311291 vs. 311041

[Rickf1985]

I am loading for 30-06 and I want opinions on which of these two you would use. I am well aware of the 311299 but I do not have one so it is between the two listed.

[pworley1]

My vote is for the 311041.

[ShooterAZ]

Both are excellent boolits in the 30-06. I use the 311291 primarily for target shooting, and the 311041 is probably better suited for hunting due to its flat nose design.

[Bazoo]

I'd say it's a personal choice. The rifle might like one or the other better, or you might prefer one or the other for some reason, like a flat point for hunting. Honestly, I'd want to get or try both.

https://cdn.bulletmatch.com/yzdojky7t1qa5m451mmj7fsiexku (https://bulletmatch.com/bullets/lyman-311291-2660291)

I don't have the 311041 variant, but I have the older 31141.
https://cdn.bulletmatch.com/39echa6mvrchy7soi5wd94ef3e2g (https://bulletmatch.com/bullets/lyman-31141)

[Larry Gibson]

Both are excellent boolits in the 30-06. I use the 311291 primarily for target shooting, and the 311041 is probably better suited for hunting due to its flat nose design.

I have both and what I've been using them for in most of my .30 cal is as ShooterAZ states. I also have Lee 6 holers from GBs in the same designs that drop .314 - .316 bullets for my .31 cals.

[Rickf1985]

Actually the 311041 I mentioned that I have is a Lee 6 hole 311-41. I always thought they were the same but apparently not.

[ShooterAZ]

My 311041 is the NOE clone in a brass 2 cavity mold. Once up to temperature it casts a perfect bullet every time. I'm not familiar with the LEE 311-41 design. I also use the 311041 a lot in the 30-30 Win. If my memory serves me correctly, it was originally designed for the 30-30.

[jimb16]

I don't see any significant performance difference between them. I just happen to have cut my casting teeth on the 311291 so I tend to use more of them. I use home grown gas checks and polycoat them. They shoot very well in all of my .30-06 rifles and do a decent job in the .300 BLK too. They also work well in my .30-30, although that particular rifle prefers the Louverin design bullets.

[Low Budget Shooter]

311041 has been very accurate for me in 30-06.

[dale2242]

311291 is the first mold that I bought.
A single cavity that I still have.
It shoots well in any 30-caliber cartridge that will handle it.
I have no experience with the 311041 so I can`t compare them.

[higgins]

I've used 311291 in 30/30, and 311041 in .308 Win. and .30/06 (2-groove 03A3), all with good results.

[Rickf1985]

I've used 311291 in 30/30, and 311041 in .308 Win. and .30/06 (2-groove 03A3), all with good results.

Sent you a PM.

[rintinglen]

In the 30-06, the 291 grouped better, albeit not significantly, at hunting velocities cerca 2100 fps. I got groups of roughly 2" with it and ~2 1/2 with the 311-041. I used the the 041 to hunt with but that old 03-a3 conversion is not a lucky gun--it scares game away.

[triggerhappy243]

Both are excellent boolits in the 30-06. I use the 311291 primarily for target shooting, and the 311041 is probably better suited for hunting due to its flat nose design.

what powder are you using for the 30-06?

[MT Gianni]

The nose is the only difference between them. If you hunt use the 41.

[triggerhappy243]

311041 has been very accurate for me in 30-06.

what powder are you using for the 30-06?

[zarrinvz24]

For 30-06, I prefer something heavier than either design. They were both designed for 30-30 and that is where they excel.

[triggerhappy243]

In the 30-06, the 291 grouped better, albeit not significantly, at hunting velocities cerca 2100 fps. I got groups of roughly 2" with it and ~2 1/2 with the 311-041. I used the the 041 to hunt with but that old 03-a3 conversion is not a lucky gun--it scares game away.

what powder are you using for the 30-06?

[Delkal]

The nose is the only difference between them. If you hunt use the 41.

The 311291 is a bore rider design and if you get one with the correct sized nose can be extremely accurate. Looking at the pictures it seems like the 311041 has a standard taper. Not sure what difference this makes in other rifles but in my 30-30 the 311291 is extremely accurate.

[Hamish]

what powder are you using for the 30-06?

I guess the question is what powder(s) do you have and would like to use,,,,

Typing “30-06 311291” into your browser search will bring up a dearth of links, for that bullet or any other you desire.

[triggerhappy243]

I guess the question is what powder(s) do you have and would like to use,,,,

Typing “30-06 311291” into your browser search will bring up a dearth of links, for that bullet or any other you desire.

does not show what i am looking for

[AlaskaMike]

what powder are you using for the 30-06?


what powder are you using for the 30-06?


what powder are you using for the 30-06?

Since nobody else has replied about what powder they use in .30-06, I'll throw out what I've used with good results.

While I don't use either of those specific bullets, I've had great results with the following powders with Lyman 311299 and 311334:

Unique
IMR4227
IMR4895
H4350
H4831SC

I would have no problem using the same loads with 311291 and 311041.

I also just stumbled onto 4 lbs of Herco, so I'm starting to experiment with it with 10 to 12 grains. No results yet, but I suspect it will work just as good as my Unique loads.

My loads using H4350 and H4831SC are specifically for my Garand, but they also do just fine in a couple of my 03s, 03-A3s and a Remington 700.

There's a great thread specifically dealing with cast bullets in the M1A and Garand here:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?3558-7-62x51-NATO-(-308-WCF)-in-the-Springfield-M1A

Unfortunately BruceB who started that thread is no longer with us, but he pretty much pioneered the use of slower powders with cast bullets in the M1A and Garand here, and that thread has some excellent discussion in it. Of course, loads that work well in the Garand will likely work just as well in a bolt action 30-06.

