If you could only cast one 30 cal rifle boolit

[48bpcr]

This post should start a firestorm,

IF you could have only one 30 caliber mold, which one would you pick and why?

I ask because the mold collection is growing rather large and I've decided to start casting for these rifles as well.

1903 A1
1903 A3
30-40 Krag
1989/11 Schmidt Rubin
1911 Schmidt Rubin short rifle
K-31

I'm leaning very strongly towards the Lyman 311299 As I subscrice to the old Elmer Kieth therory of bullets.

I already cast with several different molds for my 45-70, 45-90, 50-70, BPCR rifles.
And a .449 mold for my Gibbs

I cast for my 6.5X55 Swedes
I cast for my M-95 carbines and rifles

I run two different sizers, a 450 and a 4500. One for black powder and one for smokeless lubes

I cast 200 grn. SWC for my 1911 Kimber with an old Hensley and Gibbs mold.

I WILL NOT cast for SWMBO's K-38 and Lady Smith ( She Who Must Be Obeyed ) My sweet and wonderfull wife

I use a pot and dipper. The pots hold at least 20 lbs and sit on a big ol' propane fueled burner.

So, Let me know your thoughts!

45 BPCR

www.duncansauto.com

[mike in co]

the problem, as i see it, you can't.

what works well in the us, guns will not work well in the swiss.
what may happen is what works in the swiss may work in the us guns.

the swiss have no throat and like small dia/ short boolits..the us guns like bigger dia.

me thinks atleast 2 moulds to get best....tho a 165 silly wet may work in both.

mike in co

[48bpcr]

That's why I was looking at the 311299 as it's a bore rider

45BPCR

[jhrosier]

48bpcr,

I have shot the 31141 in all those you mention and more.
It works just dandy in the Swiss rifle BTW.

I thought that I might have feeding problems because of the flat nose but that has not been an issue yet.

Jack

[fatnhappy]

the problem, as i see it, you can't.

what works well in the us, guns will not work well in the swiss.
what may happen is what works in the swiss may work in the us guns.

the swiss have no throat and like small dia/ short boolits..the us guns like bigger dia.

me thinks atleast 2 moulds to get best....tho a 165 silly wet may work in both.

mike in co

I think Mike nailed it. I'm not even sure you can use a single mould for the american rifles.

[Shiloh]

my 311299 dropped at .310 with a .298 nose. Hardly a nose rider for my needs.
Went to a 314299 for a Springfield and a Krag.

Shiloh

[Cbenc1]

For the list of rifles you provided, I would go with the Lyman 311284. I have had good result in all the rifles you listed except the K-31. The throat on the K-31 I had would not accept the nose of my 311284. It does fit in my 96/11 and G11. I think the 314299 might not fit in the Swiss rifles. It is a very close second choice for the US rifles though.

[Tazman1602]

Can't do it. Gotta have a flat nose for my lever gun and a pointy one for my bolts. I think Mike in Co nailed this one...............

[runfiverun]

for what you got the 165 silhouette might just work.
it's done very well in my k-31's my krag,308.
however my 30-30's really don't care for it nor does the wifes 0-6.
the shorter nosed longer bearing surfaced rcbs 150 fngc has however done rather well in all of them.
they do pour to the same diameters on the body and nose though.

[9.3X62AL]

I'm going through a similar shake-out with the new-to-me FN Mauser 30-06. I have eight 30/31 caliber mould designs usable in the caliber, so I gotta do a triage too.

The fact is, the 30-06 has not been a very accurate cast boolit caliber for me--so far, at least. That I can get good work from small-bores like the 243 and 250 Savage, and still fall short accuracy-wise with a classic cast boolit caliber is a mite exasperating.

This FN bolter is A LOT more tightly-dimensioned than the two previous 30-06s that I've dealt with. I'm hoping that translates into better downrange results.

[skeet1]

I am becoming very fond of the Lee 312-185 sized .311. I am currently shooting it in my 03A3 and my K31. I was surprised that it would work in the K31's chamber but it does in mine. Seem to shoot very well both rifles.

Skeet1

[Bloodman14]

1) Whatever works for you.
2) Why won't you cast for your lady's guns? Seems kind of selfish to me.
3) I would cast for the heaviest/most accurate boolit for the gun I would grab when the SHTF.
(Man, I can't wait for the 314299 Mod GB mould from NOE to come in!)

[mike in co]

I am becoming very fond of the Lee 312-185 sized .311. I am currently shooting it in my 03A3 and my K31. I was surprised that it would work in the K31's chamber but it does in mine. Seem to shoot very well both rifles.

Skeet1

what is the oal length of the boolit and the col of the loaded round ?

mike in co

[Bullshop Junior]

I would sell it and buy a 357 mould. I don't have a 30 cal rifle....yet.

