WTK Successful .30 M1 Carbine Mould , size , lube and load ?

[umwminer]

I've been casting handgun boolits since the early 70's but have never delved into the rifle field .
I realize that the .30 carb is more of a pistol ctg than a rifle ctg but was wanting to pick your collective knowledge about a mould purchase , optimal bullet size , lube ( have been making my own 50/50 beeswax- moly lith grease since the 70's and would start experimenting with it ) for carbine boolit velocities and favorite loads for accuracy (100yds max) and feed / function .
I am a recent convert to the as cast / tumble lube lee boolits for my high volume 9mm and .45acp loads and I thank the Lord that I can get very good practice accuracy with scant to no leading and do not have to size and lube each and every boolit as I havefor years . If I can do the same with a .30 carb boolit it would be party time around this place .
If I have to go "conventional" for best results I can do that too .
TIA
Bob

[Cottonpicker]

I use a lyman 115 gr mold 311359. This mold is designed for M1 Carbine. Lyman reloading manual has data for it.

[Larry Gibson]

I have literly shot thousands of cast bullets through numerous M1 and M2 Carbines. I have been casting for and shooting mostly cast bullets in the 30 Carbine since '68. I have used numerous moulds but prefer the Lyman 311359 overall for general shooting. However, lately I've shot a few NOE 311465s and they like Lee's C309-120-R perform quite well. The RCBS 30-115-SP is also a good choice.

If small game or vermin are on the menu then I use the Lyman 313631 or the Lyman 311316 both of which are no longer available so a used one would be the option. The Lee C309-115-F would be a good choice also.

If you want service ammo velocity with accuracy (1850 - 1950 fps) then GCs and a good soft lube will be necessary. I size my 30 Carbine bullets to .309 to ensure reliable chambering. For several years I shot the PB'd 311410 with just about every applicable powder and found reasonable accuracy and reliable functioning could be had up through 1500 - 1600 fps. However, accuracy was never on par with any GC'd bullet tried.

Since I load to service levels for regulation to the M1 Carbines rear sight I've settled on H110 powder. Of course the load varies with the bullet used. H4227 and 2400 also are good performers but never performed as well with accuracy and velocity as H110.

Larry Gibson

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[dale2242]

NOE 311 115 GC sized .309
NRA 50/50 lube
13.5 gr WC820 or 13 gr H110/296....dale

[avogunner]

I've been shooting 311359 or 311576 in my 1943 Inland for a few years now and there's a ton of info on this site. Any post by Larry will give you good gouge and I took his advice about H110. I use that exclusively with both of these bullets (to around 1800fps) and have great results. This target is 50yds, 311572/H110.

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This is with the 311359 and 2400

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[umwminer]

Thanks Gents !
Ive got a 4 cav 311359 on the way.

[KenT7021]

I used to load the Lyman 31133 HP in the carbine.It functioned well and was a good small game round.This was back in the 50's so don't remember the powder charge but I was probably using 2400 powder.

[umwminer]

Thanks Ken ,
I'm just looking for a cheaper alternative to JSP's for practice on 8''steel plates out to about 100yds .
I used to shoot thousands of the Speer half jacket Plinker at various varmints ( p dogs , ground squirrels ) when they were cheap and available . I mourn the loss of that bullet .
I've killed a few of each whitetail and mule deer w/110gr JSP's and although I wouldn't recommend the round for deer hunting , like a lot of other low powered rds , it gets the job done under the right conditions as you probably know. I might use a cast HP for that purpose if I could get a alloy that would open up and reasonably stay in one piece for non shoulder , rib cage heart/lung shots.

[308Jeff]

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Are those Hornady XTP's on the far right?

[Larry Gibson]

Yes, they are the .308 diameter 90 gr XTPs. they are an excellent and deadly 30 Carbine bullet for vermin......also extremely accurate.

Here's 10 of them at 100 yards out my M1 shooter shown above. They were loaded over 15 gr H110 which chronographed (15" from muzzle with M35P) 2151 fps. Hornady lists 16.8 gr as max in their manual but I found the 15 gr load to be excellent.

Larry Gibson

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