300 BO Molds?

[Boz330]

What mold is the best for the BO? I have 2 of the Lee 155gr molds but the consistency from boolit to boolit varies more than I like.
I'm thinking of maybe going to powder coating although I have GCs and lube/sizer dies. BTW this is an AR.

Bob

[popper]

I PC the 31-145C PB and 142D GC in my BO. Depends on what you want for use. Hunting, plinking, target, etc.
edit:
I did both of these for PC so nose is slight undersized. Other drawback in BO chamber is the freebore/bore transition - normally jam there before engraving. Of course engraving in AR is a no/no.

[Burnt Fingers]

Super or sub?

For super it's really hard to beat the MP 311-410 clone. For sub...well there are several but I really like the MP 311-235.

[sundog]

The problem with some .308 barrels for ARs is they have throats that are all over the place on dimension, especially length. Many have rifling that starts short and abruptly. Not all cast boolits will fit.

I've been foolin' around with an upper that belongs to a friend that seems to like about anything cast I can load for it. Others I've worked with are short throated and require boolits like the RCBS 7.62-130-SPL or NOE 311-152-SP.

Add a little PC and the situation gets worse with the increase diameter forward of the front driving band.

[mattw]

Sundog is very correct. I have one that has a very short leade. I am using the NOE 311-152-SP very happily. This bullet is also great for PC since the nose is a reduced diameter and allows the coated nose into the barrel. I have been unable to use many bullets due to the leade, a few will fire but lead accumulates at that point and prevents the rifle from going into full battery.

[Conditor22]

For sub's, it's hard to beat the NOE 311-247-FN accurate hard-hitting over 700-X, also good with 1680, 231, H110, TB

[rtyler8140]

I just started playing around with the Lee 309-150-F powder coated and gas checked. Barrel is from BCA. I've been able to get them to feed and cycle fine so far, but again not a ton of rounds through it yet.

[bld451]

Been doing some testing with the NOE HTC 309-153, MP 311410, NOE 247 and MP 311-235 HP. Of all so far, the NOE HTC mold seems to be the better all-round bullet. Fits my gun's throat powder coated, feeds really well in the AR, is giving some decent first-test accuracy (1.5-2" at 50), drops from the mold like greased lightning and I'm getting around 1700 fps comfortably out of an 8.5" bbl. All so far have been 50/50 pb/pure with 2% tin. I'm hoping to find that the solids will expand at that velocity for hunting. MP 235 hp is nice and shoots about as well, but needs nose sized when powder coated. 311410 is nice but the hp is delicate in a semi. The crimp groove is about right for feeding out of a 223 mag but if a guy wants to shoot it longer to fill up the front of a 300 blk mag and get some more velocity, the lube groove is right at the end of the case where you would want to crimp. my 1-8 twist is right on the edge and almost stabilizes the NOE 247 at sub velocities. Might work faster but then not subsonic... next steps are to see about w/d ww's for alloy and mess with throat sizing. I'm getting fairly consistent lead buildup in a ring right inside the end of the chamber on all of them (sized at .310) they seem to run ok from the mag semi, but when I try to chamber from boltlock, they will sometimes not go into battery. Sorry, this last part isn't mold related but thought you might be interested to hear...

Anyway, depending on what you want, all of these molds have been producing bullets consistently +/- half a grain to each other when I do my job. All 4 cavities except the 311410.

[DAFzipper]

NOE 310-135 HTC RN powder coated for supers. Tried M&P 311-410, feeding is erratic. So far M&P 311 blackout(about 232 grains) for subs is working well as long as I keep PC thin. Both in AR.

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[Hamish]

As always, there is no "best".

I like the Lee 155, and the NOE 310-196 MX2-30H, but LOTS of other designs run well. Currently playing with the Lee 311-90RN PC'd in the BO pistols.

[Burnt Fingers]

If that NOE HTC 309-153 was available I'd be on it like white on rice.

Al doesn't seem to have a lot in stock these days.

[KYCaster]

Hey Bob.
I have several 30 cal. molds. up to 200 gr. Maybe we can find one that will work for you.
Give me a shout.

Jerry

[bld451]

NOE 310-135 HTC RN powder coated for supers. Tried M&P 311-410, feeding is erratic. So far M&P 311 blackout(about 232 grains) for subs is working well as long as I keep PC thin. Both in AR.

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I've been wondering about the NOE 135. How does it load? Are you loading to fit in 223 mags, and what velocities are you getting with what barrel Length?

Thanks.

[DAFzipper]

I've been wondering about the NOE 135. How does it load? Are you loading to fit in 223 mags, and what velocities are you getting with what barrel Length?

Thanks.In my 16 inch barrel I've seen 1900 fps with CFE BLK. Might be able to get a few more grains of powder in. Fit fine in Pmags. Just shot 100 at steel plates yesterday with 100% function. All powder coated.
My 16 inch barrel has been hard to find a bullet that would fit without jamming.
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[bld451]

Good info. Thanks.

[Lloyd Smale]

tried a quite a few different designs. Ive got a ruger ranch and 3 ar15s in bo and the hands down best bullet ive found is the rcbs 130 spitzer gas check. Its accurate in every one of those guns.

[Boz330]

Thanks guys. I have had decent luck with the Lee other than inconsistencies in GC fit from boolit to boolit. I would also like to have a little more production than a 2 cavity mold gives, even 2 of them.
I was thinking a little more velocity would be available with a little lighter boolit, but that isn't a big deal.

Bob

[Boz330]

Hey Bob.
I have several 30 cal. molds. up to 200 gr. Maybe we can find one that will work for you.
Give me a shout.

Jerry

JD, long time no see. Are you in New Haven now?
Frank is running some matches at KY Gun Co, when this virus BS is over with usually the 4th Wed of the month.
PM me your phone number.

Bob

[KYCaster]

Bob, check your PM.

I have a NOE 130gr. SP that might be what you're looking for. It worked pretty good in a couple of BO's I loaded for.

Jerry

[jaysouth]

Arsenal 312 145 "elvis". Profile appears to be the same as Lee 312 155 but fits better. Powder coated with Ford light blue. 2,000 K with no leading and good accuracy.

[Aunegl]

RCBS 130 sp and 165 sil works in my AR pistol.

[waco]

I like the Lee 155 for supers and the NOE 230gr for subs.

[whisler]

Waco: love your signature line. I still remember the inscription over the doorway of the Catholic grade school I attended "come children and I will teach you the fear of the LORD". They were not kidding either.

[waco]

Waco: love your signature line. I still remember the inscription over the doorway of the Catholic grade school I attended "come children and I will teach you the fear of the LORD". They were not kidding either.

Amen!

[Wisest.fool]

i have tried the lee 309-230-5R but in my 16" cmmg 300BO upper it does not cycle properly powdercoated at 1050fps with imr 4227. It may be fitment. these seem to drop right at .3085. Its very close to cycling properly, but not picking up next round every time. If i add more powder i may go super.... kind of defeats the purpose. doesnt lead the barrel though.

[Burnt Fingers]

i have tried the lee 309-230-5R but in my 16" cmmg 300BO upper it does not cycle properly powdercoated at 1050fps with imr 4227. It may be fitment. these seem to drop right at .3085. Its very close to cycling properly, but not picking up next round every time. If i add more powder i may go super.... kind of defeats the purpose. doesnt lead the barrel though.

What buffer are you running?

[bld451]

Hey there. I managed to take care of the "lead ring" problem by polishing the transition from the end of the chamber into the throat with some 1500 paper and a dowel. It was pretty sharp there and I thought I'd just break the edge there without changing the dimensions of either chamber or throat. It did the trick! No lead ring and got through about 150 rounds with no lead or coating buildup.

I thought I'd put this up to maybe inform any decisions about molds and ask for folks to chime in. Not advocating for anything, just posting for informational purposes. My photos here are through a microscope, so take that into account. The features look huge, but in fact they are very small. I was curious to see if there was any gas cutting on these recovered bullets. I have not experienced any leading with these loads after polishing the chamber mouth as described above and my bore cleaned up with one Hoppes brush and a couple of patches.... nice.

Anyway, these are the bases of the Noe 153 HTC, and 2 of the MP 311-235's.
261554
Both of the black colored bases are the 235's (one pc'd black and one Ford dark blue) loaded sub with 11.7 grs of AA1680. The clean blue one is the 153 at 1700 or so fps with 16.5 grs of 296.

Here is one of the subs for scale
261555

It's base
261556

Other 235's base261557

[bld451]

Here's the NOE 153. It fared a little worse, as we would expect.
261558

Interesting, it seems there was gas cutting on the leading edge all the way along the rifling track in some places. I have really only heard of trailing edge issues.
261559 also note where I crimped. There is no crimp groove provided on the bullet, just crimped this one in there. Gas cutting apparent around the circumference there, too.

For those who coat in a pile and are ok with the "boogers" that result, here is a pre, and post as near as I can tell.
261560
261561

Sorta making me think about a PB checkmaker...

[bld451]

Here is a little better image of the cutting along the leading edge..261562

[sutherpride59]

I’ve been very happy with the NOE 311299 which is a 206 grain mold for subs. I have a MP311-130 mood for supers. Both are very accurate and cycle just fine.

[popper]

Base below the shoulder.