Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Best 30 Cal mould

Folks:

If I was to buy just one mould for .30-06 and .308 what should it be?

Thanks in advance!

I think that I'd probably go with the Lee mould C-309-180-R (product #90369). It casts a very accurate roundnose gascheck of about 180 grains. I have the very similar 170-gr design (C-309-170-F)with a flat tip originally designed for the 30-30, and it is a great bullet. It comes complete with handles for about $25.

An almost identical RCBS mould goes for $85 plus another $25 for handles. It is an iron mold, compared to Lee's, which is aluminum. Both cast excellent bullets.

As a "goes with" I'd order the .309" Lee sizer kit which includes a bottle of their Liquid Alox cast-bullet lube. That's about all you need to cast bullets if you already have a pot and ladle.

I don't have but two and they are both Lee aluminum molds. For my purposes either work fine. They throw a 165 gr linotype RNGC and a 150 gr Linotype FNGC. For the amount that I cast and shoot they work great. Oh yeah, like Rocky said, get the sizer. It seats that Gas Check while it sizes.

Alan

Lyman's 311291 sized .309" is the traditional accuracy favorite for .30 caliber bolt guns. But, like anything else in reloading, nothing is for certain until you try it yourself.

Just aquired that mold myself but have yet to try it.....

Without question, get yourself one of Veral Smith's LBT spitzers in the the 165-180 grain range. Probably the 165 to include .308. You can drive it harder/faster than the conventional designs, as long as it fits the throat(s) of your gun(s). This really helps for hunting. Now, if you just want a plinker, or if you're willing to limit yourself to 150 yard shots, than by all means get yourself the Lee or the Lyman, etc.

I'd recommend the 311041

What do you want these cast bullets to do? Are they for hunting or just for making holes in paper.We really need to know what performance you need from them.

With the shorter neck of the .308, the best bullet is either the 165 or 180 gr. RCBS.
For a heavier bullet, Lyman's 311299 is a very good choice and is the best shooting bullet for long range (500 meters)in my friend's .30-06
165 RCBS


180 RCBS


Good luck,
w30wcf

Beg, borrow or steal as many different samples of cast bullets and or moulds and see which ones work best in your rifle(s). Post a query of that nature on one of the cast bullet forums and you'll be inundated. I could recommend one of my favorites but it would be a crapshoot whether it would work in your rifle or not. Generally, most of the popular numbers from the large manufacturers in the 150-200gr. range can be counted on to give decent results.

By doing a chamber cast of the neck/throat/bore with Cerrosafe and using the data gained therein you can select a bullet design that stands an excellent chance for success.

A bazillion years ago I bought a 31141, 173 grain mould with a gas check, forerunner of the 311041, and have tried it in all .30 cartridge cast bullet loads I've used. (see tag line :-). It works great even if it was originally bought for .30-30. That was 40 years ago and it still works great.

You got me on that one by a few years, but same concept.

Still using the same Lyman 31141 puchased about 20 years ago. It's the only .30 caliber mold I've ever owned and like yours was originally bought for my .30-30's. But it's worked just fine in the .308 and .30-06 too.

When seated to the cannelure the OAL is right at 2.550" for the .30-30 and the ogive is within a few thousandths of touching the lands in my old Marlin.

Have thought hard of getting a 4 cavity LBT LCFN around 170 grains just to up the production capacity, but that 31141 design is so optimized for the .30-30 that it's going to be hard to better it.

For small game Lee 113 gr FP
For targets 311284 Lyman or 311291 for the 308
For game RCBS 180 FP
I would consider gas checks a necessity with these 2 cartridges.

there is a buy going on at cast boolits.com for a copy of the 311041. You can get a 1,2,3,4, or 5 cav if you want.

Says a lot about a design if a new mould maker duplicates an existing design and there are still a bunch of takers.

I only visit cast boolits occasionally and have never participated in a group buy. From the thread there this looks like a winner. A five cavity in a design I like and have experience with for a heckuva lot cheaper than an LBT 4 cavity.

Going to get my login setup tomorrow and get in on this one.

My Marlin and I thank you for mentioning this here, wouldn't have seen it in time otherwise.

Thanks!

you're welcome.

I can get GC's for 30 cal at $19 per 1,000. Quality Gator checks.

want some? pm or email me

blammer can you shoot me a link to that?
thanks

In addition to the Lyman mould 311041 mentioned I also like the SAECO RG-4 mould for my slower, as in gopher, loads.

Here's the link


http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=58011

I'm acutally the one running the buy, if you want one PM me here or at Castboolit site. I think I can get you what you want if you hurry, moulds are being cut now. Otherwise there will be a few extras made for sale at that site, but it may not be what you want.