Ly311467, Ly311407, R-S#315, and ???

[MakeMineA10mm]

I'm pretty much a pistol boolit caster, and 95%+ of all my casting has been with 9mm, 38, 44, 45, 10mm, etc. boolits. Mostly Lee and Lyman moulds, but a couple H&G, Saeco, and Magma moulds too.

I have a Lyman 311410, that my dad bought years ago for loading 30 carbine with. I've loaded that plus 7.62x39 with it, but that is pretty much the extent of my rifle casting experience. I understand most of the theory of rifle casting for accuracy, but one thing I don't have is a ton of money for a dozen moulds to experiment with... :-|

For a long time, I'd always thought of the Lyman 311467 as an ideal (pardon the pun) mould for the 30-calibers that I have (SMLEs, 03A1 Sprinfield, Win.94, 7.7Jap). I'd also like to have moulds that will work in 30-40 Krag, if I'm lucky enough to score a shootable Krag.

I've done a lot of reading here and other places, and found that the Saeco #315 has a very good reputation. Thanks to a member here, I'm getting a 4-cavity mould of this one soon, at a very nice price.

I'm also planning on getting a 31141/311041, mainly for the 30-30, but also to try in the others.

My main question is, what is the opinion of the experienced folks here about the 311467 vs. the 311407? It's my understanding that the 407 is a flat-point version of the 467, which probably sounds better as far as terminal performance, but then there's the concern over feeding... Does either shoot better than the other in general, or is it basically a toss-up between feeding and shocking power?

Any other 30-cal. moulds I should be looking at (as in, "you don't want to miss this one")?

[Ben]

I'm a big fan of the 311467 :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=22047

BUT.......I also like the SAECO # 315 :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=32521

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=30389

I don't think you'd be going wrong with either.

I'm attempting to buy a '407 right now. I doubt that it will differ much in the accuracy dept vs. the '467, although there may be a marked difference with the terminal performance of the bullet on a white-tailed deer ? ?

Ben

[HeavyMetal]

Plus the flat point allows it to feed in a tube mag without the danger of touching off a primer on the round in front of it.

[MakeMineA10mm]

Am I looking at the 311291 and 311041 right? It looks like they are the same boolit except for the shape of the front half of their nose section.

[Ben]

Am I looking at the 311291 and 311041 right? It looks like they are the same boolit except for the shape of the front half of their nose section.

Yes , for all practical purposes the end of the nose, round vs. a small flat meplat is the difference in these 2 bullets.

Ben

[45 2.1]

Take a look at this, it was ran by Chargar some time back and everyone likes it. The Cast Boolits 311407

[MakeMineA10mm]

Take a look at this, it was ran by Chargar some time back and everyone likes it. The Cast Boolits 311407

That is SWEET! Looks like the GB version has a more tapered nose than the Lyman version. Might work in feeding AND better striking power. Wonder if Chargar will run it again???

[9.3X62AL]

I have no experience with the Loverin-designed (or Cast Boolits) Lymans #311407 or #311467, but they get A LOT of positive commentary herein from very knowledgeable casters/shooters. I would lean toward the flat point only because of the tubular mag primer contact issue, if only one can be chosen.

I've done a lot of shooting with #311291, and quite a bit with #311041 more recently. In 30-06 and 30-30, it would be tough to pick between them--other than the flat point question mentioned above. The two designs are within 2 grains of one another in weight.

An inexpensive option for the 30 calibers that has shot VERY well for me in 30-06 is the Lee 312-185 bore rider.

Unless you are luckier than me, don't count on a the nominal 30 caliber moulds being able to service all 31 caliber rifles like the 303 British or 7.7 Jap. Many of the 31s have wider grooves than .311", and caliber- or rifle-specific moulds are often called for.

[MakeMineA10mm]

Well, I have the 315 en route already, and what I'm thinking at this point is:

Get a 311041, because it's the absolute classic 30-30 boolit, and works in the other 30-calibers pretty well too.

Get a 311467, because with two flat point boolits already, I'd better have a round nose to ensure I've got at least one that should feed no matter what.

Anyone ever try the NEI "Hornet" 180gr boolit?
http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/308-180-gc-hornet.jpg
I've read only one mention of this boolit anywhere, and it sang pretty high praises for it. Just wondering if any members here have a review of it?

As far as the surplus rifle comments, I understand Al. I've not slugged the bore on the Jap or the Australian SMLE, but the older No 1 Mk. III needs a .311" or .312" boolit. (Bore is right at .311" or just a little larger). The '03A1 I've got has a pretty rough bore. I'll probably try .310" or .311" for it and see if it shoots. It does OK with jacketed, but that amazes me considering what the bore looks like. Just goes to show that you can't judge a barrel by how it looks - you really have to shoot it. That said, I'm not planning on entering any 600yrd matches with it, either!! [smilie=1:

[Ben]

I'd think that the diameter on the nose on that " Hornet " would be super critical and not very forgiving.

If that nose dia. was " sub-sized " in the least, I'd think that any possible decent accuracy would head south pretty fast.

Ben

[STP22]

I recall Tom Gray tried that Wasp Waist boolit in his wife`s Rem788 in .308Win in the CBA Fouling Shot publication from the late 90`s (?).

Don`t recall that he did any better at 100yds with it. Could be wrong, but....

[fourarmed]

There is a lot of variation in 311291 and 311041 molds. They have been made for a LONG time. Mine are not very similar. My 311041 is not a borerider by any stretch of the imagination. It will chamber in my tight-throated 336 Marlin when seated in the crimp groove. My 311291 won't even come close.

[Char-Gar]

The 311407 Mod. we ran a couple of years ago, was nothing more than the old Loverin 311407 design shortened by one band so it would fit in the Lee six hole blocks. The first two bands were speced at about .303 and the rest at about .312. I think they came out .302 X .311 from most folks alloy.

All the Loverin 30 caliber designs (311467, 311466 and 311407) are very good designs that have survived the test of generations.

The old Barlow/Ideal designs of 311291 and 311284 are also great bullets that have survived the test of time.

It is always important to remember that the bullet specs must right for the rifle barrel and throat, and the alloy and sizing right for the load. Some folks don't do it right and complain about these old designs as being no good.

SAECO 315 looks like a top notch bullet and gets good reviews from those who shoot it. I will get one..one of these days.

I was the "Honcho" on three group mold buys and that is plenty for me. I had no trouble working with Lee, it was some of the buyers that were a pain in the ass. I will leave the joys of being a Group Buy Honcho to others. I might as well spread it around.

[MakeMineA10mm]

Well guys, thank you very much for the information. At this point, I'm going to look for someone who may want to do a trade...

I have 100 R-P 350 Rem. Mag. brass (in the 20-rd orange-and-green boxes) that I don't need. Would be glad to trade someone for a four-cavity 311(0)41 or 311467.... :mrgreen:

[JDL]

Of all the Loverin designs in .30 cal. that I have shot, my perference is for a friend's 311466 which weighs 157 grains in my alloy. That was the first rifle boolit that I cast from and it is one of the best I have ever used, even though it is a single cavity. The nose is .300", 1st band .302", 2nd .303", and the rest .311".
My dc 311467 is tapered the same, while my 311407 and 311466 have no taper and I much rather have the tapered ones.
JDL