My new RCBS 30-180-FN

[Bazoo]

I purchased it new from midway a little while back, when RCBS was offering a rebate deal. This is my first experience with RCBS moulds, and I must say Im impressed. I am going to use it for 30-30 in an early 70s winchester 94.

I thinned my lee handles to fit it. Then it was cleaned with lighter fluid and a toothbrush. I set it in the melt a few minutes to bring it up to temperature.

I dabbed some synthetic 2 cycle oil on the under side of the sprue plate, at the junction of the sprue bolt/plate, and on the alignment pins. Then, I wiped it off with a cotton rag.

Alloy was straight wheel eights. I wanted to see how well it'd do, if i'd get good fillout without having to add tin, and because thats what I keep in my pot for pistol bullets.

I started to cast, and right off started getting good bullets. Release was excellent. I found it needed a large sprue puddle. Fillout was okay. Once the temperature got evened out, I probably got about 70% that was filled out excellent. Not bad considering I didnt have any extra tin in my mix.

I normally cast fairly fast and keep the mould hot, just below or right at frost temperature, which helps with fillout in a low tin mix. And I did the same with this new RCBS mould. I try to keep my melt temperature medium, not cold, but not so hot it turns yellow and purple on top. I dont have a thermometer yet, so yes, im guessing.

The mould started out being just a touch hard to completely close, and I had to tap the handles on the side. Thats pretty well my routine anyway, instead of trying to slam the mould halves together. However, after a couple hundred, it loosened up just a bit and is perfect.

I weighed 3 from the batch, and they hit right on 195 grains. I forgot to measure any for this posting. Edit, I went back and measured them, and they are running
a solid .310. Some of them Measure .311 around their fattest with .310 on the thinnest, but its not enough to say im getting .311 with any consistency.

Thanks for reading.

https://i.imgur.com/laErjAI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/r6WLFIG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HmTydPr.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yqAtrwn.jpg

[bosterr]

When you get a chance, let us know what diameter they drop.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Good reporting. Your experience almost mirrors mine with this mold. I was however experimenting with paper patching this boolet, as cast, then after cooling wet wrapping with copier paper. After an over night dry I put some JPW on the paper and push sized thru a .314" sizer. I had only made up 16 of these boolets before ill health called a halt. I hope to continue with this 7.62 Mosin Nagant load this year.Robert

[Bazoo]

I measured them, and went back and edited the original post.

Edit, I went back and measured them, and they are running
a solid .310. Some of them Measure .311 around their fattest with .310 on the thinnest, but its not enough to say im getting .311 with any consistency.

Hope this helps those that are considering purchasing this mould.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

They look good. At .310 you won't have much to size.

[KenT7021]

At .310 I wouldn't size at all.Just lube and use.

[Taterhead]

Nice writeup. Thank you for the great report. In my early foray into casting, I have found RCBS molds to be of very high quality. I have joined the chorus of people who wish for 4 cavity molds from RCBS.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

At .310 I wouldn't size at all.Just lube and use.

If he puts a GC on he will have to size a little.

[Bazoo]

I aint slugged my bore or throat. I plan to size to .309 because i've tried bullets that others have sent me, and if they are .310, they dont chamber freely. I will try another dummy at .310 to make sure, because Its been a while and I didnt record it. Sure functioning is my first concern over accuracy. I am a hunter, and a plinker primarily.

I havent yet bench sighted my gun. Mostly cause I aint got a bench on my range. I sighted it in, setting, resting off my knees at 50 yards with factory ammo and started hunting with it. Course where I hunt, 70 yards is probably the max. I got about 2" groups doing that.

When I build a bench, or a makeshift rest set up, i'll see what I can get at 50 and 100 yards with the new bullet and report back.

[kungfustyle]

I Love RCBS molds they just work. Congrats on your new mold.

[Three44s]

++++++ for RCBS molds!

