Suggestions for a single 30 caliber mold for use with .308, 30/06, and 300s

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

My oldest son and I are looking at the possibility of a single mold design with broad use possibilities.

OK, as you think about a possible suggestion, bare in mind the following ---------

#1. The thought here is more for a workable 30caliber bullet/design workable for push comes to shove times of limited component availability and NOT an attempt to set bench rest records with one bullet in multiply rifles. Likely to be a 165 or 180gr.

#2. Bullet must be workable through bolt actions of .308 length. If it will function through the shorter .308 actions, "06" and the 300s will not be an issue

#3. Gas Checks likely advisable, but will to look at non-gas check suggestions.

#4. Lee molds are not an option.

#5. Molds need to be available in at least 4 cavity designs.

#6. NO Hollow Points. Would prefer a design with at least a small meplat.

#7. Velocity is whatever works best in a given rifle with the powders available.

#8. I have Lyman molds but they continually rattle apart and no molds of over 2 cavity for 30 caliber rifle bullets.

#9 RCBS molds are good, but again nothing available larger then 2 cavity.

Some of the custom mold makers could possibly be the answer as well as Saeco molds.

Anyway, Looking for those with hands on, been there and done that experience.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[KYCaster]

311407......I think NOE has a copy available.

Jerry

[Wolfer]

I only have two 30 cal molds. 311008. 115 gr plain base and a 311041 173 gr gas check. I shoot the 311041 in 30-06, 30-30 and 30-40 Krag. To date I've seen no reason to change. Woody

[Silverboolit]

Try Tom at Accurate Molds. I have a 175gr nose rider that is very accurate and fits into the neck of the .308.

[Ben]

After reading your potential uses, I'd highly recommend this one, You stated you'd like a 4 cavity :

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=339

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Thanks for the incoming info folks!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Wolfer I finally found your suggested mold and found they are the Lyman 2 cavity molds.

The 311008 must be an older Lyman offering as my listing only show the 311359 which is a 115gr gas checked bullet.

Not only have I found the Lyman molds I own to always be in a state of needing tightening, but they do not qualify for this selection process as they come in nothing bigger then 2 cavity.. But, thanks just the same!

I will be checking out the suggestions!

THANKS!

CDOC

[WILCO]

#4. Lee molds are not an option.



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[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Fair question WILCO, thanks.

First Lee lists no rifle molds with more then 2 cavities.

Second, because of my personal expectations as to quality I'd consider nothing less then Lee 6 cavity molds with their steel alignment pins , and then as not a first choice.

I had heard that Lee had increased the quality of their 2 cavity and single cavity molds, but I went to their web site and didn't see that. I thought they might have gone to the steel alignment pins on those molds, but didn't see that on their web site.

Yes, I have bought and owned and used Lee 2 cavity molds and that is why they do not make my list.

Don't mean to offend those who enjoy the Lee molds, but my results with them have been less then satisfactory.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Ben, KYCaster & Silverboolit,

What kind of results and in what chamberings have you seen results from your recommendations?

Thanks

CDOC

[Silverboolit]

Out today and have a nice .75 inch at 50 yds. Being a borerider design, the boolit is quite a ways out of the neck to engage the rifiling with the drive bands. Still adjusting the load a bit. Hope to get out this coming week and try a couple of different loads. So far, so good.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Silverboolit,

Have never used a borerider design. What kind of velocities can be expected without leading and with what alloy.

Thanks

CDOC

[CGT80]

x2 on the Saeco 315 from NOE. I have a 5 cav aluminum version that is plain base. I wanted an economical boolit for 30-30 and 30-06 for 230 yard or less plinking and silhouette competition use. I read great reviews on the 315. Many people said it was one of the best general purpose boolits they have used in 30 cal. I just cast some of the PB's tonight. The NOE mold was working great. I still have a bit of **** that must be built up in it that leaves little bits out of the drive bands on a few boolits, but I haven't leemented it with toothpaste yet. It was dropping boolits very fast and with only a tap or two of a rubber hammer on the handles.

