight in my WW alloy w/o GC is 171 gr.

These measurements taken from my copy of this mold, another mold cut from a different cherry could vary somewhat.

This bullet shoots very well in my 308 but the RCBS 180 SP is the most accurate of my 15+ 30 cal molds in my 308's.

EDIT: to add photo

Rick

[HARRYMPOPE]

I agree with cbrick.As good as the 165 sil is the 180 SP is a typically bit more accurate for me.I have more 30 cal molds than any others(30 or 40 i dont know) and it would probably be the last i would sell if i had to.

[adrians]

my spanish( mauser) 7.62 likes the 308290 (ideal), and my ishy 2a1 7.62 likes the 31141 (ideal).
if i take them out together i have to remember which one likes what,
after the first couple down range ,then i realise and switch. :evil::veryconfu:evil:

[Bret4207]

RCBS 30-180FN is pretty darn hard to beat.

[MT Gianni]

RCBS 30-180FN is pretty darn hard to beat.

That would make a great signature line.

[geargnasher]

Here is a link to a drawing of the RanchDog TLC311-165-RF boolit with measurements:

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/TLC311165RF/bullet/sketch.jpg



You can see the length and meplat diameter. This boolit drops at .311 with #2 alloy and weighs 175 grains in Lyman #2.

I asked about the overall length of the RCBS 165 Sil because I think the large diameter flat nose on the RD would make the RD shorter and allow it to be seated to allow more case capacity in lower volume and shorter necked cartridges. But the weight difference may make the lengths very close.

There is also a general link to the RD site at the top of the page, he is a sponsor member.

Gary

Gary, the issue you may encounter is the BEARING length of the RD boolit. It may be shorter, but it's fatter up front and would have to be seated deeper in the case than the silhouette boolit because not much of the nose is going to fit in the bore compared to the silhouette boolit, which should fit into the bore right up to the first band.

As an example, neither of my .30-'06s will chamber the RD boolit unless the GC is below the neck slightly. .308 would be even worse with its short neck.

Gear

[Larry Gibson]

I'll suggest the 311041 for several reasons; It has the weight and meplat for hunting (whitetails to 100 yards). With the longer throat mentioned it probably can be seated so the GC is not below the case neck. This is imortant if softer alloys are used for hunting. The 311041 has a long history of accuracy and deadliness on deer. The 311041 is my "go to" hunting bullet for most any .30/.31 cal rifle, especially the .308W.

Larry Gibson

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'll suggest the 311041 for several reasons; It has the weight and meplat for hunting (whitetails to 100 yards). With the longer throat mentioned it probably can be seated so the GC is not below the case neck. This is imortant if softer alloys are used for hunting. The 311041 has a long history of accuracy and deadliness on deer. The 311041 is my "go to" hunting bullet for most any .30/.31 cal rifle, especially the .308W.

Larry Gibson


+ 1 on that the 311041 shoots great out of my 17" 308 win

[hicard]

Pistolman 44. I shot a buck a couple of years ago with my 308 loaded with a 311041 hp bullet. Deer dropped in its tracks. Shot through both shoulders with little meat damage.