What would you tell them ? ?

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
If someone who was a reasonably experienced
reloader came to you and asked you ? ? ?
___________________________________________

I've never shot cast bullets out of my 30-06 bolt action rifle.
I want to target shoot with my rifle using cast bullets.

Can you tell me , of the many .30 cal bullet moulds out there, which one should I buy ?

What specific load with that bullet will give me quick success and a high probability of great accuracy ?
 
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StrawHat

Well-Known Member
Look under the rifle cartridges in this thread.


Kevin
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Geeze Ben , Did you have to pick a .30 caliber? ;):)
There are a ton!
My Favorite is the NOE version of the 165 gr Ranch Dog!
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
Ben. I'd tell them just what you told me. Load the 312290 from 1400-1600fps
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I have a 30-06 that LOVES shooting lead. Most 30-06 rifles have that trait, but THIS ONE is NICE. Husqvarna postwar 98 Mauser, PERFECT dimensions internally--a few tenths under .309"/throat, 4-groove .300" x .308" lands/grooves. Lee Soup Can, Lyman #311291, Ly #311041, Lee C-309-200. They all shoot under 2" at 100 yards sized at .309" and lubed with LSS Carnauba Red, and that Lee 200 makes LOTS of 1.25" 5-shotters at 100 with a full case (60.0 grains) of WC-860 for about 1950 FPS. It does start pushing back a bit.

I do have a couple new-to-me moulds yet to try in this rifle--Ly #311467 and SAECO #301. But I would happily take that Lee 200/WC-860/Fed #215 load hunting with the bullet cast as a Bruce B Soft Point, and have 20 of those in the ammo cabinet at this writing.
 
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oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
probably NOT the answer you would expect (and, I have exactly ZERO 30-06 cast experience!)... I would tell them to invest in a copy of Waters' Pet Loads and look at it before they spent a lot of $$$ in ANY direction, regardless of caliber/cast/jacketed, etc. It has saved me tons of $ on every caliber since I bought it!
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
so we brought the purple font rule over did we?.... LOL.

I'd have to ask them what rifle they have and when was it made.
an 03A3 or a new Ruger would get a different response.
also hunting or tiny groups.
if the former and the latter I'd recommend one bullet, and if the former and the former a different answer, also the latter and the latter would be a different response.
the load might change, and it as well as the bullet would change again as the circumstances changed.
[no I'm not a lawyer]
 

JonB

Halcyon member
Does this person cast there own?
If not, I'd tell them to, first start casting for 38 spl.
Then once they got casting down, so they can cast a relatively decent bullet, then for 30-06, I'd suggest the Lee 170gr FN and seek out some loads in the Lyman castbullet handbook 4th Ed.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Noe #315-clone, or
Noe 310-165XCB, or
MP 311-180SIL,
MP312-159 hunting, or
Arsenal moulds HVTH-1

On a budget?
-Lee CTL312-160, c312-185

Size 310 or .311 unless powder coating, with PC ->.309

Load: vihtavouri n110, 17-20 grs with conventional lubes. With pc, you could use the same load- or a starting load with Jx data for the fastest extruded powder listed.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
For targets
Harris or mp312-159 with a dabble o' tg. Good times.

If I liked them might offer to help get them started.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
First we'd talk about de-coppering his barrel. Then I'd likely offer to show him the ropes before he put any money into it. Some people hate casting and stink at reloading. If I couldn't do that, I'd probably recommend something simple like the RCBS 30-180FN and 16.0 2400. Or maybe a Unique load, and some store bought lead alloy. That's a pretty standard go to load for that bullet in that size case that will normally at least give something approaching a group at 50-100 yards. I know Lee moulds are more cost effective, but IME it's a lot easier for a noobie to screw up a Lee than an iron mould.

If the person was a real shooter and the type that had the right mindset, I'd be recommending a lot of reading here, Glen Fryxells Cast book on line, maybe a couple other books. I'd steer him away from any other forum, especially the ones where $$$ and massaging certain people ego is the aim, and store bought bullets.
 
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L Ross

Well-Known Member
I know it's not cool or high tech, or high velocity, but......myself and a bunch of my friends get together in June and shoot cast bullets at steel targets. We have a bunch of Springfields, 03's, 03A3's, sporterized Springfiield deer rifles and we load up hundreds of 30-06 cast rounds using the Lee 312-155-2R and 16.5 grains of IMR-4227. The scoped sporters and a couple of Lyman 48 long slides and 17XNA fronts in C stocks will hold 3" at 210 yards pretty much on demand from a solid position using cross sticks. The as issue rifles and cruder sporters with a peep sight on the rear and a bead ramp front will hold about 4-5" at 210. We shoot them like 22's. We use air cooled wheel weights and a bit of tin. Sized .311" lubed with Ben's Red or Carnuba Red, then lightly coated with BLL. I noticed it got easier when I went to RCBS Gold Medal X-dies and used a bushing to give about .015" neck tension. We simply seat to the crimp groove but no crimp. I make sure I have about 500 rounds ready before the weekend frenzy. We also shoot a lot of offhand with these rifles at 80, 160, and 210 yard rails and we know it we miss a target it is on us, not the rifles or ammo. Just simple fun shooting.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Nothing wrong with that L Ross! I was re-reading this and got thinking that once the guy got his barrel cleaned enough for cast, something in the "Low Node" area would probably be my first recommendation. People often just want to be able to shoot. Something pleasant that doesn't increase their flinch is a lot more fun than shoulder bruisers. Low and slow is the way to go! (Old Marine Attack Squadron saying, close air support!)
 

John

Active Member
Saeco 315, put 3 gr of 3031 kicker and fill the rest to the neck with WC872. If that doesn't scare them away I don't know what will.