U 311413 Plain Base

[Ben]

I have removed the gas check shank on .30 cal. molds before with a 5/16", ( .3125 " dia ) drill bit ( I know before you say it ...the likelihood of success is poor ). Catch is, I've done it successfully many times using my drill press.

I've been shooting the Modern Bond 190 gr. plain base spire point that I bought from George recently. It is shooting great. Here is a link to that post :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=167567

I had several 311413 molds and decided to plain base this one today.
As many of you are aware " hot roding " the 311413 much past 1,600 - 1,700 fps usually won't pay very good dividends.

So, I decided that since it was impt. to slow things down with the 413', I might as well save on a g/c and the time to install the check.

I decided to plain base this one and shoot it at 1,000 - 1,200 fps. Hopefully, I'll have some inexpensive, fun , accurate shooting out of some of my .30 cal. rifle ?

I'm anxious to try it out.

Ben

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/004-35.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/012-17.jpg

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[JeffinNZ]

That's a good, stout base on that bullet.

[Ben]

Yes, I figure I should get an excellent gas seal.

Ben

[bruce drake]

I like the idea behind the modification and look forward to a range report.

Bruce

[Ben]

Stay tuned.............

Ben

[runfiverun]

probably do better than the origional

[williamwaco]

I have removed the gas check shank on .30 cal. molds before with a 5/16", ( .3125 " dia ) drill bit ( I know before you say it ...the likelihood of success is poor ). Catch is, I've done it successfully many times using my drill press.



Glad to hear of your success. I have used the same method on .357 and .452 handgun bullets to remove the bevel base.

I did it by hand. I don't have a drill press so I used a "T" handle.

Worked very well.

[Ben]

The secret to a good job in the removal of the g/c shank is to really do your homework on drill bit alignment.

This one seems to be about as perfect as I could have expected.

[Lefty SRH]

I'm listening.....

[Buckshot]

The secret to a good job in the removal of the g/c shank is to really do your homework on drill bit alignment.

This one seems to be about as perfect as I could have expected.

.............The other secrets are having a GOOD drillpress. These days that equals $$ or having a good older one with a good spindle running in good bearings. Finally, having a chuck without any runnout to speak of is just as important. Finally, having the table perpendicular to the spindle is the last ingredient.

..............Buckshot

[Ben]

No truer words have been spoken.

[GP100man]

Now ya got me to thinkin Ben !!!

My head hurts !! I`m going to bed .

I think the range report will be surprising.

[PAT303]

Don't ask me why but I really like the '413 boolit,I've been trying to get another and send it with a few other bits and pieces to Buckshot to hollow point,I can save money by sending everything at once but they go for good money on ebay,a few years back you could get one for $20,not now. Pat

[Ben]

PAT303

Buckshot did this one :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=56100

[Ben]

I shot the 311413 plain based bullet today.
I was pleased with how the bullet shot.
I have no idea whether or not this is the best
my rifle will shoot with this bullet.

I loaded up 20 rounds , all with the same powder
charge. I'll experiment more later to see if there
is a different propellant and charge that the bullet
likes even better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0767.jpg

[StratsMan]

Gotta love groups like that... do you know what velocity you get with 7.8 gr of Int'l Clays?

[Ben]

I don't own a chrony...........I'm guessing 1,100 fps. ? ?

Ben

[runfiverun]

maybe some red-dot??
they look well stabilized.
shifting the weight and adding the bearing length really seemed to help.
you couldn't push the boolt before, so might as well back it down amke the changes and get the accuracy.

[HARRYMPOPE]

Where did you get the idea to PB a 311413? GRIN!!!

George

[badbob454]

nice read thanks for the article and pics

[bruce drake]

I'm not quite ready to Plainbase my only 311413 mold but I might be tempted to experiment with LEE's 200gr RN .309 mold since it will only cost $20 to replace it if I mess it up...But my mind is turning now about the possibilities.

Thanks Ben! You've given me another project to put on the "To Do List"

Bruce

[Ben]

Bruce,

I've plain based a Lee 200 gr. .30 cal. bullet and shoot it in my 1903 Springfield, .308 Win.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Springfield%201903%20-%20308%20Win/PICT0002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Springfield%201903%20-%20308%20Win/012.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Springfield%201903%20-%20308%20Win/9006.jpg

[StratsMan]

Wow Ben!!! I never thought about removing anything more that the lip of a Bevel Base mold, but now think I'm gonna drill out a Lee mold.... and lube 'em up with Ben's Red... did you use Int'l Clays on that load, too????

[Ben]

No , that one ( in # 22 above ) was 7.0 grs. B'eye with the Lee 200 gr. Plain base in the 308 Win. Bullets were sized .3115"

My friend that day said. " Stop ! ! !- - - Now look through the spotting scope, ....you just shot a better group with metallic sights than I can with my 12 X Leupold scope."

[JeffinNZ]

You are beginning to tweak my interest in PB booits Ben. All I have presently is the NOE 314008 for my .32-20 and with the right load it duplicates what you have been posting. Just wonderful.

