Long range boolit for .30-06 ?

[Wolfdog91]

Any recommendations for some that would be good for slapping steel out to say 500yd ? I know it's going to need to be a little in the heavy side with a GC but silloute style would be preferable right ?

[Bigslug]

I've not run it that far out, but the 311299 has been my '06 "Accuracy Without Effort" boolit that comes highly recommended by many.

NOE calls it the 311-206-RN-K2. Your timing with the ask is good; they're in stock at present: https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/308-311/311-206-rn-k2/

I've also got it in the slightly heavier .314" and .316" versions for the .303's. It's a good option for replicating the pre-spitzer round-nosed versions of these cartridges. Nice thing is that the velocity thresholds for cast tend to run pretty well in line with what the service rifle rounds of pre-1910 were doing. You're gonna have to figure out new sight settings on your mil-surps because they all got reconfigured for lighter pointy bullets years ago, but you'll at least be shooting something that feels like the real deal, because at 2000 fps, it pretty much is.

[GooseGestapo]

The Lee 200gr RNGC has been a great long range .30cal cast boolit.
I size them to .311” and shoot them through a 03-A3, a P17, 2-M1’s, a #4Mk1 Enfield, and a 1943 Mosin-Nagant.
Over 34.5gr of H4895, they’re 2moa from the M1’s and cycle the actions.

I cast them from w/w and 95/5 lead free solder added. Lee tumble lubed and later sized to .311” and gas checks seated with SPG to fill lube grooves.
I bought a Lyman .314299 but was dissatisfied with it and sold it. Cast undersized to .310”...

I want a NOE .311-299 198 Sp K5 GC 5cavity, but can’t justify the expense over the lowly Lee mold.

[Winger Ed.]

For which ever cartridge you're loading for, go to the heavier boolits for the longer ranges.

[Nobade]

RCBS 30-165-sil works great in my 30-06 out to the limits of our range, just a bit over 800 yards. My rifle has a 1:14 twist barrel so that may make a bit of difference compared to normal 1:10 barrels. I run it around 2600 fps.

[dverna]

Look at the .30 XCB bullet. Larry Gibson got impressive results with that bullet in a custom rifle out to 600 yards. I believe Larry shot it out of his .30/06 rifle as well but cannot recall the results and a quick search did not work for me...but I am sure there is stuff out there. Larry may pipe in if he sees this thread.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356607-NOE-30-XCB-30x60-XCB-600-yards

[GregLaROCHE]

I used to reload and shoot a lot of 30.06 rounds. It was before I started casting so they were always jacked. I ended up thinking the best all round bullet weight was 180 grains. I actually just got a 30 cal mold, but haven’t tried it yet. I did cast and load some of Lee’s 230 grain boolits for a friend and he says they were great for wild hogs.

[Jack Stanley]

I have one of the under size 314299 and size them to .310" for a 1903A3 it works quite well . The 311299 I have casts at .315" or so and gets used for a 91/30 .

Works good without much effort either way .

Jack

[Larry Gibson]

Look at the .30 XCB bullet. Larry Gibson got impressive results with that bullet in a custom rifle out to 600 yards. I believe Larry shot it out of his .30/06 rifle as well but cannot recall the results and a quick search did not work for me...but I am sure there is stuff out there. Larry may pipe in if he sees this thread.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356607-NOE-30-XCB-30x60-XCB-600-yards

Foor years the 311299/314299 was my "standard" long range .30/.31 cal cast bullets (past 300 yards with cast bullets). At one time I was shooting the NMC with them on the old 5V targets. I still have a few 5V targets and occasionally still shoot them. Back in those days I had a Browning 30-06 Built on a Mauser action with a 22" barrel which had a 12" twist also. I found, with the 2" shorter barreled Browning, I could push the 311299s about 300+ fps faster (I've had Oehler chronographs since the early '70s) with the same level of accuracy than in the M1903 I was using then. I didn't have any idea of the RPM Threshold then and didn't understand why at that time.

I haven't done any shooting past 300 yards with the XCB bullet in any 30-06 yet and that was in my M1903A3 Type II NM (configured using a DT M1903 receiver) rifle with a 10" twist RA43 barrel. As I use lubed bullets the standard RPM threshold is in effect so the most accurate loads are running right at 1900 fps. It does well at 300 yards. However, I have been contemplating working up a 2300 - 2400 fps load with the 30 XCB bullet in my M70 long range 30-06 rifle with a 32" Broughton 12" twist barrel and trying it out to 600 yards. Just too many other irons still in the fire right now.......

