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.
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.
My vote is for the 311041.
NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle
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.
Last edited by Larry Gibson; 02-19-2024 at 11:00 AM.
Larry Gibson
“Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
― Nikola Tesla
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.
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.
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.
311041 has been very accurate for me in 30-06.
I'm not sure where all the money is that I've "saved" by casting and reloading!
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.
I've used 311291 in 30/30, and 311041 in .308 Win. and .30/06 (2-groove 03A3), all with good results.
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.
_________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.
The nose is the only difference between them. If you hunt use the 41.
[The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze
For 30-06, I prefer something heavier than either design. They were both designed for 30-30 and that is where they excel.
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.
More "This is what happened when I,,,,," and less "What would happen if I,,,,"
Last of the original Group Buy Honcho's.
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Rides et Ratio
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |