30-30 GC mold for micro-groove marlin

[45r]

What GC mold works best for micro-groove marlin barrels.

[NickSS]

I have used several including the Lee 170 gr GCFN and the Lyman 311041. I size both to .312" and they work fine in a couple Marlins I own.

[Maven]

45r, I've found only 2 molds whose droppings gave me outstanding and repeatable accuracy in my Marlin 336 (MG rifling): Saeco #315 and Ly. #311466. Both were sized to .310" for my rifle.

[TCFAN]

I have 2 311041 molds. One is a 2 cav I bought last year. It drops boolit at .308 out of WW. The other is a 31141 single cav that I bought from a member here at Castboolits. I sent it out to be HP. It drops boolits at .313 out of WW.
Both shoot good in my 336W.
My rifle also shoots the Lee soup can real well.

The one boolit that I wish I could use but can't because it won't chamber is the Ranch Dog 311-165......Terry

[rond]

I like the Lee 150 FP, I size to .309.

[Blammer]

I think this one is nice, it's a Lyman 311041

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits%20fun/DSCN7932.jpg

[izzyjoe]

:mrgreen:i'll agree with nickss about the lee 170 they drop out at .311. and i size'em at . .310 there cheap moulds some like'em some don't. and you don't your not out alot of money. them 311041 lyman's are lookin' migthy appealing though i my have to 'em myself.:castmine:

[Char-Gar]

The SAECO 305 is as close to being perfect for the 30-30 MG as you will ever find. It is a fat version of their regular 30-30 bullet. It is listed as a 31 caliber for the .303 Brit. It is not worth a hoot in the Brit, but the extra bit of girth on the nose and body made it a made in heaven match for the MB barrels.

I have been using this bullet for years in various Marlin MG 30-30s with great sucess.

My bullet from No. 2 alloy measure .313 on the body and .304 on the nose. I size them .311 for the MG barrels and that is all it takes.

[GabbyM]

I picked up a 336 in 30-30 for my daughter last winter. Was made a few years ago and has a bore close to .300". I have a fat custom bullet with tappered bore ride .302 > .304 and you have to force them in with the lever. Standard .300" nose woks better on that one. We may have got a rare one I don't know. It shoots the Saeco 140 plain base well over 7 1/2 grains of Unique and the Saeco 150 grain gas check over some RX7. I keep them light since she isn't very big. It shot the fat nose 180 grain bullets into one hole at fifty yards. But don't like to crunch the lever into closed position on every shot. The 150 grain bullet at 1,800 fps or less is about all she wants to shoot anyway. Sized body at .310".

[pls1911]

Seaco, Ranch dog, Lyman, and RCBS as designed for 30-30 with flat or round points at around 160 to 180 grains weight... they all work fine.
After heat treating to 21-26 Brinnel, I install the gas check, size & lube mine through a .312 die, and dip in thinned LLA/Xlox.
Over 26-27 grains of Reloader 7, they're very accurate out of pre microroove marlins AND micro groove barrels, and never leave any leading.
Great for busting rocks, pigs, deer, squirrels, coyotes, steel rams, or tin cans....

[GP100man]

Here`s my first attemt at rifle boolits , the Lee 150fp no checks in the 30-30 & checked in the `06.

Carnauba Red sized to .310 , BHN 10.5 alloy.

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_0243.jpg

[corvette8n]

Ranch Dog mold was designed for the micro-groove Marlin

[jlchucker]

It sounds like nearly all mold makers make one that's good in the 30-30. I started with the Lyman 311041, and still have it. For light plinking, I use the 311316 sized to .310. When gas checks become as costly as gold bullion, I'll use the 311041 plain base model that was sold on a group buy here last year. Ranch Dog went out of business before I got around to buying one of his molds to try, but others say it's a good one. Heck, the 30-30 is just a plain ol' good caliber.

[Gee_Wizz01]

NOE sells a his 311-165 which is a clone of the RD 311 -165 Bullet. The only difference that I can tell between the two is that NOE used normal bullet lube grooves and RD used Lee style micro lube grooves for LLA. They are both excellent 30-30 boolits and as Corvette8N stated they are designed specifically for the Marlin 336 in 30-30. I also use it in my FR8 with outstanding results.


G

[45r]

I shot some fed 150 j-words to sight scope in,went into 1/3 inch at 40 yards.Speer .311 bullets would'nt go into fired brass but .310 would.Wonder if .310 sizer would be the one to get.The fed brass looks good.I really like this little carbine.There are so many good 30-30 molds its hard to decide which one to get.The fed 150's shot so well I got 4 more boxes since they are acurate and the brass is good.

[Newtire]

Looks like just about any mould will work as long as it feeds reliably and is about .310" in mine. I have had great luck with the 311440 and the Saeco #316 each loaded with 19 grains of SR4759. Had better accuracy with 19 grains than with 17 grains. That's about tops though I think.

[pls1911]

Saeco 316 heat treated to 20+ over 26 grains of Reloader 7 punches through both shoulders and spine of 200 pound Texas pigs like a hot knife through soft butter.... 1/4" steel plate too. Instant Death!!! Same with Ranch Dogs' 165.
If you have problems chambering Ranch Dog designs, simply seat a little deeper until you can chamber. They'll work fine seated to just touch the lands.
I've only encountered problems on some newer MG guns... never on older pre MG barrels.

[ubetcha]

Did Ranchdog go out of bisness?I see an Ad for RanchDog at the top of this page

[btroj]

Like many others said, look at the RanchDog mould. It works very well in this application.

[pls1911]

After a brief break, RD is again up and running strong.
Highly recommended.

[Tony65x55]

I have used the Ranch Dog 165 and the Saeco #316 and can attest for the marvelous qualities of both bullets. My Saeco mold casts a little large and I have used this bullet in the .303 British as well as the 7.62x39 as a primo hunting bullet in the Ruger Mini-30.

The smiling young man is the pic below killed his buck this year with one of my Saeco #316's cast of water quenched ww, with the tip annealed to soften it. Bang, flop DRT, one shot. This was fired from the Mini-30 over 25 gr of RL-7 for 2200 fps. Magic 7.62x39 ammo

The Ranch Dog is, without question, the finest hunting bullet available for the .30-30. My $0.02.

[Firebricker]

My Lyman 311041 reloads shoot good from a friends 336 but that's the only Marlin I've had a chance to try them in. FB

[imashooter2]

I still haven't found anything that shoots better than the Lee C309-150F. Cast 'em hard, size 'em .311.

[EMC45]

I have found the RCBS 308-190 is promising so far.

[markinalpine]

This is from Glenn Frixell's Article: http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin-MicroGroove.htm
" There has been a great deal of concern over the years about whether or not Microgroove rifling would shoot cast bullets well. One group of folks says that Microgroove rifles can't hit a barn from the inside with cast bullets, one group says that Microgroove barrels shoot cast just fine just so long as velocities are kept below 1600 fps, and one groups says that Microgroove barrels shoot cast just fine at full throttle. The key to success with cast bullets in a Marlin with Microgroove rifling is to keep in mind that these barrels tend to have oversized groove diameters, and that the grooves/lands are shallow. Therefore, in order to get proper engraving (and minimize "slippage" of the cast bullet as it enters the shallow rifling), it is necessary that the bullet completely fill up the groove diameter of the barrel, and engage the maximum amount of the driving surface of the lands. Since Microgroove barrels are commonly oversized, this means that the cast bullet must also be oversized to effectively "fill up" the grooves. Other factors that also contribute to good accuracy with cast bullet in Microgroove barrels are the use of a GC bullet (which helps to provide a better grip and seal), and making sure that bullet are cast hard enough for the application (generally a BHN of 12 or more). It is also worth remembering that throats in modern rifles are almost always cut larger than groove diameter of the barrel (to insure that ammunition can chamber easily), and that best cast bullet accuracy is obtained by fitting the bullet to the throat, hence reinforcing the need for oversized cast bullets in Microgroove barrels (for example, the throats on my .30-30s run almost .311", so I size cast bullets to .310" for these guns)."
Merry Christmas,
Mark [smilie=s:

[45r]

I ended up buying BRP's 173GC mold in 4 cav.It cast great and is high quality.My rifle has a long throat for a 30-30 and shoots best with boolits seated out and shoots half inch with 18 grains 4759 at 60 yards most of the time and makes a good practice and target load,many 3 shot groups are a cloverleaf.They shoot 1 inch with 25 grains RE-7 and the same with 29 grains 3031 or H-4895.The 29 grains 3031 wouild be my hunting load since it's fast and does 1 inch for 5 shots at 60 yards.I like the 30-30 so much I got a 23 inch barrel for my Contender to play with.I bet the same boolits will shoot real well in it.They engrave and fit perfect.

[XWrench3]

i shoot the lee 150g flat nose sized @.311. i tried sizing @ .309, and that was an ugly mess. the microgroove barrel needs more bite on the bullet than a regular barrel.

[marlin444]

Try the Lee 160gr 7.62x39 boolit CTL312-160-2R . I believe this to be the perfect Micro grove Marlin 30-30 boolit for a few reasons.

IMPORTANT - THESE ARE FOR SINGLE SHOT ONLY. I put one in the chamber and one in the mag. These are not flat nosed.

This is a 312 slug so you can truly size it to 311. I see lots of guys out here sizing 309's to 311 ... hmmm. Sure , I understand you can throw a 311 and in theory a 312 from a 309 mold but why not start with a 312. The .001 reduction does not spoil the harness as far as I can see from the " equal to jacketed" accuracy I get.

the other thing with this slug ( I think the most important and unique) is that it measures .309 up front ...near the nose, then 310 a little further down , then you hit the back half where you have a bunch of groves at 311. ( sized ) I think this cone shape helps start the bullet perfectly into the throat and barrel

I do cap them with a copper gas check as well. I am looking forward to trying a few without the GC ...just for kicks. i will post the results