[Bret4207]

I have to agree with the "one size/mould NOT fitting all" group. You have to fit the boolit and rifle together, there's no one magic design that fits them all. I shoot 30's from 77 grs to over 225 grs. Even where I have 2-3 guns using the same design they need different sizing on 2 of them.

Fit the boolit to the gun. You'll be much happier in the end.

[madsenshooter]

It would be my John Ardito designed Eagan MX3-30AR. It works great in my overbore Krag, even fits the throat, yet has a small enough nose to work in a K31 (makes me wonder why I ordered one of the NOE K31 molds). Enough weight for hunting (170gr), low enough recoil for targets. Bernie did a good job cutting the mold, it's about as close to a seamless bullet as one is going to get. I think the tapered design would make a shooter out of any ratty old 30 cal anyone here might have. Thus far it works best in the Krag, but it also sees use in my Madsen, my Garand and the K31. I'll soon get to see how it works in a new barrel, as I'm putting together a Krag with a heavy Wilson 6 groove barrel.

[Kragshooter]

I use the Lee 170gr flat nose gas check for my .308,30-30 & my 30-40. Use Unique or H-335 if I feel the need for speed. In case the world collapses I can load this in the 2 rifles I would want with me, the .308 & the 30-30. I can have one more it is the Lee 158gr flat nose for .357 Just my thoughts.If I had to grab one gun and go it would be the 336 30-30.

[.30/30 Guy]

I agree with madenshooter. Eagan MX3-30AR.

[RugerFan]

The Lyman 311291 works well in a variety of .30 cals. I use it for .308, 7.5x55 & 7.62x54R (M39) and get great accuracy.

[twidget]

The Lyman 311291 works well in a variety of .30 cals. I use it for .308, 7.5x55 & 7.62x54R (M39) and get great accuracy.

I'll second this one. It works well for me in .30-06, .308, and .30-30.

[dualsport]

Saeco #315.

[shooterg]

ONE MOLD ? Are you kidding ? NOBODY reading this site could only own one mold - withdrawal would be terrible . I had NO molds 3 years ago - I now own molds for calibers I don't own - yet....

[Doc Highwall]

I agree with dualsport, SAECO #315 but that is for my Rem 40X in 308. Maybe the question should be, best boolit for a bolt gun, best boolit for a semi auto, and best boolit for a lever action.

[mike in co]

I agree with dualsport, SAECO #315 but that is for my Rem 40X in 308. Maybe the question should be, best boolit for a bolt gun, best boolit for a semi auto, and best boolit for a lever action.

right...lol...but it aint...
the question IS
WHAT ONE SINGLE BOOLIT FOR THE GUNS HE HAS LISTED...

so my question is, will a saeco 315 fit in a k31 ?

mike in co

[48bpcr]

You guys are to much! :-) I bought a 311299. Sat. here in NH is supposed to be sunny. I might just blast with some M2 ball or some surplus russian stuff. Sunday is supposed to be crappy. Might be a good shop day.
Melt some lead, cast some boolits. Mabey work on the 1903 sniper I'm building that I have all the parts for but have been to G*d damm busy to start on.

I'm thinking of starting another post. "If You could only have one 45 cal mold"

That could get crazy. Rifle or Hand gun. Course I like to shoot those big heavy 1.5 oz long gun Boolits

Flame, Smoke, Stink rules, just ask Mike.

45 Bpcr

[skeet1]

Hey Mike,
The other day on the thread titled "If you could only cast one 30 rifle boolit" I stated that I am becoming very fond of the Lee .312-185 in my 7.5 Swiss. I should also have said that I use this bullet in my .30-06 03-A3. I use the same load in both.

You asked for the over all cartridge length and the bullet length. At the time I was unable to get the information for you but I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you so here it is.

Overall cartridge length is 2.773
Bullet length is 1.032
Bullet nose measures between .3015 and .3020
Bullet is sized to .311

I load this bullet in Privi cases over 14.0 gr. of International Clays. You wont find this load anywhere but it seems to shoot very well.

Skeet1

[daschnoz]

:?:
Maybe a stupid question, but here goes:

Use 1 mold - something along the lines of the C312-155-2R or C312-160-2R, not apply a GC, then load the boolit up-side-down for tubular magazine guns?

Apply GC and use as designed for other rifles where pointy boolits aren't a problem.

[KCSO]

31141 Lyman, used in all of those from everything from plinking to targets with good results. From 1100 to 2100 fps and a sure game killer.

[iron brigade]

The Lyman 311291 works well in a variety of .30 cals. I use it for .308, 7.5x55 & 7.62x54R (M39) and get great accuracy.

i use the same mold in the same rifles. it just works.
for the swiss and springfields i run the bullets up through a lee .309 sizer die.
311291 is a great mold.

