30-30 Boolit needed

[brown bass hunter]

I have a micro-grove Marlin in 30-30 and now I am in search of a mold for plinking. I am thinking around 150-160 gr would be ideal. Is it worth the extra money for a NOE or the other top end molds for just a plinker? Thanks in advance.

[jjamna]

If you want to go low cost, the Lee C309-150-F (160gr w/GC) is readily available, and one of my favorite middleweight 30s. Size 'em .311" and have fun!

This shoots great in my 94 Win and even killed a deer with it few years back.

[cbrick]

My 94 30-30 loves the RCBS 150 on the light end and the RCBS 180 FP for a heavier boolits, Both casts great and both shoot very well.

Rick

[MT Gianni]

If you are only shooting targets of opportunity and will not hunt big game the Lee 113 Fp does well in a 30-30 and uses little lead. If I were to hunt with one, and you should if you hunt at all, I would get the NOE 311-165 Ranch Dog, RCBS 180 fp or the Ly 311041 in that order.

[Keyston44]

I have a Lee 150gr gas checked mold that I leave the gas check off of and use 7 to 10 gr of Unique for some good plinking loads. The grand kids love to shoot this gun. Put the gas check on and bump up the velocity and it makes a good hunting load. I size them to .310 for my two Marlin 30-30's.

Key

[bangerjim]

I use a 120 and 170gn Lee for 30-06 loads. A friend loads them for his 30-30.

Inexpensive and available.

bangerjim

[davidheart]

Sorry to hijack brown's thread, but I was looking at the Lee molds for my 30-30 and the only thing which discouraged me about them is the advertised diameter is .309... but my bore is slugging at .311. But three of you (Keyston44, bangerjim and excess650) are sizing the boolits "down" to .310 and .311! What size boolits do the Lee molds throw if it's not .309?

I'm just confused why Lee advertises .309 for them but they are throwing larger boolits. Thanks for any clarification!

Brown, I have the same gun as you. I'm not as experienced as these guys but I'd tell you to make sure you slug your barrel to see what size boolit you need to use. Mine slugs at .311 but some Microgroove guys slug at .308, .309, etc. Purchase the proper sizing die for whatever your bore is +.001

[detox]

RCBS 150gr Cowboy (no gas check) shoots verygood. I use 8gr of Trail Boss powder for a velocity of about 1050 fps.

[brown bass hunter]

Thanks for all the info. I have had mixed results with Lee molds in the past. I have a couple of 6 cavity molds that work pretty good, but have an older DC 45 cal mold that does not live up to my expectations. I have heard the newer Lee molds are better quality. I have considered an RCBS mold also. So many decisions and so little time, gotta love it.

[geargnasher]

If you are only shooting targets of opportunity and will not hunt big game the Lee 113 Fp does well in a 30-30 and uses little lead. If I were to hunt with one, and you should if you hunt at all, I would get the NOE 311-165 Ranch Dog, RCBS 180 fp or the Ly 311041 in that order.

THIS.

Gear

[btroj]

I use a 165 Ranch dog, both the original TL and the NOE version with normal lube grooves. They just work.

[TXGunNut]

I like the RD 311-165 as well but every time I buy gas checks I cast a longing eye at my Lee TL314-90 mould. I pretend my 30-30 is a hunting rifle but it's really just a plinker and that 32-20 boolit fills the bill nicely.

[Keyston44]

Sorry to hijack brown's thread, but I was looking at the Lee molds for my 30-30 and the only thing which discouraged me about them is the advertised diameter is .309... but my bore is slugging at .311. But three of you (Keyston44, bangerjim and excess650) are sizing the boolits "down" to .310 and .311! What size boolits do the Lee molds throw if it's not .309?

I'm just confused why Lee advertises .309 for them but they are throwing larger boolits. Thanks for any clarification!

Brown, I have the same gun as you. I'm not as experienced as these guys but I'd tell you to make sure you slug your barrel to see what size boolit you need to use. Mine slugs at .311 but some Microgroove guys slug at .308, .309, etc. Purchase the proper sizing die for whatever your bore is +.001

My Lee mold drops bullets at .312. One of my Marlins won't chamber a .311 but both chamber .310 so that is what I use in both guns.

Key

[1Shirt]

150 Lee!
1Shirt!

[LuckySavage]

What's the deal with NOE? Been trying to buy a RD 311-165 for well over a month, and all I see is "out of stock, check back later". I know it's a great mold, but, damn...ready to go to Mountain Molds and have him make me the same mold.

[GP100man]

Lees usually drop 1-2 thou. over, I recently got 1 of the new 2 cavity molds for the wifes 380 (356-102) & it drops em .3575". Before that a 6 cavity 158gr. rnfp drops .3595".

The Marlin Micro Groove barrel or at least mine like as big a boolit that`ll chamber & my alloys spring back to .3105" & .311" won`t in my early 336.

I have a few molds for the 30-30 & the Lee 150 rnfp GC does good without a check with 8gr. of reddot, but push it any at all , ya gotta check it .

A plug for NOE Molds , ya can`t go wrong & multi cavity molds to boot!!


GP

[Ed_Shot]

+1 for the Lee 309-150-F. My 30-30 likes .310 but the 30-06 does best with .309.....let the weapon tell you what it likes.

[btroj]

What's the deal with NOE? Been trying to buy a RD 311-165 for well over a month, and all I see is "out of stock, check back later". I know it's a great mold, but, damn...ready to go to Mountain Molds and have him make me the same mold.

They are busy making other moulds. They just moved to a new shop and hopefully will soon have more in stock.

Be appreciative, until a few years ago once ago once a group buy was done there was no "in stock" service.

These are the good old days for bullet moulds.

[Shiloh]

Lyman 31141 works for me. just over 2" at 50 yards, better on a good day. I always seem to have an unexplained flyer. This is with the mushy Winchester trigger.

Shiloh

[Echo]

Lyman 31141 works for me. just over 2" at 50 yards, better on a good day. I always seem to have an unexplained flyer. This is with the mushy Winchester trigger.

Shiloh

Hard to beat, and they show up occasionally on eBay. I have a 2-banger, and like what it throws. I will be casting some shortly to work up for my 336.

[brown bass hunter]

I may go with the Lee 150 route as many have had good luck with it. I will post results when I get a chance to get one ordered if I can find one in stock. Thanks again for all the experience and info.

[Dr. A]

What's the deal with NOE? Been trying to buy a RD 311-165 for well over a month, and all I see is "out of stock, check back later". I know it's a great mold, but, damn...ready to go to Mountain Molds and have him make me the same mold.

There are a bunch on there right now. Just checked. There are two variations. The ones available are the newest rendition of the Ranch Dog 165gr. Check out the molds on the last page of the 308 sizing. He still has several of the plain based available along with 3 of the 4 ct. gas checked moulds.