311 230gr

[Brad]

A while back I bought a 30 cal 230 gr mould for 300 BO from NOE. This is a flat based bullet originally ran by Josh. Ian has a mould by Josh and he sent me a few bullets.
The NOE does run .002 larger all around. Men cast .313 on the bands, .305 in front of the front band. Ian's runs .311 on the bands and .303 in front of the front band.

Who can tell which is which?

 

[Ben]

I've got a 50/50 chance on this one.
I say the fat one is the one on the right.

Ben

 

[Ian]

Josh's is on the left.

Here's why I like it more:

 

[Brad]

Ben probably has a micrometer next to his monitor for measuring photos. He is right.

I was very impressed with the very close nature of the bullets. Dumped together they would be a real bugger to separate.

 

[Rick]

The fat one has gotta be the one on the left.

 

[Brad]

The fat one has gotta be the one on the left.

No sir, Ben was right. The NOE is on the right. It is .002 fatter.

 

[Rick]

So much for crappy cell phone pictures. The one on the right looks to have a larger front band making the nose a bit smaller. Oh well huh?

 

[waco]

I'm looking forward to trying those bullets you sent me Brad. IF I ever hear back from Ruger........

 

[Josh]

I think mine is on the left honestly, I feel bad for those that cant make a mould that can cast to the proper diameter and use his own designs... (possible sore spot)

 

[Ian]

I added a pic to my post above, the dummy cartridge had been chambered, the bullet on the right had been pounded into the throat a way and pushed back out with a rod to show how and where the rifling would engrave it.

Josh, I got on the NOE forum when this design was in discussion and asked about the nose and NOE's habitual oversized problem that would make this a no-go. My query killed the discussion thread right then and there. After Brad bought one and humored me with some pictures of how the bullet indeed does engrave hard on the ogive and has to be seated more deeply than ideal to function, my fears were confirmed and I'm dang glad I didn't waste my money on an NOE. I only wanted one for backup, anyway.

 

[Josh]

Boys, don't consider me out yet, I plan to start back up. This time it will be more in the fashion of Accurate Molds, and less focused on group buys.

 

[Ian]

Group buys are always a compromise and a hassle for everyone involved. Mass experience, mostly negative, is why we opted not to do that stuff here. Tom does it right, but he keeps his processes simple and limited, which is fantastic unless you want a 31-230 with a pointy nose...or a hollow point....or a 6.5 mm.... or a .22......

Fortunately, Accurate can supply 75% of my mould needs. BUT....for that other 25% market he doesn't serve, SOMEONE has a golden opportunity to fill the niche.

 

[Brad]

Seated the same as Ian's mine does indeed engrave on the nose. I seat about 1/2 down the front band usually. I don't like engraving the nose with an auto loader.

 

[Brad]

I'm looking forward to trying those bullets you sent me Brad. IF I ever hear back from Ruger........

Patience is a virtue?

Don't know about you but I've never been known as overly virtuous.

 

[Ian]

"Patience is a virtue,
Keep it if you can,
For it's seldom found in women,
And never found in man."

I'm not virtuous either, most of the time.

 

[Ian]

Seated the same as Ian's mine does indeed engrave on the nose. I seat about 1/2 down the front band usually. I don't like engraving the nose with an auto loader.

See, then the bottom lube groove is in the powder space, and you can't tuck the case mouth into the front groove to ensure it doesn't telescope if the nose happens to bang the end of the barrel and bounce back before going in the chamber. The AR Stoner barrel that has a .309" freebore diameter will jam up a .3095" bullet TIGHT and will pull the bullet after you get after the charging handle with a mallet. It doesn't take much to jam up an AR-15, and I absolutely want the bullet to FLOAT when chambered. Even a stray mummy of extruded powder grain in the throat or neck can make extraction of a live round very difficult.

As a note to others....Brad and I have uppers made by the same company with as best we can tell, identical chambers. I actually have loaded for two of them and pound casts will interchange, so I assume his chamber is cut with the same reamer. I love that 5 groove rifling, too.

 

[waco]

I don't like waiting for beer to get cold in the fridge....Waiting to get a rifle back that I'm dying to shoot is killing me!

 

[minmax]

Josh, I'd still like to try a couple of your bullets. Please let me know when you rtart back up, as I always need another mold.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

+2 ^^^

 

[fiver]

some throat shape designed 24-25-26-27-28 cal. molds would be very well accepted.
especially if gas checks, and 2 different weights were available.