Lee .30 Soup Can, Plain Base

[Ben]

Considering the difficulty that many people are experiencing obtaining a good steady supply of WW's, and the continued increases in prices of gas checks, it seems logical for me to continue with my experimentation of the use of plain base .30 cal. cast bullets.

Some of these lighter weight .30 cal. plain base designs that I have will really " stretch " your alloy supplies and offer you more shooting per lb. of alloy.

My latest is a single cav. Lee .30 cal " Soup Can " mold. I believe I remember Lee claiming that the mold cast a 112 gr.gas check bullet. This particular mold is in excess of 25 yrs. old. I have shot MANY bullets from this mold.

Today, I decided that I would go a step farther with this particular mold and remove the g/c shank and render it a plain base mold. The work removing the g/c shank went well and the mold now cast a nice 117 gr. plain base .30 cal. cast bullet that sizes nice and round at .311 on the rear drive band and 2nd drive band. The leading edge band mikes a nice round .310".

If this bullet is as accurate as I'm hoping for , it will be a nice way to stretch the amount of shooting you can get with 10 lbs. of bullet alloy.
With the " flat " on the nose, this Soup Can style bullet at about 1,300 fps would make a nice varmint bullet.

I've also got a grandson coming up that will need some training with a light recoiling , low noise load in .30 cal. soon. This particular bullet may fill the bill for that task.

I lubed the bottom lube ring with Ben's Red and rolled them in 45-45-10 that I purchased from Lar's.

Anyone want to make some predictions on this bullet ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/004-57.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/001-68.jpg

The bullets on the rear of the drying board are NOE 311331 Plain base bullets sized .311 and lubed with Ben's Red. and coated with 45-45-10 drying.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/002-67.jpg

[runfiverun]

I think it will be a close fit.
you might wanna look at maybe milling the base down a tick for your 308.
but that would definitely bump anything it comes in contact with out to 100 yds.

[RickinTN]

My prediction is that it will shoot very well for you, as most seem to. It may not do well for me, but you seem to have the 'knack" for it.
Looking forward to pics of the results.
Rick

[Ben]

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

[6.5 mike]

I managed to stay dry at the range today, only rained going & coming back. Nice work as always Ben.

[MT Gianni]

I PB'd one of mine and found accuracy lacking in the 32 H&R or not up to the RCBS 98 gr swc.

[725]

I suspect if you load it, it will perform admirably.

[Ben]

I took the plain base soup cans to the range loaded in 308 Win. cases shot out of my Ruger # 1. Normally a super accurate rifle.

I only loaded 20 rounds and used 1 powder as a trial run, velocity was around 1,300 fps. They shot horribly , looks like more work to be done if this one shoots a respectable group anytime soon ?

Initial tests were awarded a D-.

Ben

[rintinglen]

I didn't have much luck with a plain based 311-8 in my 30-30's, though a 311-245 shot decently well. Neither equaled my 311-316 GC. 8.0 grains of Unique or Herco shot very well, though with gas checks at 4 cents a piece Sheesh.

[Ben]

I didn't have much luck with a plain based 311-8 in my 30-30's, though a 311-245 shot decently well. Neither equaled my 311-316 GC. 8.0 grains of Unique or Herco shot very well, though with gas checks at 4 cents a piece Sheesh.

It certainly can be done with plain base .30 cal. bullets. I do it all the time. One of my favorite past times is shooting plain based .30's.

For me it is about fit in the throat, the proper propellant ( velocity ) and bullet style appropriate for the barrel twist. I'm also a bit partial to .30 cal. bore riders. The ones with a .301" nose ( that will chamber in your rifle - - some will / some won't ) often will shoot real well.

I just finished shooting a 10 round group @ 50 yards with the 30-06.
I thought that it shot real well. A 221 gr. plain base 30 cal. bullet. ( The nose on these in the photo below mikes .301" , the drive bands mike .311 " )

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/035-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/IMG_20130813_111840.jpg

[Ole]

Ben-

What did you use to take out the material to turn your GC mold into a PB mold?

I just got a C309 120R that I intend to use with light loads in my M1 carbine and thought this might be an option. I hate using gas checks unless absolutely necessary.

[Ben]

Ben-

What did you use to take out the material to turn your GC mold into a PB mold?

I just got a C309 120R that I intend to use with light loads in my M1 carbine and thought this might be an option. I hate using gas checks unless absolutely necessary.

Yes, I did remove the g/c shank in the mold.
I used a drill press on slow speed and used a super sharp 5/16" HSS bit ( Measures .312")

Ben

[Ole]

Yes, I did remove the g/c shank in the mold.
I used a drill press on slow speed and used a super shark 5/16" HSS bit ( Measures .312")

Ben

Thank you sir.

[garymcgehee52]

I have the Lee Soup Can. I may try your plain base mod on one cavity.

[Steppapajon]

I know this thread is a year old but any updates on the plain base "soupcan"?
I am trying to decide on a mold for plain based 30-30 rounds in the 900-1100fps range and the soup can was on the list until I saw the GC. After I read this thread it is back on the list if it has promise. My other choices are lyman's 311008 and Lee's 311-93-r1. The gun is a 94 winchester. Just want something to shoot on the farm with the kids.

[KLR]

I know this thread is a year old but any updates on the plain base "soupcan"?
I am trying to decide on a mold for plain based 30-30 rounds in the 900-1100fps range and the soup can was on the list until I saw the GC. After I read this thread it is back on the list if it has promise. My other choices are lyman's 311008 and Lee's 311-93-r1. The gun is a 94 winchester. Just want something to shoot on the farm with the kids.

I haven't tried this, but you might want to look at this thread:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?262209-Lee-309-150-FP-cut-down-to-135-grains-W-O-a-gas-check

[Steppapajon]

Thanks KLR I had not read that thread yet. Excellent infomation there.

[KLR]

Thanks KLR I had not read that thread yet. Excellent infomation there.

You're welcome. I might try it myself. Please let me know it you try it.