.30 cal. Ranch Dog

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
This one arrived today.
A used mould, however, it is in excellent condition.
NOE 311165 RF
Both cavities are g/c .

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Ian

Notorious member
Best mould ever for the big-throated Marlins. My 336 shot quite a few honest 1/2", 5-shot groups at 100 yards with that bullet using Felix lube softened a little with Vaseline. My pet load ran about 2150 fps. In fact, that bullet and Felix lube started me on the "extreme lube quest" because it wouldn't shoot well below about 40-50F due to flyers from lube coming off in chunks on the way to the target. Softened the lube a little for cooler weather, BINGO. Killed a few deer and a whole bunch of varmints with it, too.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Congratulations! I really like the look of those Ranch Dog designs. Do not own one, however. Maybe I have to do something about it... Arsenal molds have a 311-176 microband design I have been drooling a bit over


Best of luck with your new mold, please keep us informed on your progress!
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Ben,
I love this mould It has been one of the most accurate 30-30 bullets in my Savage 340! ( & my 1970's Marlin 336)
Jim
 

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
Have the SC311-165RF version in a plain based mold. Use it in my Grandsons 336 Youth and also in my large throated 308. In the 308, 10 gr Universal goes 1440 fps and small groups at 50 yrds.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I don't know who used it but it sure wasn't me.
mine all end up with gunk on the outside and stuff around all the pins.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I have one. Nice mold, but none of my .30-30s will close with one in a case.

Wait - haven't tried it in the relatively new Savage 340 .30-30.

Bill
 

todd

Well-Known Member
nice mold!!!

i have a 165gr rd with h4198 in my 30-40 krag and it goes 1930fps. the rd does around 1 1/2 - 2 1/2" at 100 yards(5 shots) with peep sights on a bench. i did a 3/4" at 100 yards but that was because my eyes were in the shade, no wind, stars lined up with the earth and the gods of shooting smiled at me:rofl:. and thats my story and i'm stickin to it.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
It is very slightly different in the nose from the “original” RD. Mine requires me to shorten the cases very slightly to allow chambering.
Shoots very well for me. Only 30-30 bullet I use.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Had Michael's original Lee 6x, shot good but had to be seated short. Eventually did one with Accurate, 170 PB and 185GC that shoots great from my marlin. No groove and slightly smaller meplat for better BC & PC. Also works great in my BO - who'da thunk?
 

Rally

NC Minnesota
They look good Ben. That must be a fairly new mould, judging from the style of vent lines on the face.
 

Jeff H

NW Ohio
Keep thinking I replied here but must have just thought it and not typed it.

Michael had three or four versions of this as he experimented. I got to shoot the first two versions through the generosity of fellow shooters who sent me samples. One had a much smaller meplat than the others. The last version had what basically looks like a wide, driving band just ahead of the crimp groove. I ended up trading for or buying that mould in 6c, apparently unused, and it's my favorite 30 cal bullet.
 

Kevin Stenberg

Well-Known Member
I would really like the new wider meplat version. By accident i ended up with a NOE modification mold. The meplat is the same as the original RD mold. But the forward nose section is wider. So seating depth is different.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
That is the biggest issue when talking about this bullet design. There are too many variations in nose dimensions in the various iterations. Each nose requires a unique seat depth.
Mine is from the first run Al did many years ago. It has a nose slightly fatter than the Lee cut “original” RD mould. I trim cases a bit short and all is fine.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I have MANY .30 cal. rifles.
Hopefully, I'll find one that will chamber this puppy OK ?

Ben
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
You will. It chambers in about any 30 cal, just a matter of searing depth.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
piece of cake.
pretty much anything that takes your 041 will just kiss the back edge of that nose with the rifling/