[txbirdman]

I use a different bullet (the Lee 312185) but 16 gr of 2400 has proven to be very accurate in my 30/06’s.

[Hamish]

does not show what i am looking for

What are you looking for?

[Bazoo]

The nose on the 311291 has parallel sides from the front driving band until the beginning of the radius at the tip. The 31141 has a short area of bore riding diameter before changing to a gradual ogive until it terminuses at the meplat.

As a result, oftentimes the 31141 will work in a levergun but the 311291 will not because the nose jams into the shoulder of the rifling. This is the case for me with my Winchester 94.

[zarrinvz24]

what powder are you using for the 30-06?

I think you could be served well by "The Load" by Ed Harris. A quick google search will link you to it, but IIRC its 13.0 grains of Red Dot, and any cast boolit.

[triggerhappy243]

What are you looking for?

I am looking for someone in this group, who casts the 311291, and reloads it in a bolt action 30-06.

[Larry Gibson]

I am looking for someone in this group, who casts the 311291, and reloads it in a bolt action 30-06.

I have loaded many a 311291 in the 30-06 cartridge. I've loaded them from subsonic plinking loads up through 2200 fps.

What are you wanting to do with that bullet in the '06?

[triggerhappy243]

I have loaded many a 311291 in the 30-06 cartridge. I've loaded them from subsonic plinking loads up through 2200 fps.

What are you wanting to do with that bullet in the '06?

short distance plinking less than 100 yards.

[Larry Gibson]

short distance plinking less than 100 yards.

Suggest using neck sized fire formed cases with the flash holes drilled out with #28 drill. It's well proven entirely safe and will not increase pressure. It does allow the primer flash to fill the case quickly, more uniformly decreasing powder position sensitivity when small charges allowing for more uniform ignition. For a load I suggest 6 to 8 gr of Bullseye as for the best accuracy you'll want a velocity of 1050 to 1100 fps [just subsonic].

I use that load in my '06s, 308Ws and 31 milsurps for accurate and fun loads. I have made steel dingers of a ground squirrel and small rock chuck and regularly shoot them with not only the 311291 but several other cast bullets of 118 to 210 gr weight. Bullseye has been the best powder to use for such, again running the velocity regardless of bullet weight up to 1050 to 1100 fps.

[triggerhappy243]

Suggest using neck sized fire formed cases with the flash holes drilled out with #28 drill. It's well proven entirely safe and will not increase pressure. It does allow the primer flash to fill the case quickly, more uniformly decreasing powder position sensitivity when small charges allowing for more uniform ignition. For a load I suggest 6 to 8 gr of Bullseye as for the best accuracy you'll want a velocity of 1050 to 1100 fps [just subsonic].

I use that load in my '06s, 308Ws and 31 milsurps for accurate and fun loads. I have made steel dingers of a ground squirrel and small rock chuck and regularly shoot them with not only the 311291 but several other cast bullets of 118 to 210 gr weight. Bullseye has been the best powder to use for such, again running the velocity regardless of bullet weight up to 1050 to 1100 fps.

i don't have any bullseye. I do have 7 pounds of unique. and 1/2 pound of SR-7625.

[Joe_7910]

No Bullseye? I highly recommend getting some. As for the Unique, you will be well satisfied with it in your .30-06. My most accurate loads were on the lower end

[Hamish]

i don't have any bullseye. I do have 7 pounds of unique. and 1/2 pound of SR-7625.

Try 10 grains Unique and see what that gets you for accuracy.

[Dan Cash]

does not show what i am looking for

That is because it is a dearth of information on that bullet.

[Hamish]

That is because it is a dearth of information on that bullet.

You’re right, got that one backwards, there is a veritable MOUNTAIN of load info on that bullet,,,,

[Larry Gibson]

Unique can work. Start at 8 gr and work up using the fire formed cases w/flash holes drilled as previously mentioned. The Unique will be a bit more position sensitive. Best alternative powders to Bullseye are Red Deot, 700X, WST and the similar fast burner VV powder.

Again, best accuracy with such low end 311291/'06 loads foe 100 yard or less comfortable shooting will come at just subsonic velocities.

[Shiloh]

My lyman 31141 drops at .310. .311 would be better for my purposes. I never got the accuracy I expected.

SHiloh

[Thumbcocker]

I am looking for someone in this group, who casts the 311291, and reloads it in a bolt action 30-06.Not a bolt action but it does ok.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240813/c81d60f675a6eff71430269114c55493.jpg

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Bazoo]

Not a bolt action but it does ok.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240813/c81d60f675a6eff71430269114c55493.jpg

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Nice shooting. I don't have a No. 1, but I've had the itch for one for a few years. Not sure which caliber I'd prefer.

[rintinglen]

It has been a while, but IIRC, I used 20 grains of 2400 for the 30-06 for best accuracy, while my hunting load was from Lyman #3 w/ ww748 for ~2100 fps. Faster meant larger groups.. (I’m sure about the 2400 load, but I’d have to check on the 748 load.)

[Wally]

I tried the 311291 in my Rem 700 .30-06 using Std LPP and 14.0 grains of Winchester 244 powder. Once sighted in I do action shooting into a sand berm at 150~200 yards. My main targets are empty aerosol cans. At 175 yards I was hitting them regularly and could choose the area of the can I wanted to hit. In the past I used the RCBS 165 SIL-GC & the 180 SP-GC...the 311291 offered far more consistent accuracy. Typically I'd have used Alliant Red Dot or Unique, but I have very little left so I tried the Winchester 244.