[HARRYMPOPE]

You are beginning to tweak my interest in PB booits Ben. All I have presently is the NOE 314008 for my .32-20 and with the right load it duplicates what you have been posting. Just wonderful.

My old 3118 shoots like that also @ 50 sometimes.Unless going to 100 or beyond its a hard design to beat.

George

[Ben]

You are beginning to tweak my interest in PB booits Ben. All I have presently is the NOE 314008 for my .32-20 and with the right load it duplicates what you have been posting. Just wonderful.

Jeff ,

I have about 6 different .30 cal. plain based bullet molds.
It is like anything else, if it is fun and enjoyable , you'll find yourself coming back to it.

Plain based .30's are fun ( if you understand which powders to use and seek out appropriate muzzle velocities ).

NO Hot Rodding ! !

Ben

[bruce drake]

I have to wait two weeks for my trip to South Korea to be done before I can do this mod to one of my LEE molds as well. Curse you Ben! I'm stuck overseas again when a great idea strikes the net!

Bruce

[Lefty SRH]

I have to wait two weeks for my trip to South Korea to be done before I can do this mod to one of my LEE molds as well. Curse you Ben! I'm stuck overseas again when a great idea strikes the net!

Bruce

Hope you have a speedy return and thank you for serving....

[popper]

That is a lot better than my RD311165 PB with unique or 2400. What alloy are you using?

[30calflash]

.............The other secrets are having a GOOD drillpress. These days that equals $$ or having a good older one with a good spindle running in good bearings. Finally, having a chuck without any runnout to speak of is just as important. Finally, having the table perpendicular to the spindle is the last ingredient.

..............Buckshot

There's some neat info here, some of us might be able to try if there is some more info on it.

Is it possible to get more pics on the set up for drilling the base band as mentioned?

[JeffinNZ]

HEY BEN! I may just have a perfect PB rifle lined up. Looking at a .30/30 Husqvarna single shot bolt gun. Preeeeeettttyyy.

[Ben]

HEY BEN! I may just have a perfect PB rifle lined up. Looking at a .30/30 Husqvarna single shot bolt gun. Preeeeeettttyyy.

Jeff,

Wow, that would make a fine plain based .30 cal. rifle.

Ben

[bruce drake]

Ben,

maybe I have more molds than I thought...

I got into the mancave last night and realized I had a spare 311413 single-cavity mold sitting in a drawer! So...it went into a vice and was quickly modified into a plain-base last night.

I then cast 20 good bullets and lubed them with LAA and sized them to .312 to true the bases as well. I'll be loading them into some 30-06 primed cases I had sitting on a shelf and hopefully they'll get shot in my Columbian 30-06 Mauser sometime this week to see how they operate. The load (9.2gr Red Dot) is supposed to give the 175gr boolit a speed of 1300fps so I'll try to run them over my Chrono as well.

If the groups come out ok, I'll cast a bunch more later this week although I do have 60lbs of wheelweights I need to alloy out as well...

Bruce

[Ben]

Bruce,

Yes, I'd think 8.0 - 9.5 R-Dot or
8.5 grs. - 9.8 grs. of Unique.

Please let us know how yours shoot ! !
Pics of your groups would be great also.

As mentioned earlier, I shot this with 7.0 grs. B'eye with metallic sights at 50 yards with a Lee, 200 gr. RN that I plain based.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Springfield%201903%20-%20308%20Win/PICT0002.jpg

Ben

[Longone]

Do you think it would be possible to remove the gas check shank with a hand turned reamer? I figure I would bugger up the mold with a drill press in no time.

Longone

[HARRYMPOPE]

how did you see that small aiming point at 50 yards Ben?

[bruce drake]

I used a vice and a collar to drill through it straight to cut my gas check shank off last night.

I also put a previously cast 311413 boolit in the mold as well to help with ensuring my bit was properly centered too cut the mold. I marked the center of the boolit with a centerpunch and then let the bit do the work with very slow revolutions...measure twice and cut once.

[Ben]

how did you see that small aiming point at 50 yards Ben?

George :

My front sight was not a post. It was a peep with a med. sized hole. I placed the Peep around the aiming square with " uniform light " all around the aiming square. Squeeze off 5 rds and you see the result.

Ben

[Ben]

I used a vice and a collar to drill through it straight to cut my gas check shank off last night.

I also put a previously cast 311413 boolit in the mold as well to help with ensuring my bit was properly centered too cut the mold. I marked the center of the boolit with a centerpunch and then let the bit do the work with very slow revolutions...measure twice and cut once.

All right Bruce, time to get some of those nice plain based bullets to the range, shoot photos of those tight groups you'll be firing and post them here.

Ben

[Ben]

measure twice and cut once.

With a " high dollar mold", it is more like measure 14 times and cut once.

Ben

[HARRYMPOPE]

Surprised it was easy to center it even with a globe ft with the small 1" square swimming around.The 50 yd smallbore target is used to shoot in youth was about 4".

George