[Recluse]

This post should start a firestorm,

IF you could have only one 30 caliber mold, which one would you pick and why?

Easy--the Lee C312-185-1R 303 British (312 Diameter) 185 Grain 1 Ogive Radius Gas Check.

I have this mold and it is probably my favorite Lee rifle mold. I load this boolit in my Winchester 30-30 with a variety of different charges and it shoots extremely well. Likewise, it does very good in the 30-06, and at 185 grains, more than enough ooomph to knock down sizable game. And in the .303, for which it was designed, it works suberb in my Enfield. Only gun it is challenged in/for is the SKS or AK--but I do danged little casting for those guns anyhow.

:coffee:

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

Easy, 311284 in a 4-cavity mould by NOE so it would fit all my 30's.

Rich

[Lead Fred]

The only 30 cal mold I own is a Lee 309-150f, for the 30-30
Id not shoot cast though any of my high speed barrels

[Tomkitty]

The Lyman 311284 shoots extremely well for me in a 1917 Enfield, a Ruger #1, and a Colt Light Rifle, all 30-06's. The Lyman 31141 will also shoot well in them plus it is good in 30-30's and 308's. For a lighter boolet the Lyman 311466 works well for me in 30-06 or 308 rifles; it is amazingly accurate without a gas check over 9-10 grs of Trail Boss in 308 or 30-06.

I dont think one mold would be my choice as there are too many different ways to load the various 30-cals and enjoy them.

[TAWILDCATT]

I use 311291 in my 1903 with 13.5 gr red dot at 1680fts.I also use the lee 312-160TL.and modern bond 311145-180-FB same charges.
dont revers the pointed bullet it will gas cut.

[dualsport]

I nominated the Saeco 315. I'll add that it shot well in my Garand, cycles too.

[stubshaft]

I agree with dualsport, SAECO #315 but that is for my Rem 40X in 308. Maybe the question should be, best boolit for a bolt gun, best boolit for a semi auto, and best boolit for a lever action.

+3 - It doesn't look like it should shoot as well as it does.

[1Shirt]

31141, two cav, and have Buckshot HP one cav for you and you will have the best of a couple of things.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Dollar Bill]

The Lyman 311291 works well in a variety of .30 cals. I use it for .308, 7.5x55 & 7.62x54R (M39) and get great accuracy.
Agree also. The Saeco 315 is a good one too.
Too many Lyman 311299s cast small noses. I have to bump mine a little to get the nose up to .301

[mroliver77]

I agree with wildcat on the Lee 312 160 TL. This pointy thing shoots well in most of my .30's and carries enough felix lube to get the job done. My M14s like it a lot. I have a nice ideal marked 311284 that is a good shooter in most .30's also. I have an LBT 310-160 LFN that you cannot go wrong with.
Jay

[shamanlcs]

I am new to rifle casting..I have yogo sks ,a russian mosin and a garand..Looking at a .312 155 cast for all...
Will the .312 work in the garand or just the sks and mosin?

If I screw up any it will not be my garand!

[excess650]

right...lol...but it aint...
the question IS
WHAT ONE SINGLE BOOLIT FOR THE GUNS HE HAS LISTED...

so my question is, will a saeco 315 fit in a k31 ?

mike in co

Yes, the #315 fits my K31 with the GC at the base of the neck. It is a tapered bullet with a .302" or so nose. I have been sizing .311" and lubing (2) grooves. My Marlin 1894CB 30-30 also loves this bullet. I've loaded test rounds and they will work in my 1935 vintage Savage 99 carbine, but not yet shot. There is no problem chambering it in my Sako Finnwolf 308, and I don't think it would be a problem in my Husqvarna 30-06 (60s vintage).

Both the K31 and Marlin 336CB seemed to group well at 385m. The K31 load is reformed WW 284Win cases F210 primers and 22gr AA5744.

The Marlin really likes 17gr AA5744 in Federal cases with F210s.

I've also shot the Lee c309-200R in the K31 and it looks good despite its undersize nose....same load as #315

[RU shooter]

My pick would be my lyman 311467 ,Drops big and I can size to fit any 30 cal I have If I have to use it in a lever gun I'll flat point it when sizing. or load one and one.

[Ben]

I own more than a dozen .30 cal. rifle molds, my pick of all of them would be the SAECO # 315.

Ben

[Lead Fred]

IF you could have only one 30 caliber mold, which one would you pick and why?


Ranch Dog TLC311-165-RF

It is by far the best mold I own. The 165ish grain will fly in every 30 cal thats here.
It is a superior kinetic energy transfer. I can load them from 1200-2700fps.
Thats a wide range.