30 cal mold

[TaylorS]

I would really like to find a great general purpose 30 cal mold it would be loaded in 300 WM and 308win 3030win possibly 30-06 and a few other for anything from plinking to moose. What’s your favorite general purpose 30 cal?

[Outpost75]

Any of these work well, the "Ed Harris" design with flat point suitable for tubular magazine safety in .30-30 leverguns.

In .30-30 ignore the crimp groove. Instead seat to 2.50" OAL and load compressed case full of IMR4064, RL15 or Varget so that the powder charge gives base support for the bullet in the same manner in which black powder does in the .44-40.

I load 30 grains in the .30-30., 35 grains in the .308 Win. and 40 grains in the .30-'06. All about 2100-2200 fps. Use 1:3 linotype/wheelweights. Lube with 1:4 ATF-Beeswax.

Size bullets .311" Full charge load in .30-30. The .30-'06 load cycles the Garand. Group below not an accurized rifle, but a CMP issue grade with new Criterion barrel.

Also shoots well without the GC up to 1300 fps with 6 grains of Bullseye or WST in .30-30, 7 grains in .308 Win. and 8.5 grains in .30-'06. Ten-shot groups shown fired at 100 yards from '06 Mauser sporter with 4X hunting scope are typical what you can expect.

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[Seabee1960]

Taylor S,


Outpost 75 hit the nail on the head about a bullet that is ideal for most applications but must be safe to shoot in a tubular magazine rifle like the Winchester model 94. The bullet that works the best for me as a good all around .30 Cal mold is the RCBS 30-180-FN. This mold is in stock at Midway USA and I see them from time to time on ebay. You can't go wrong with 180 Grain bullets in .30 Cal either.
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[Hardcast416taylor]

Taylor S,


Outpost 75 hit the nail on the head about a bullet that is ideal for most applications but must be safe to shoot in a tubular magazine rifle like the Winchester model 94. The bullet that works the best for me as a good all around .30 Cal mold is the RCBS 30-180-FN. This mold is in stock at Midway USA and I see them from time to time on ebay. You can't go wrong with 180 Grain bullets in .30 Cal either.
222884

I also agree with this recommendation.Robert

[jimb16]

The other alternative is to go with the 311291. It will also do everything you are looking to do. Both are good bullets for your applications.

[CGT80]

The Saeco 315 works well for my Winchester 54 30-06 and Win 94 30-30 lever gun. My molds are NOE 311-175, IIRC. Plain base is fine for low velocity but gas checks and 10.5 grains of herco for the 30-30 are working well for Silhouette shooting to 110 yards.

The 315 has a tapered design, so only the bottom is full size at 0.311" sized. It is said to work well in various chambers and while not perfect for one cartridge or rifle, is excellent as a general purpose 30 cal mold.