Favorite .30 Cal boolits

[gspgundog]

I am about to move from pistol casting to rifle casting and I thought before I just picked a mold I would ask what the gentlemen with experience liked for their military rifles. I will be casting for a 03A3 and a M1 Garrand to start followed by .30 Carbine and M1A. Now I now my M1 loves 150 gr boolits while the 03 will take 150 or 168 gr. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Larry Gibson]

Have you read this thread; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?3558-7-62x51-NATO-(-308-WCF)-in-the-Springfield-M1A

There is good info that applies to the M1 Garand as well. Also most loads/cast bullets that shoot well in the M1 will shoot well in the M1903. I am partial to the 311299, 314299 and 311466 for all rifles.

Lots of info available on a "search" for the M1 Carbine loads and cast bullet suggestions. I am partial to the 311359, 313631 and the 311316. The Lee and RCBS 120 GC'd RNs also work very well in the M1 Carbine.

Larry Gibson

[Ithaca Gunner]

The RCBS 30-180-FN does really well in my M-1. Lyman 311299 is very good, also don't look down on the Lyman 311332, I shot my best cast boolt group with that one in a bolt gun.

[shredder]

I also have 311332 and it is a great shooter in my gun. The first mould I got was a lee .30 cal 160 grain RN and the boolits it drops shoot very well in my 30/06 and in my 30-30. The lee 170 flat nose is a really good shooter in my '06 but I have to single load them as the flat nose stubs on the chamber edge when fed off the left side of the mag. That is why I got the Lyman 311332, so that I would have a spitzer shape that will feed in a bolt gun. I have other moulds as well but if for some dismal reason I could only have one, it would likely be the lee 160 RN.

[gspgundog]

Thanks gents it looks like the Lyman 311229 and 311332 will be two great starting points. So not when I start doing searches I can zero in on those two boolits for the 06 rifles. And I have some boolits to Chechen out for my carbine.

[Lead Fred]

I have two 30 cal molds, one does not get used.
The Ranch Dog 170 30-30 mold is used for, 30-30, 308, odd six, and 300 win mag
Ive pushed them as slow as 1600fps out the 30-30, and 2640fps out of an 30-06

But never though my M1, only bolt guns

[tomme boy]

I can't believe I am going to say this, but, don't overlook the LEE 309-200-2r It really shoots well in a lot of rifles.

[Jack Stanley]

I'm with Larry on choice of rifle molds , in particular I have a 314299 that measures just perfect for several 1903A3 rifles I've met .

I haven't fooled with cast in a carbine so I can't help ya there .

Jack

[1Shirt]

I would have 3, 311(or)314299/311291, and 311284. Hard to beat any on them, and that would cover a decent weight range.
1Shirt!

[Ithaca Gunner]

For your M-1 carbine, LEE has two molds that work, the C309-120-R, (gas check design for the Carbine) and the 311-100-2R, (intended for the .32 S&W revolver, plain base, works well under 1500fps as a cheap plinker boolit). Lyman has the 311410 plain base 130gr that works good also. Of the three, I prefer the LEE C309-120-R. It shoots very well in my 1942 Underwood with 12.5gr. of IMR 4227. Those are the three molds for the Carbine I have used.

[Win94ae]

I like the Lee 180gr RN, C309-180-R in my sporterized 1903.
I like this bullet because I can get it going over 1900fps with precision, without jumping through hoops. I choose my first 30cal molds by reading suggestions, then later learned the designs didn't lend themselves well to higher velocities.

[gspgundog]

Well it looks like the carbine is pretty much settled with the LEE C309-120-R loaded over 12.5 gr of 4227since I also have an Underwood carbine but from 1943.

[WALLNUTT]

Maybe just because it fits so well but RCBS 180SP is best out of my stable even better than a Hoch nose pour that looks just like it in 5 different 30cals

[Ithaca Gunner]

While cleaning up my casting/reloading shop this weekend I found a target I shot last year with a sporterized Mauser 30/06. The group measures just over 1.5" shot from a bench at 100yds. Lyman 311299 sized to .310" 28gr of IMR4227 lubed with Lyman "Orange Magic".

I bought this Mauser action in the 90's, barreled it with a Shilen #5 heavy sporter, (25") and scoped it with a Burris Signature Posi-Lock 3X9. This is the same rifle I shot my best cast boolit group with at 100yds, (.930") using the Lyman 311332 and 23gr of IMR4227. I used the Orange Magic for both and don't crimp either load, no filler in either.

Here's my cast shooter,

83032

[zomby woof]

I've found the NOE 311115 mold to out shoot the LEE 120 mold in my Carbines.
I use 296/H110 in my 30 Carbine loads also.

[Rodfac]

Lyman's 311291 GC has worked for me for over 30 years. I use it in .30-30, .30-40 Krag, .308, .30-06, and .300 Savage. The rifles vary in condition, but two of my 03-A3's, two Krags, and an original Nat'l Match '03 will keep five shots in less than 2" from prone with a sling...and that's all my ancient eyes can do anymore, with the issued sights. I like that bullet so much that I have two 2-cavity molds for it, and wonder of wonders, they both drop at .310". I size 'em in a .310 Lyman 450 which only add's the lube. For one of my more worn '03's, I add a swirl lube of 45-45-10 to the original 50-50 lubed bullet. Keeps the leading down. It's a delightful bullet to shoot and hunt with...many woodchucks, and one deer have fallen to it. HTH's Rod

[pdawg_shooter]

have you read this thread; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?3558-7-62x51-nato-(-308-wcf)-in-the-springfield-m1a

there is good info that applies to the m1 garand as well. Also most loads/cast bullets that shoot well in the m1 will shoot well in the m1903. I am partial to the 311299, 314299 and 311466 for all rifles.

Lots of info available on a "search" for the m1 carbine loads and cast bullet suggestions. I am partial to the 311359, 313631 and the 311316. The lee and rcbs 120 gc'd rns also work very well in the m1 carbine.

Larry gibson

+1 on the 311466.

[Donor8x56r]

Lee 312-155,Lyman 311410

[rintinglen]

The 311-291 and 311-466 have been winners for me. The 311-284 also deserves a mention.