My love affair began with my acquiring the their 250K mold for 44 caliber handgun and it has not abated yet!

Go RCBS!

Three44s

[Bazoo]

Thanks everyone.

I made some dummy cartridges last night. Unsized, a .310 bullet does not chamber freely. The last 1/16" can be forced with the bolt closing, but just a touch to hard to push by thumb pressure alone into the chamber. Sized .309, I feel some resistance, but I can push it in all the way, and remove it with just a touch of a thumbnail. My brass was trimmed 2.028.

[Bazoo]

Here are some I checked, lubed, and sized.

https://i.imgur.com/snIAYqj.jpg

[rintinglen]

This is a favorite of mine. I use it in my 30-30's with excellent results. I have settled on 30 grains of WW-748 for a full power load. If I could only have 1 30 caliber mold, i'd be hard pressed to select any other. I just wish RCBS made 4 cavity molds.

[Bazoo]

The only other 30 caliber mould I have is the lee 150 grain flat nose. I've made some full power loads with that bullet, but the RCBS will be my go to bullet, provided it does well in my load work up.

The only data I have for it is from loadbooksUSA and it shows 748 and 3031, the 2 powders I have for 30-30. The data, from RCBS, lists the bullet weight at 187 grains.

Another thing, A member here sent me a few samples of the the RCBS bullet, and his weighed 185 grains. The gas check shank was a little bit shorter on his. I'd rather the bullet be a touch shorter, as it sticks just a touch below the neck. I dont use the old press on gas checks... but If I ran across some I couldnt.

[Tom W.]

Pretty boolits. Almost look like my Ranch Dog 170 gr. rf

RCBS makes excellent molds.

[dg31872]

My first choice 30 cal mould for rifles. I use it with good results on 30-30, 308, and 30-06.

[waco]

This is a favorite of mine. I use it in my 30-30's with excellent results. I have settled on 30 grains of WW-748 for a full power load. If I could only have 1 30 caliber mold, i'd be hard pressed to select any other. I just wish RCBS made 4 cavity molds.

NOE makes a good copy in a 4 cavity.
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=30_352&products_id=2039

[Bazoo]

I didnt know that Waco, thanks for sharing. I sure like the thermal stability that iron moulds offer. I also like that I can scrub the blocks with a bronze brush to remove any specs of lead that adhere. But Aluminum moulds are a lot cheaper normally, and easier to maintain.

[Harles Dawson]

I have the NOE copy of that mold in a 5 cavity aluminum. Casts really well. Still in the developing stage for loads. Made 300 keepers in about 20 minutes. Very few rejects. Sized to .311. Dropped from mold at .312+ a little. Need to get busier developing loads. Harles

[Fastleo]

Looks great! I need to find a mold for my 336 30-0 soon

[Bazoo]

If anyone wants samples of this bullet, PM me and i'll be glad to send some out to you.

[Bazoo]

I decided to sell this mould, because.... It casts the nose a touch large for what I want. I loaded up a batch of these bullets, and they touch the rifling in my 30-30. I know that is a good thing for accuracy, but it aint what I want. I want my bullets to drop freely into the chamber for this.

I sized them to .309 and loaded them to 2.525 COAL with brass being trimmed to 2.028. They imbed in the rifling of my rifle. I can close the bolt on them, but I dont want that.

Previously a member sent me some samples of this bullet, but they are not identical to mine. His samples have a shorter gas check shank (no issue) and the nose is a touch smaller. The meplat is a touch narrower on his, and dummy cartridges with his bullets do not touch my rifling.

Im bummed, but i've decided to sell the mould and chase down a used older mould of the same in hopes of finding what I want.

[waco]

I would suggest ordering a mold from Tom at Accurate Molds. You can custom design or modify an existing mold to whatever size you want. Including the nose with an alloy of your choice. Accurate Molds. Done right the first time, every time.
Just remember to do your homework. Take good measurements. Tom will not make you what you want. He will make you what you order.....