What's that .30cal mold that ?

[Wolfdog91]

Having a big brain fart here, what's that .30 cal mold that's supposed to be one of the most inherently accurate deals for stuff like .308, 30-06 ect I know now makes it but can't remember which one . Think it's a X something

[MUSTANG]

30 XCB

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/forums/topic/30-xcb-testing-continues/

310-165-FN-H3
318242

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/310-165-fn-30xcb/

[mehavey]

It ain't "X" anything.... but it's been X-Ring forever:

https://i.postimg.cc/4yd0kS0x/30-06-Lyman311299-4227.jpg
Lyman 311299

[Recycled bullet]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230924/bd27584f3cc35209184730275ab0fb17.jpg
Mp311-180 sil gc hp 3 cavity brass mold made these.

Sent from my moto g power (2022) using Tapatalk

[Wolfdog91]

...great....now I'm stuck between two I really want

[Recycled bullet]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230924/f435ee22f776f3ae104117f3fce26f0b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230924/24779ac37999c2b130a7405a3f7059ae.jpg

MP300 BLCK 311-235 grain no lube groove gas check 3 cavity brass hollow point mold made these.

Sent from my moto g power (2022) using Tapatalk

[charlie b]

The XCB is one of the better ones. But, you may like the RCBS 165SIL or some of the others just as well.

One of the benefits of the XCB is that it is not a bore rider. That also means you need to seat it deeper in the case when used with some std chambers ( like the .308).

[M-Tecs]

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?460293-need-educating-noe-310-165-FP&p=5626013#post5626013

[Winger Ed.]

I haven't done extensive research, but for my .308, .30-06, and .30-30:
I've been given a few different ones, but I keep coming back to a 170RN.
I think my mold is RCBS, but it might be a Lyman. I can't remember.

It seems like that 170 wants to make me look good.

[RayinNH]

[QUOTE=[/QUOTE]

Any chance it might be this one? It's a good one for sure. I'm not shilling for Midway, it's just the first thing that popped up in the search.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010243065?pid=667443


Sorry fella. I wasn't wearing my glasses and hit the wrong button again.

[Winger Ed.]

Sorry Ray. I'm brand new at this monitor thing.
Clicking the wrong button is easier done than said.
I've already promised the powers that be I wouldn't accidently do that again too.

Anyway-

Yeah, it's the Lyman 173 RN.
I've had it since the 90s and don't even look at the part number/brand any more.

I cast it with a pretty hard alloy, and get it up pretty close to the max. speeds listed in the Lyman book
with 3031 or 4198.

It's a natural in my rifles, and would probably make Stevie Wonder turn in a good score at 100 yards.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

This 10 shot sub-MOA group at 100yds with the Lyman 311284 over 31gn 3031 in my Springfield 30.06

https://i.imgur.com/SabiU6Dl.jpg

[405grain]

My most accurate 30 caliber molds are the Lyman 311284, the RCBS 30-165-Sil, the RCBS 30-180-FN, and the Lyman 311299 in that order. I have other 30 caliber molds, but these are the most accurate.

[Wolfdog91]

Idk guys I think I'll stick the NOE and no for now, the Lyman and rcbs mold I have , I just don't like

[Larry Gibson]

Of course there are numerous 30 cal cast bullets that prove themselves accurate when proper cast, loading and shooting techniques are used. Having one of the first 310-165-FN [30 XCB] moulds made by NOE I've been shooting the 30 XCB bullet now for close to 10 years +/- in numerous 30 caliber cartridges in numerous rifles. I've shot over 3,000 out of one rifle alone [the 30x60 XCB], close to 2500 out of my M70 match rifle [308W] and probably a thousand+ out of my M1903A! National Match Type II rifle [30-06] plus I don't know how many out of other 30 cal rifles. I can unequivocally say, the 30 XCB bullet is the easiest cast bullet to get to shoot well with minimal load work up in every rifle I've shot it in. I have had and worked with every cast bullet mentioned in this thread so far and that applies to all of them and the twenty other 30 caliber moulds I currently have. When cast of a proper alloy [I prefer Lyman #2 alloy] and properly weight sorted, the 30 XCB can easily produce 10 shot groups very close to what the rifle is capable of with minimal load work up.