I am running the PB version at 1300 fps for both rifles, and both are using herco shotgun powder. Red dot would work well also. These are low recoil loads that don't sound all that much like a rifle. The 30-06 was hitting a 14" plate at 165 yards with no trouble, using iron sights. The 30-30 was good at 100 yards on a 12" plate, but was all over at 165 on the 14". The sights are not nearly as good on the 30-30, but it may not like the load the way I have it either. I still have more testing to do and need to shoot some paper. I need to easily hit a chicken sized silhouette at 100 yards with the 30-30. I am not going for tiny little groups.

The gas check version should be even more capable but will be more work and more money for gas checks unless you have a check maker and some aluminum. I do use the aluminum checks for 30 carbine boolits in the M1 carbine.

What is 300s?

If it is 300 blackout or whisper, I have no experience there, but have read that they can require a different shape boolit from the 30-06 and 30-30. I don't load 308, but a search for reviews on the saeco 315 will bring up quite a bit of good info, as that is what I did when I saw the mold in stock at NOE.

[Lead Fred]

Ranch Dog 165gr FNGC

Ive shot them though every 30 ca we own, never found one yet then didnt shoot well in.

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/TLC311165RF/bullet/sketch.jpg

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

CGT80,

That is 300(s) like plural, more then one 300 between my son and I.

Lead Fred, From what I have read, the Ranch Dog bullets are in Lee molds. Is that correct? Or are those bullet designs available in quality molds?

Again no offense to Lee mold users! We each make our personal choices.

Thanks for the input.

CDOC

[Ben]

Ben, KYCaster & Silverboolit,

What kind of results and in what chamberings have you seen results from your recommendations?

Thanks

CDOC

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?155971-Saeco-315-hp

[KYCaster]

Ben, KYCaster & Silverboolit,

What kind of results and in what chamberings have you seen results from your recommendations?

Thanks

CDOC



30-30 Win 94 with Marbles tang sight rear and Lyman globe front.......3 MOA out to 300 yds.
308Win, Montgomery Wards Mauser 98 with Ted Williams 4X scope.......2 MOA out to 200 yds.
7.62X39, CZ527 with Bushnell 4-12X50............2 MOA at 100 yds.

All with a full case of WC860 and a kicker.

I have other molds that will do better in the 308 and 7.62, but this is the only one of the dozen or so I have that gives consistent results in all of them.......

.....and load development is a snap! Find the OAL to just touch the rifling and figure a 100% density load.

311407 may not be the best in any particular gun, but it certainly is versatile.

Good luck.
Jerry

[62chevy]

CGT80,

That is 300(s) like plural, more then one 300 between my son and I.

Lead Fred, From what I have read, the Ranch Dog bullets are in Lee molds. Is that correct? Or are those bullet designs available in quality molds?

Again no offense to Lee mold users! We each make our personal choices.

Thanks for the input.

CDOC

No NOE has them: http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=71_75&products_id=308

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Are the NOE RanchDog bullet molds available with normal lube grooves or just the Lee tumble lube that I have seen?

CDOC

[Silverboolit]

About 1800 fps with mix of range scrap and COWW according to Lyman's book. Must be close as the recoil is there, but not bad.

[Keyston44]

Are the NOE RanchDog bullet molds available with normal lube grooves or just the Lee tumble lube that I have seen?

CDOC

Normal lube groves.
Click on 62chevy's link and you will see that.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=71_75&products_id=308

Key

[Alan]

It doesn't fit the > 2 cavity parameter, but is really hard to beat Lyman 311291. Us it in .30/30, .308, and .30/06. It is old, boring, and just works.

[GabbyM]

Normal lube groves.
Click on 62chevy's link and you will see that.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=71_75&products_id=308

Key

I have that N.O.E. mold sitting here in a four cavity. It's for sale. Had it for a while before I tried it out. If you read up on ranch dogs site. clearly States it's for long throat chambers found on old Marlins. Figured my Win 94 AE would fit. Well not. For one my 94 fills up with a .310" bullet and a .300" bore. If you look close at this design it has no shoulder step on the front band. Rather the band tapers into the nose. So the smaller you size it the longer your front band is. Those old Marlins also had large throats that would take a .311" bullet easily. I could load this bullet if I seated it about .060" deep past the crimp grove. All around I don't think this is a good choice for fitting in multiple rifles.

