311407, 311041 and rcbs 30 - 180 fn

[wmitty]

Of the three designs mentioned, which is the easiest to obtain hunting level accuracy with an alloy which will provide expansion at 1700 - 1900 fps? I have not had the accuracy I'd hope for with the 311041 group buy and have ordered the 311407 modified thinking the Loverin design might be easier to get to group than the nose rider designs.

[beagle]

I've messed with all three and of the three, the 30-180-FN is my favorite although mine runs right at 190 grains "ready" to sling.

You didn't mention caliber. If it's an 06, the 311407 is nice and shoots well. If a.30/30 lever, I'd go with the RCBS.

I have a 311041HP factory HP but it has never shown me the accuracy in my Number 1 .30/06 that I thought it should./beagle

[runfiverun]

i use the 311041, the loverign, but the rcbs 150-fn instead of the 180.
the rcbs 150 fngc is by far the most accurate and most flexible of the three.
the loverign will only fit in my old 340-a savage. [the rcbs fits fine and crimps in the groove and crosses over with my model 94]
the 041 won't work in my 0-6 savage [the 150 is super accurate here] but works fairly well in my 1917 [where the rcbs 150 is still more accurate]
none of them will even chamber in my ruger 308 [i use the rcbs 165 silhouette here]
the 165 will do pretty well in my 30-40 krag 1895 winchester [but once again is over shadowed by the 150]
the 150 also works best in my 98/11 schmidt rubin, but the 165 silh is a better fit in the k-31.
it also has a flat nose, i have looked at getting the 180 gr version but just can't see the sense, the 150 works in about anything with any case neck, or a bit sloppy throat.
anything short necked or tight throated is covered by the 165 [i have been contemplating having a mold made that is a shortened blunted 165 silh in the 150 range for the hunting side]

[Larry Gibson]

All 3 should do quite well in a case with a long neck like the 30-30 or 30-06 but you dont say what cartridge you're talking about?

My "go to" .30 cal hunting bullet is a Lyman 311041HP that I've shortened the HP stem on so it just HPs 3/16" deep. WWs + 2 % tin with 50% lead added makes for a very ggod alloy for AC'd hunting bullets. They will expand if the muzzle velocity is 1800 - 1900 fps out to 150 yards. However, there is no reason the 311407 or the RCBS 180 won't do as well.

Larry Gibson

[Bret4207]

My RCBS 30-180FN has been very successful in every platform I've tried it in.

[KYCaster]

i use the 311041, the loverign, but the rcbs 150-fn instead of the 180.
the rcbs 150 fngc is by far the most accurate and most flexible of the three.
the loverign will only fit in my old 340-a savage. [the rcbs fits fine and crimps in the groove and crosses over with my model 94]
the 041 won't work in my 0-6 savage [the 150 is super accurate here] but works fairly well in my 1917 [where the rcbs 150 is still more accurate]
none of them will even chamber in my ruger 308 [i use the rcbs 165 silhouette here]
the 165 will do pretty well in my 30-40 krag 1895 winchester [but once again is over shadowed by the 150]
the 150 also works best in my 98/11 schmidt rubin, but the 165 silh is a better fit in the k-31.
it also has a flat nose, i have looked at getting the 180 gr version but just can't see the sense, the 150 works in about anything with any case neck, or a bit sloppy throat.
anything short necked or tight throated is covered by the 165 [i have been contemplating having a mold made that is a shortened blunted 165 silh in the 150 range for the hunting side]



Well.........ummmmmmmm.......yeah, what he said......kinda.

It's all about FIT. (I'm surprised Bret didn't say that)

My copy of the 311041 has a fatter nose than my 311407 so it FITS my 308 better. The '407 does better in both my 30-30's.

I haven't cast anything with my NOE copy of the RCBS 30-180-SIL, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts it'll shoot well in whatever it FITS.

It's all about FIT. (I already said that, didn't I?) At <2000 fps, any of the designs you mention cast of 50 WW/50 Pb will do the job.

Try Beagleing your 311041, see if that helps accuracy any.

Good luck
Jerry

[rintinglen]

My money is on the RCBS.
I have had excellent luck with it in five Winchester 30-30 M-94s and two Marlins. For a while I was casting and loading 400+ a month for lever action silhouette and it was the more accurate of the 3--though in fairness the 311-407 I had was only a single cavity so I did not pursue that very much. I am going to give it a try come deer season. 28.7 grains of winchester 748 worked wonderfully well in my Canadian Centennial.

[wmitty]

I apologize for not mentioning cartridges/ rifles. I have a 788 and two 340's in .30-30 plus the usual 336 and 94. I also have a '99 Savage in .308 Win that does well with boolets along with an '03 and '03-A3 (two groove) in '06 that I wanted to try and get better groups with.

[runfiverun]

i'd go with the rcbs then.
then look for specific molds for the rifles that don't like it.
see my previous post as many of your rifles [or close enough] are mentioned in it.