293099

293100


The OP PC coats his cast bullets so assuming the same with either a 311/314299 or the 30 XCB with get him a couple extra hundred fps(?). I don't do PC so I don't know but from testing others PC/HT'd bullets in various cartridges and the reports of others, if done correctly, PC/HT can push the RPM threshold up. Be interesting to see what he comes up with. I would suggest he test and develop the load at least at 100 yards. There is a lot of difference in a bullets flight between 50 yards, where most of his testing hast been, and 500 yards.

[MT Gianni]

I have had decent groups with the Saeco 315 profile. I believe NOE makes one as well. 311284 can do good but it is heavy enough that I run out of sight adjustment on my receiver sight. 311466 is simple and effective though it may not be heavy enough to really buck the wind.

[ShooterAZ]

For me, the Accurate 31-200L, The RCBS 30-165-SIL, and the Lyman 311299 have all given me good long range results even from a 1/10 twist in the 30-06. I never push them past 2000 fps, but easily get satisfying results on the gong at 300 yards with my 1903 Springfield. I'm sure it would reach out to 500, but my range isn't that long and neither is my eyesight with open sights.

[charlie b]

I have been using the Acc 31-210E (Eagan design) out to 500yd in my .308. It has to be going at least 2000fps out of the muizzle to not drop below supersonic. Yes, that design really hates the supersonic transition. My 1-10 twist means there is a very narrow margin of accuracy there since groups start to open up a lot past 2100fps.

Have not tried the XCB out that far.

The real problem for most of us is a 1-10 twist (as on my Garand). That limits accurate velocity to under ~2100fps. That means you have transition to subsonic to deal with at longer ranges. Some bullets do ok with it, some do not.

Sent from my SM-P580 using Tapatalk

[Wolfdog91]

Foor years the 311299/314299 was my "standard" long range .30/.31 cal cast bullets (past 300 yards with cast bullets). At one time I was shooting the NMC with them on the old 5V targets. I still have a few 5V targets and occasionally still shoot them. Back in those days I had a Browning 30-06 Built on a Mauser action with a 22" barrel which had a 12" twist also. I found, with the 2" shorter barreled Browning, I could push the 311299s about 300+ fps faster (I've had Oehler chronographs since the early '70s) with the same level of accuracy than in the M1903 I was using then. I didn't have any idea of the RPM Threshold then and didn't understand why at that time.

I haven't done any shooting past 300 yards with the XCB bullet in any 30-06 yet and that was in my M1903A3 Type II NM (configured using a DT M1903 receiver) rifle with a 10" twist RA43 barrel. As I use lubed bullets the standard RPM threshold is in effect so the most accurate loads are running right at 1900 fps. It does well at 300 yards. However, I have been contemplating working up a 2300 - 2400 fps load with the 30 XCB bullet in my M70 long range 30-06 rifle with a 32" Broughton 12" twist barrel and trying it out to 600 yards. Just too many other irons still in the fire right now.......

293099

293100


The OP PC coats his cast bullets so assuming the same with either a 311/314299 or the 30 XCB with get him a couple extra hundred fps(?). I don't do PC so I don't know but from testing others PC/HT'd bullets in various cartridges and the reports of others, if done correctly, PC/HT can push the RPM threshold up. Be interesting to see what he comes up with. I would suggest he test and develop the load at least at 100 yards. There is a lot of difference in a bullets flight between 50 yards, where most of his testing hast been, and 500 yards.

Interesting and yes I will be doing my groups at @100 with this project

[Wolfdog91]

The Lee 200gr RNGC has been a great long range .30cal cast boolit.
I size them to .311” and shoot them through a 03-A3, a P17, 2-M1’s, a #4Mk1 Enfield, and a 1943 Mosin-Nagant.
Over 34.5gr of H4895, they’re 2moa from the M1’s and cycle the actions.

I cast them from w/w and 95/5 lead free solder added. Lee tumble lubed and later sized to .311” and gas checks seated with SPG to fill lube grooves.
I bought a Lyman .314299 but was dissatisfied with it and sold it. Cast undersized to .310”...

I want a NOE .311-299 198 Sp K5 GC 5cavity, but can’t justify the expense over the lowly Lee mold.

.311 for a P17 ? Don't those in 30-06 with a .308 bore diameter? Intty

[Wolfdog91]

I've not run it that far out, but the 311299 has been my '06 "Accuracy Without Effort" boolit that comes highly recommended by many.

NOE calls it the 311-206-RN-K2. Your timing with the ask is good; they're in stock at present: https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/308-311/311-206-rn-k2/

I've also got it in the slightly heavier .314" and .316" versions for the .303's. It's a good option for replicating the pre-spitzer round-nosed versions of these cartridges. Nice thing is that the velocity thresholds for cast tend to run pretty well in line with what the service rifle rounds of pre-1910 were doing. You're gonna have to figure out new sight settings on your mil-surps because they all got reconfigured for lighter pointy bullets years ago, but you'll at least be shooting something that feels like the real deal, because at 2000 fps, it pretty much is.

I actually really like the look of this !!

[Winger Ed.]

I actually really like the look of this !!

Something that might also work in your .30-06, especially at the closer ranges,
and doesn't cost much to try is "The Load" of 13gr. of Red Dot.

It does a good job in mine, and doesn't cost much more than shooting 'good' .22LRs.
It gets you a bit over 500 rounds per pound of powder.
I haven't clocked them, but the speed is supposed to be up on the higher side of the 'mid-teens', 16-1700 or so.

[Tar Heel]

Sierra MatchKing 190gr HPBT

9 out of 10 doctors recommend it.

Mark it with a silver sharpie and it will look cast. :-)

[BigAlofPa.]

I been running these. With 14 grains of green dot. Out to 300 yards. Gun club don't go past 300. Im hitting the 8 inch steel with them. Remington 770 30.06. With a Vortex diamondback 6x24x50 Tactical scope. The scope really made that cheap rifle sing.

https://tbbullets.com/30-165gr-rnfp-polymer-coated/

[1Hawkeye]

Iv'e had good results with the 311299 over 12.0 grs of unique out to 200 yds on steel and at 100 yds on paper the groups are 1 1/2" or less. Out of my Winchester model 54 they are averaging 1363 fps with an extreme spread of 21.54 and a standard devation of 7.61 . If you can find one the old Ideal 311413 170 gr spire point is a pretty good one also. The 54 puts them out at 1472 fps with a ES of 18.58 and an SD of 5.91 using the same powder charge. I like the looks of that N O E mold bigslug recomended but I already have the Ideal / Lyman one.

[405grain]

I haven't started shooting beyond 200 yards yet. I'm still searching for the most accurate loads, but like others have said, the Lyman 311299 and the RCBS 30-165-Sil are good & accurate designs. I've also had good luck with the Lyman 311284. There are many fine designs and the boolit that your rifle likes the best will be up to you to discover. Personally, if I were only allowed to have one bullet mold for the 30-06 I'd choose the 311299 or a clone of it.

[Thumbcocker]

.311 for a P17 ? Don't those in 30-06 with a .308 bore diameter? Intty

My best results in .308 groove rifles have been with boolits sized .311

[Larry Gibson]

.311 for a P17 ? Don't those in 30-06 with a .308 bore diameter? Intty

With a rifle for longer distance shooting, you want to size the bullet to fit the throat not the groove diameter. With a bore riding nose, you'll want that to be a tight slip fit into the bore at the leade area of the throat. Thats why many use the 314299 instead in many .30 cals because the bore runs .300 to .302 right in front of the leade and .311 - .312 in the throat.

[Bigslug]

.311 for a P17 ? Don't those in 30-06 with a .308 bore diameter? Intty

Nominal is .308 GROOVE diameter and .300 for the bore. So the 311299 commonly gets its as-cast shank sized to .309" or .310" and the .300" nose is a light-contact bore rider. . .and it shoots GREAT in P-17's:mrgreen:

[Kraschenbirn]

I've obtained good 300-yard accuracy from both the RCBS 30-165SIL and the Arsenal 309-188RN-PC in my .308s. My McGowan-barreled M700 shows a slight preference for the RCBS while my Savage M10LE, definitely, likes the Arsenal design better but both boolits will print right around 2 MOA (+/-) @ 300. Haven't tried either at a greater distance 'cause our club's 300 yards is the longest available range within a 3-hour drive.

Bill