Lyman 311282

[afrance]

Does anyone know why the Lyman 311282, 217 gr plain base, was so unpopular that days of internet searching turns up virtually nothing about performance or even its use. I saw it at castpicts.net and it seems like the perfect, heavy for caliber, plain based mold for low velocity shooting?

Poor accuracy and leading because people pushed it too fast?

Alan

[Ben]

Most horror stories related to the shooting of plain based bullets in .30 cal. rifles are related to trying to push them too fast.

I have very good luck with plain based bullets , but mine are fired at 1,100 - 1,200 fps.

[9.3X62AL]

I have very good luck with plain based bullets , but mine are fired at 1,100 - 1,200 fps.

What Ben said. That spans 25-45 caliber rifles--bolt, lever, and single-shot.

[1Shirt]

yep, like Ben said!

[JeffinNZ]

I bet is would go just dandy with a does of BPI original buffer under it.

[Bret4207]

That's a pretty early design. Could be it just never sold well and people weren't looking for that style. Appears to be a Krag boolit to me and after GC's hit the market the heavy PB designs didn't fare well. I like the look of it but I've never seen one anywhere.

[afrance]

Thanks guys. I have been looking for a heavy plain base 30 that would be great in lower velocities (even subsonic) in the 30-06 and it seemed to be perfect. Apparently the only way to try will be to have a custom mold made, but I would sure like to find out if it was extremely finicky before putting that amount of money into it.

Problem though seems to be finding one person (let alone several) who has even seen one in person, let alone used it across enough rifles to get an idea of the performance.

Alan

[Ben]

afrance :

I realize that comparing apples and oranges isn't a good thing. The mold I used to shoot the group below is obviously different than the mold that you've described. However, shooting plain bullets is really about having the proper fit and proper speed with the proper type of propellant ( burn rate speed ).

Recently, I removed the g/c shank from a Lee plain based .30 cal. Lee 200 gr. RN single cavity mold ( a $ 15 mold ) . Shooting them out of my .308 Win. , Springfield Sporter ( with Lyman 48 rear and Lyman 17 - A front ) leaves me with no complaints ( Range is 50 yards, 5 shot group )

My bullets from my modified Lee mold sized and lubed, ready to load , weigh 212 grs.

A $20 investment in a Lee mold with a trip on your behalf to a good machinist to remove the gas check shank and turn it into a plain based mold is a lot cheaper than having a custom mold maker cut a plain based heavy .30 cal. mold to your specs :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Lee%20200%20gr%20Plain%20Base/DSCN0470.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/12%2018%2007%20Range%20trip/PICT0006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/12%2018%2007%20Range%20trip/PICT0012.jpg

If you'd like to take the time to look at this " SlideShow ", I bought a single cav. SAECO, hvy. .30 cal. mold, had Buckshot remove the g/c shank and HP the mold. It also shoots real well as a plain based .30 cal. bullet :

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20307%20HP/?action=view&current=d2801e74.pbw

[Bret4207]

Ben did exactly what I was going to suggest. I'd follow his lead on this, Ben knows his stuff!

[afrance]

Thanks Ben, I actually have the dual cavity Lee 200 gr, just need to find a machine shop that can remove the gc from one cavity (no drill press and not willing to try with a handheld drill). I had thought more of leaving a very small lube groove between the base and current bottom band to carry a little more lube but it appears you aren't needing it.

That Saeco looks like it would be perfect on game.

[Ben]

As you've noted that rear band is pretty thick on my version.
Mine shoots clean the way it is. However, when your machinist removes the g/c shank, if he will leave a little bit of it ( Maybe 3/16 " ) you'll have yourself an extra lube ring on the rear of the bullet ,.............. like you say, you'll just have more lube.