My 1st Cast bullet mould.

[Ben]

In 1969, I purchased my 1st cast bullet mold.
I had a Rem. 788 in 308 Win. and needed a cast bullet to use in my rifle.
Everything I read in those days suggested that the Lyman 31141 g/c would be a good all purpose bullet for the 308 Win, or for that matter, just about any other .30 cal. cartridge.

Here we are 46 years later and it is still a good all purpose .30 cal. cast bullet.
About 6 yrs. ago, I sent the mold to Buckshot to have him HP it. He did a great job.
I asked that the HP pin go down to the crimp groove ( later I was to find out
that was a bad mistake.)

I hunted with the bullet , shot several deer and the bullet behaved like a hand grenade with the deep hp pin. One deer that I shot had 11 different exit holes. Needless to say, it was time to shorten the pin.



The shortening of the HP pin helped to control the explosive effect of the bullet on game. The shortening of the HP pin really made the bullet a great killer on white tail deer. I now get expansion with about 3/4 of the bullet behaving as a solid and penetrating on through the animal to make a good exit hole.

After 46 yrs., I have not lost my interest in the 31141.

I shot this yesterday. 308 Win., Ruger # 1, stainless. 6 X - 24 X Burris Signature. 31141 HP, 24.5 grs. IMR - 4895, Ben's Red, Aluminum .014 " gas check, bullet sized .3105"

The 5th round ( high at 12' o'clock ) should have been in the group with the other 4 rounds, but I'll take the blame for the sloppy shooting.





Here is the after photo, the hp pin has been shortened in this photo.



Buckshot really did a great job on my mould :

 

[freebullet]

Nice! You've made it all come together with that. Thanks for sharing.

24 power is like cheating lol.
I only have 1 single cavity. Way too slow for me.

 

[KHornet]

Ben, I also have that mold, hollowpointed by Buckshot. He also did about 4 or 5 others for me, and always a most excellent job. It has always proven to be one of my most accurate 30 cal molds in all of my 30's. Good memories!
Thanks for posting!

 

[Brad]

Let's see.....

In 69 I was three. I was probably happy to not poop my pants.

That is one mould I don't own but should.

 

[Rick]

In 69 I was a guest of Uncles Marines protecting your right to poop your pants.

 

[Brad]

Thank You Rick. My pants appreciate your service.

 

[Ben]

I was drafted and went for an Army physical in 1969.

I had a nasty 9 " long scar on my belly from an emergency exploratory surgery about 2 yrs. earlier.( turned out to be my appendix that was about to burst ) once I made it through the surgery, I was to stay away form building construction for 6 weeks, I stayed away for 1 week ( I needed the money ). Going back early caused me to strain the stitches and the scar area on my abdomen. My own family Dr. made a notation on my papers about the scar. He called it a a post operative hernia. The army Dr. didn't like the looks of the 3/8 " wide scar and what was written on my papers.

There were 2 lines that day at the Army Physical.
The Army Dr. signed my paper work and told me........... " Go and get in that short line ."

By the way, the long line that day was eventually headed to Vietnam.

That day was a " Game Changer " for me.
If I'd have passed the physical, I'd have gladly gone and done my duty, but I did not pass the physical. My hat is off to all you guys who served our great country.

Ben

 

[Ben]

Nice! You've made it all come together with that. Thanks for sharing.

24 power is like cheating lol.
I only have 1 single cavity. Way too slow for me.

This Burris Signature set on 24 X will allow you to read the print on a coin at 50 yards. You're right, it is almost " cheating.".

Ben

 

[Ben]

Ben, I also have that mold, hollowpointed by Buckshot. He also did about 4 or 5 others for me, and always a most excellent job. It has always proven to be one of my most accurate 30 cal molds in all of my 30's. Good memories!
Thanks for posting!

Rick ( Buckshot ) told me in a PM recently that he no longer worked on bullet molds.

Ben

 

[Brad]

I don't blame him but we are all at a loss for that. He did some very good work.

 

[Ben]

Brad,

Rick ( Buckshot ) told me that he found himself at his machines too much with not enough $ to make it all worth it for him.

I told him that I understood his position and that I very much regretted to see it end.

Ben

 

[Brad]

I totally understand. Even if he did the job in 1.5 hours he would really need to charge 75-100 dollars to justofy the time it takes.

 

[Winelover]

This Burris Signature set on 24 X will allow you to read the print on a coin at 50 yards. You're right, it is almost " cheating.".

Ben

Just this past week, I took the same scope off a Model 70 (243 W) that I don't make much use of.
Mounted it on my Armalite AR-10 for load development, and hopefully tightening up my groups. Was never enamored with Mil-dot reticule. Had a hard time seeing the minute hash marks below the cross-hairs.

Have a 3 X 9 -40mm Burris, on it's way for the 243W, with a standard Plex reticule.

 

[Ben]

I have several Burris scopes, I like each and every one of them.

 

[Winelover]

Prefer Luepolds, but Burris now has a life-time warranty on all their scopes. Natchez was having a sale and I picked up a new Fullfield E ( 3 X 9 )up for a mere $140 .....I couldn't even get into the Leo "Rifleman" line for that amount.