I'll second Bens recommendation of the Saeco #315. With a tapered bullet you just load it out to whatever length fits. With a .300" size die you can push the .301" first band through if it's to tight in the throat. You could, as some do, size the first body band down to bore ride diameter also. but I'd be surprised if you gained anything.

After that bullet there are two others in NOE catalog. The copy of Lyman #311041 and RCBS 30-180-FN. He calls a 195 grain because that's what they cast from 2:6 alloy not Lino. The RCBS bullet would have quite a bit of body below the neck of your 300 magnums but about anything over a 150 grain will. Shouldn't matter. A friend is shooting mine from a 7.62 x 39mm with great results. They kill critters DRT freakishly well for some reason. Which is a widely reported phenomena. It still carries the downside of a long bore ride nose.

[GabbyM]

It doesn't fit the > 2 cavity parameter, but is really hard to beat Lyman 311291. Us it in .30/30, .308, and .30/06. It is old, boring, and just works.

NOE shows sold out on them at the moment. But has the Lyman copy #311041. Which is the same bullet body as the #311291 with a flat nose on the end. I'm sure he will be cutting some more of these molds shortly as his new machines get up and running.

Crusty you said you didn't want a hollow point. But for that and the fact they are custom runs and not in stock. I have your bullet. MP 180 grain Hollow point in a Cramer style three cavity. Similar to Lyman #311332 design. HP pins are thin and short so bullets just fall off when you turn the mold upside down. My confidence in this boolits ability to mess stuff up may be over blown. But I don't think so. I cast up a big box from 2% antimony and 2% copper rich Babbitt. Heat treated at max temp in oven. They'd be a little soft for Bear or Elk and a little light for that anyways. Am also on the group buy list along with about 100 others for an MP 215 grain HP. I use a 30-06.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Keyston44,

Thanks!

I will assume that when I see "RD" in the name/description of a bullet such as shown in the link, that the RD indicates RanchDog.

When I went to the NOE web site, It seemed like everything "RanchDog" came up with the Tumble Lube grooves. That, because I use a sizer/luber for lubing immediately put it off my interest list.

Thanks for help with this clarification!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

GabbyM,

Also a thanks your direction.

You folks are giving me just what I ask for, hands on, on the ground info and sources for proven designs/molds.

Did learn that "NOE" stands for Night Owl Enterprises. Finally!

I saw a reference to the Night Owl Enterprises, did a search and kept coming up with NOE or the reverse of that situation. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Slow but finally figured it out that they are one and the same. SLOW!!!!!

Talking with my son again last night, so by the time we are ready to buy, you folks will have supplied enough info that we should have a reasonable handle on the situation.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Blammer]

this one

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=292

or this one

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=83

or this one

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=118

you can also stock up on GC's here.

http://www.blammersboard.com/

[Blammer]

well, should be getting more in soon...

[frkelly74]

There is a seller on e-bay who apparently has a quantity of Lee Custom 6 cavity molds that copy the Lyman 311041. they are buy it now for $79.95 plus $9.95 shipping and come in plain base or gas check designs. I just got a plain base and am looking at a gas check also. The seller is shootingsupply, I have no connection with him other than being a satisfied customer.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

WOW, your all over the top!

Blammer, Just signed up for your site. Looks good and have added it to the "favorites" list.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[broylz]

with the larger calibers like 308, 30-06 and bigger, why not a heavier bullet? can only run them so fast without more work involved so the weight should help.

I am currently looking at a 311-247 for 30-06 and 300 blackout use...

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

broylz, Not a bad idea.

Hearing lot of good comments that will get consideration in the mix.

"J" bullet velocities will not be the deciding factor here as that is not the intent.

So your suggesting of heavier cast bullet designs has merit.

CDOC

[GabbyM]

Well my 200 grain Lyman #311299 at 1950 fps feels like enough gun after a while.

Like I stated earlier I have a 215 HP on order. We know what a 220 grain bullet does in a 30 caliber. AKA Lyman #311284. Don't think CDOC is looking for an experiment.