Your favorite heavy 30 caliber molds?

[Elkins45]

I am expending considerable effort to try and find the perfect subsonic suppressed load for both 300 blackout and 308. I want to be able to shoot in my yard without the neighbors knowing I am doing so, and to do so with maximum accuracy out to 100 yards. In addition to trying several different powders (I started a separate thread about that in this forum) I am trying several different 190-200 grain bullets. So far I have tried the following:

RCBS 200 grain silhouette
Lyman 195 grain 311679 MXL
Lyman 200 grain 311299
NOE 190 grain 311299 hollow point
Lee 200 grain bore rider

I wanted to try the Lyman 311284 but mine casts too fat on the nose nd they have to be seated so deep it is just silly.

Right now I'm hard pressed to decide between the Lee and the RCBS as the overall winner in 308, but am I missing out on another good possibility? If there another 190-200 grain mold that might be a good choice for maximum suppressed accuracy?

 

[Ian]

Number four sounds great for ten-twist and carrying accurately to 100 yards with some thud left when it gets there. Make them soft and the HP will actually work. The 311679 would be my second choice, I shoot it a lot but at near .308 jacketed velocity. Mine casts around 209 grains with 50/50 alloy BTW.

 

[freebullet]

Watching with interest as my heaviest is only 160 in 30 at the moment.

 

[Ben]

I've always liked the 311290 .

Here is how it shoots in my Stainless , Ruger # 1, 308 Win.

Range was 80 yards, 5 shots.( And YES, I've shot several groups like this, so it is repeatable....)

The 290' was shooting well in several of my .30 cal. rifles prior to the HP'ing by Erik, but the bullet shoots even better now that it has been HP'd...........

By the way, I have about a dozen HP pins for my 311290.
I've abandoned the use of the deep HP pin that you see in this photo below.
It is far too explosive for use on white-tailed deer.
The " cup point " is a far better choice, or a flat point.
I like the flat point 311290. It is a real killer ! !

 

[Ben]

Lyman 311290, " cup points ". Might be just the ticket for white tails here in my area :

In my opinion, these numbers are just about perfect for my particular .30 cal. rifles , 30-06's and 308 Win. rifles :



These are the numbers from an " As Cast Bullet ", prior to any sizing or lube.

This is what the meplat looks like on the 290' when you use the flat point pin.

 

[Josh]

I cut a 235 gr lee copy, it has worked great out to 100 so far, in my blackout and 30-06, in the 30-06 it was going roughly 1200 fps.

 

[Ben]

The 311284 isn't bad either.
Here I am with a deer that I killed several yrs. ago with the 311284 HP.

17.5 grs. 2400 , NOE 311284 HP , TIKKA , 30-06 Springfield.

Thanks,

Ben

 

[Maven]

I presently own four nominally .30cal. moulds, which cast well and whose droppings are quite accurate in both my .30-06 and M 39 Finn. Nagant, (Sako). They are: Saeco #315 (.30-06 only)
Ly. #314299 (.30-06 and M 39, sized to suit ea.)
CBE 195gr. Loverin (.30-06 and M 39, but originally purchased for Model0 1909 Arg. Mau.)
CBE 185gr. Bore Rider (.30-06) This one looks like an elongated version of Ly. #31141, but it fits my '06 perfectly and the targets reflect it. Btw, I purchased this mould years ago on eBay.


Note: Both CBE's are brass (and heavy!). The Saeco is a 3 cavity mould, also purchased on eBay, and was the one of most accurate CB's in both my K-31's and a Marlin #336 .30-30Win., Microgroove.

 

[KHornet]

I have the 311284 that Buckshot HP'd for me quite a few years ago. Think maybe I should put it in service next time I cast.

 

[Ben]

It is a KILLER !

 

[Elkins45]

I realize I left out one of my options. I have a NOE 311365 that casts a very pointy 198 grain bullet. I have both GC and PB versions and I usually quench harden the PB ones to shoot in my blackout AR. They are so pointy that if I'm not careful I will poke myself under my fingernails with the hardened points and make myself bleed when I'm pulling them out of the quench bucket.