The 30 XCB cast bullet [NOE 310-165-FN-H3] was specifically designed for high velocity cast bullet shooting, generally at velocities of 23-2400 + fps. With a proper twist it is capable of moa accuracy to 600 yards. The attributes for such accuracy capability are also applicable at "normal" cast bullet velocities of 1000 to 2200 fps. I heartily recommend the 30 XCB if excellent accuracy with a 30 caliber cast bullet is wanted.

Here is an 11 shot group [supposed to be 10 shot group but I thought I lost count and fired an extra shot for "insurance"] at 600 yards which measured 5.9". That is just under moa.

318274

Left to right, here are some of the cartridges used very successfully with the 30 XCB cast bullet; 308 CBC, 308W, 30x57, 30x60 and the 30-06. One cartridge not pictured is the 30-30. Used in my Contender carbine or in my M94s [as "two shooters"] it is also a wonderfully accurate cast bullet. Another cartridge it has excelled in is the 300 Savage in M99 Savage rifles. The 30 XCB is excellent but was not designed or intended for hunting though I did a bit of PD shooting a few years ago from 300 to 500 yards quite successfully.

318275

[M-Tecs]

. The 30 XCB is excellent but was not designed or intended for hunting though I did a bit of PD shooting a few years ago from 300 to 500 yards quite successfully.

318275

Larry

I've never used cast for PD shooting except for lower velocity handguns. When pushing them harder in the 30 XCB how effective are they for explosive kills compared to something like a V-Max? Same comparison for ricochets?

[Larry Gibson]

I did it once just to see how they would work and to basically answer, for myself, both questions you have asked. The 30 XCBs I used were WQ'd #2 alloyed bullets pushed at 2900+ fps out of the 30x60 XCB rifle. I was shooting on a ranch in SE Montana close to the Wyoming border. It was wide open space beyond the PDs I was shooting at with nothing to harm from any ricochets. Also, the PDs I was shooting at were on the far side of the wash/field sloping uphill away from me. The 30 cal bullet going through the PDs had a disruptive effect for sure but was not "explosive" as with the 55 gr Varmageddins(SP?) out of my 22-250. However, the 30 XCBs had about the same effect at 350 -500 yards as did 55 gr SXs out of my 223. There were a few ricochets though as the "whiz" of them sailing off could be heard occasionally.

It was interesting to do it once but truthfully, I wouldn't do it again unless I had the same or similar safety fan beyond the PDs.

[beltfed]

The mold that "is considered to be falling off a log accurate in many 30 cals"
is the Lyman 311291, nom 170 gr RN GC.
The "statement" goes way back in time, before the more recent CB shooters and mold makers got in the act.

I did find that to be true, though others like the 311299, 311334, 311284 can be quite good, too especially at longer range..
Indeed, NOE does make a clone of it.
beltfed/arnie

[Larry Gibson]

Here's a 5 shot group at 500 yards from a 10" twist 308W [24" Adams & Bennent barrel from Midway]. The RPM Threshold was pushed up considerably to 2300+ fps. That rifle/barrel will shoot Hornady 165 SPBTs at moa at 300 yards. It holds 1 to 1 1/2 moa with XCBs when loaded down to 1950 fps.

318313

Here's a 10 shot group at 500 yards from my 27 1/2" 308W Palma rifle with a 14" twist S&L barrel. This load is the 30 XCB at 2600 fps.


318314

XCB Bullets;

318318

[brstevns]

Like he said, I have used this bullet in the 308 win. 30-30 and 06 with excellent results. Was my first 30 cal bullet to cast, some 55 years ago and I still using it. Lyman 311291

[NuJudge]

NRA did a lot of experimentation in the 1960s, and they found that much depended on rifling design, throat geometry as well as land diameter and groove diameter. https://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ClassicWorks/CastBullets-s.pdf
In the 1960s, many shooters were using 2-groove barrels, which like a very different bullet from 4- and 6-groove designs. My K31 rifles with their non-existent throat where the rifling comes almost back to the case mouth take very different designs from commercial normal throat and military very long throat. My experience with commercial barrels has been that they have larger-than-standard groove diameters, and if you shoot a cast bullet intended for standard in a larger barrel you'll get world class Leading. Lube does make a difference, and I still use mostly NRA formula.

If you want the easy button for .30 caliber, except for the K31, the gas checked Lyman 311291 or 311284, sized to at least .310", and seated such that the bullet is marked by the origin of the rifling.