30 30 mold

[hatcreek]

any recommendation for a mold to cast boolits for a 30-30, will a lee .309 170 gr work? thank you. hatcreek




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[leadshooter5]

Lyman 311291(170gr RN GC) worked the best in my Remington 788 up to 2000 fps.

[runfiverun]

i think the lee will work.
i know the rcbs 30-150-fngc or the 180 will work.
in either a levergun or a bolt gun

[rexherring]

The Lee 170 GC works just fine in my Marlin sized to .310 - .311.

[Baja_Traveler]

I'm of the opinion that the 311041 is the better mold for the 30-30, especially when stacked in a tube magazine. Sure, a lead round nose is unlikely to set off a primer in the stack, but a nice flat meplat is hard to beat.

[jimkim]

The Ranch dog, RCBS 180gr FN, Lyman 31141, and 311291 all shoot good in my Marlin. I believe you would be happy with any one of them.

[runfiverun]

my win don't care for the 311041 so much, neither does my savage.

[kbstenberg]

I have both 311041 and Noe/ RD 311 - 165. And the NOE has done so good in my 30/30, an 300 Savage and I haven't even worked with the 041.

[Lead Fred]

I love my ranch dog mold. I even shootem out of the 06s.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

any recommendation for a mold to cast boolits for a 30-30, will a lee .309 170 gr work? thank you. hatcreek


yes it works just fine that is what that boolet was meant for

my mold drops them at .310 so i don't even size them tumble and shoot no gas checks , up to 14-1500fps they are great at 50 yards for fun shooting low pressures very easy on brass

[Beagler]

Ranch dog boolits8-)

[Terryrm1-03]

My Winchester 94 SRC made in 08 shoots the 311041 FANTASTIC! At the widest I get 2" groups at 100yds. Otherwise the holes are 1/4"-1/2" and touching. Sized .311. Its my favorite!
Terry

[woody1]

Doesn't appear that you're a brand snob so the Lee will prob'ly work for you. My 30-30's like the Lee 150FN pretty well. Regards, Woody

[richhodg66]

The 31141 and 311291 have worked well for me.

[Cmasailor]

Plenty of people swear by the ranchdog moulds, I've got one but havent used it yet. Lee is cheap and works fine. like everything else you're going to have to work up a load for that particular gun, ie; seating depth, powder types, charges and even alloy differences.
Are you using it for plinking only or possibly big game? lots of us figure out what we want the boolit to do 1st, then we work up a load for the use, but there's plenty that just like slinging lead at paper and cans and it doesn't matter how heavy the boolit is or what it looks like as long as it hits.
Good luck, there's plenty on here more than willing to help you along the way when you make a plunge on a mold.

[richhodg66]

I just cast my first from a Ranch Dog mold this past weekend and am very impressed so far. I have hated Lee molds in the past and swore I'd never mess with one again, but had never tried a six cavity and after the first pot, that thing is a joy to use.

The Ranch Dog design looks good. I mainly wanted a deer hunting bullet, and I'm sure it's terminal performance will be great, but if it's reasonably accurate, it may become my standard bullet in .30s.

[gwpercle]

The Lee 170 gr. flat point with gas check was the first mould I got for my 1971 model 94 Win. in 30-30. I cast em of wheel weights, gas check and size to .308 or .309 and load them over enough Red Dot to reach 1600 fps. It's accurate and pleasant shooting.... gary

[Jon K]

Another must include is the Saeco #316.

Jon

[hatcreek]

I would like to use it for hunting, I ordered the LEE C.309-170-F, I figured I have almost 6 months to work up a load, anyways thanks all for your advise, get ready for pics and loads of questions in the very near future. HC

[Huntsman]

The Lee 170 gr. flat point with gas check was the first mould I got for my 1971 model 94 Win. in 30-30. I cast em of wheel weights, gas check and size to .308 or .309 and load them over enough Red Dot to reach 1600 fps. It's accurate and pleasant shooting.... gary

I use the same except AA 5744 powder.

[evodude]

Im using wheel weights in the Lee 150 grn. gas check and am clustering 5 bullets in a 2" circle at 50 yds. Thats with IMR 4198 at around 2100 fps. .309 mould, am quite happy with it.

[rintinglen]

311-466, sized .310 over 17.5 grs 2400 is excellent.

[rhouser]

I've told this story before. I have a Marlin 30-30 that would not shoot a 3 in group at 50 with ANY commercial cast (more like 6" groups at 50). I tried on and off for 2 years with about 10 different type/brand commercial cast and a bunch of different powders. This devils spawn just wouldn't shoot. I couldn't/wouldn't even sell it because it wouldn't shoot. I hated this rifle.

I finally bought a RD 311.165-RF bullet mold (my first time casting) and the darned gun printed the first 5 rounds at and honest inch. I had only successfully cast 30 usable bullets for that day (out of 150 that were culls), but, all 30 were used in shooting the center out of my target.

I now LOVE that rifle because it shoots the RD's like a champ.

That was a couple of years ago, but, it caused me to always advise people with Marlin Microgroove barrel 30-30's NOT to give up till after they tried the RD bullet. Turns out that Marlin Microgroove barrels are Ranch Dogs specialty.

just my 2 cents... rc

[jimkim]

I just cast my first from a Ranch Dog mold this past weekend and am very impressed so far. I have hated Lee molds in the past and swore I'd never mess with one again, but had never tried a six cavity and after the first pot, that thing is a joy to use.

The Ranch Dog design looks good. I mainly wanted a deer hunting bullet, and I'm sure it's terminal performance will be great, but if it's reasonably accurate, it may become my standard bullet in .30s.

I had the same opinion about most of the Lee two cav moulds. My mentor told me, "the six cav moulds are a completely different animal." So far he's right. I just wish they offered everything in a six cavity.

[TXGunNut]

I'm in on the GB for the 311041 but Michael owes some of you a thank you. :mrgreen: I couldn't wait and ordered his 311-165 w/ all the extras. Just wish he carried gas checks. The 336 in 30-30 is aways down my project list but this thread has been fun. Thanks![smilie=l: