30 Cal Mould Recomendation for .312-.313 Military Rifles

[SoonerEd]

New to casting and even newer to posting on this site. This is only my second post. I've been reading a lot on here for several months, usually an hour or so each night before I go to bed. Found a good but fleeting source of WWs at 20 cents per pound (averaging 15%-18% junk by weight) and have amassed about 1,000 lbs of lead. Its mostly WW but includes about 200 lbs of pure, 100 lbs Lino and 50 lbs Mono that I've smelted down into ingots (except for the Mono).

I'm wanting to see if I can work up loads for my large diameter 30 cal military rifles such as 7.7 Jap, 7.65 Argentine, 303 British. Is there any particular mould in a specific weight I should try to see if I can get it to work in all three rifles? I know I'll need to slug the barrel to determine sizing for each rifle. What I'm hoping to do is buy one mould that has a reasonable chance in working for all three. I'll be PC most likely. I'll also most likely want a GC mould as well in case I decide to shoot them in the 2,000+ fps range. I've only shot FMJ bullets in all three rifles and am not educated on each rifle's preferences for bullet profile, if any. I'm more of a precision bolt action varmit rifle guy historically, but trying to see if I can become skilled enough to cast for rifles. Looking for something to maybe shoot 100-200 yards in military bolt action matches.

Suggestions greatly appreciated. If you know a mould number please include it so I'm clear what you are recommending. I've bought some moulds from MP and have a 311-184-FN 2 cavity GC mould on the way from NOE to try in my 308 bore rifles. So, any recommendations from these two would be welcome in addition to the standards of Lee, Lyman, RCBS and Saeco although Saeco seem to be way out of my price range unless I get a good deal on a used one.

[fcvan]

I bought the Lee 312-155 2R for use in the 300 BO as I had seen others try it. Lubed with 2 thin coats of Alox/mineral spirits it shot fine. When I started powder coating, it did not feed well so I bought a different mold. Some time back, I was gifted a Argentine Mauser that was from the first 100k produced for the Argentinian contract. Matching numbers, decent condition internally, worn some on the outside. Original owner bought it as an un-fired surplus back in the 1950s, maybe put 40 rounds through it as his deer rifle.

I think between the 312 boolit mold, and powder coating, it should make a great shooter. I have dies, brass, and bullets courtesy of a member here, and just need to get around to loading and shooting it. The hold up is the friend who gave me the rifle has been in very poor health, and I want him there for my first range trip.

Some folks prefer heavier boolits, I think the 155 weight should be fine for my intended purpose, which is shooting tin cans. Sure, the round should be fine for deer sized game, but I think a flat point would be better. I know a machinist who could reform the interior of my mold to a flat point which would get more weight. I'll just wait until this component shortage dies down and order a mold from NOE. For now, I can still kill tin cans.

[Krag 1901]

The Lee 312-160-2R is also good with a fuller nose profile ( less free bore?) that fits my 30-40 Krag much better. i size my Krag and .308W boolets to .311 and they work fine with two coats of LLA.

[SoonerEd]

I have looked at this mold but can't seem to find it in stock in the places I've looked.

[Maven]

Check out NOE's listings for .314", .315", and .316" designs/moulds.

[lar45]

We did a Fat 30 mold for milsurp rifles about 15 years ago.
Accurate has the print, it's listed as 31-194F
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=31-194F

[Hick]

Lyman 314299GC is an excellent 7.65/303 bullet. Both my Argentine Mauser and Lee Enfield shoot very nice with it.

[MOC031]

These two Accurate designs have worked very well in my Long Branch .303 British and 1895 Winchester in 30 U.S. which has .303 British throat and bore/groove dimensions.

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[Wayne Smith]

Given the current craziness and the fact that you want quality I would suggest you follow the suggestions for NOE and Accurate. Their prices remain the same and the quality remains the same - thus way more bang for your buck than chasing a Lee mold that everybody else is chasing.

[waksupi]

These two Accurate designs have worked very well in my Long Branch .303 British and 1895 Winchester in 30 U.S. which has .303 British throat and bore/groove dimensions.

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I found the design on the right to be better. The one shown on the left lost accuracy for me at longer ranges, most likely due to less supporting area.

[SoonerEd]

Thanks for the recommendations.

[MOC031]

I found the design on the right to be better. The one shown on the left lost accuracy for me at longer ranges, most likely due to less supporting area.

I selected the flat nosed design as a more likely candidate for hunting, all other things equal; the one on the right for just that - accuracy. Figured that between the two designs, I'd get one winner, maybe two, with the two rifles they are intended for.

So far, they're pretty close out to 150 yards (weird distance for testing; short long story) in the two rifles I'm using them in. But, last year was a weird year. Practically lived out at the old Montana Rifle Company; barely pulled a trigger.

I think I've only scratched the surface on exploring load development on these designs - I ordered them about a month before I stumbled over powder coating, so the tight fit I specified (intending to use them the old lube way) of course isn't the same thing after applying powder coat. Lots more sizing going on now than I expected.

[JM7.7x58]

My Arisakas are .316” and .3165”. I size to .318” and these loads chamber just fine.

For a little mouse fart load I’m casting the Lee TL314-90-SWC. These drop at .316”, I powder coat this bullet which gets it up to .318”.

I have sized three different 8mm bullets down from .325” to .318”. While I got good results, I wouldn’t recommend this route. I learned a lot. One of those things that I learned was that I would have been money ahead if I had just bought a custom .316” mold and powder coated up to .318”.

I now have an NOE 316-155-RF GC/PB combo mold that I’m dialing in loads for both of my rifles.

[avogunner]

Lyman 314299GC is an excellent 7.65/303 bullet. Both my Argentine Mauser and Lee Enfield shoot very nice with it.

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