Show what kind of Bullets you cast

[Glaciers]

L Ross makes a very good point about PC’ing. It’s handy. The plus’s are bumping diameter without having to beagle a mold, and shooting PB bullets softer allowing a higher velocity then you might with conventional lubes. I have a couple of NEI molds that Walter made, right now I’m casting sizing some 308-220 RN GC bullets that are beautiful. The mold is an absolute joy to cast with. But it drops bullets at .3095, the nose is .299. With a coating of paint it should bring it up to close to .311.
I’m goofing with some dummies in the 30-30 with this bullet, which is close to the Lyman 311-284 that Frank Marshall played with in the 30-30 Winchester 94, which would cycle if you crimped over the front driving band and filed a flat on the nose. So a bullet of 220 grains, gas checked, soft about BHN 8-9 out of a 30-30 - 94 at about 1800.
Do I need that? No. But it’s going to be fun I’m thinking. I like heavy bullets. 1600 sounds even better. Should expand nicely.

 

[Joshua]

I would add a ten dollar oven thermometer to Ian’s list.

It really ain’t that hard at all. I watched a few videos and it seemed pretty easy. I don’t stand up my bullets, just bake them in a small wire basket made out of fine mesh expanded metal.

 

[Winelover]

So, Lyman and RCBS molds got me started but I am quickly seeing the value in custom makers. I actually just used my Accurate mold for the first time last night and it’s absolutely the nicest mold I’ve ever used

Yep, Accurate molds are the Cat's Meow. I you like Tom's aluminum or brass molds, wait till you try an iron one.



Two cavities PB and two GC.

 

[Ian]

Arn Accurate moulds are as good as it gets.

Oven thermometer is an excellent idea, will save MUCH trouble by preventing under-cured paint.

 

[waco]

Yep, Accurate molds are the Cat's Meow. I you like Tom's aluminum or brass molds, wait till you try an iron one.

View attachment 24303

Two cavities PB and two GC.

View attachment 24305

I have this exact mold in aluminum. It’s my go to .38/.357 mold. Great bullet.

 

[Jwatts8815]

Yep, Accurate molds are the Cat's Meow. I you like Tom's aluminum or brass molds, wait till you try an iron one.

View attachment 24303

Two cavities PB and two GC.

View attachment 24305

Gorgeous molds!!!! Yup, I got an iron 2 cavity from him, the 45-230L and it’s second to none!!!!

 

[Jwatts8815]

I have this exact mold in aluminum. It’s my go to .38/.357 mold. Great bullet.

I put a gp100 on layaway today so I’m gonna have to look into it.

 

[Glaciers]

I have NEI (all made by Walt), NOE, Arsenal, RCBS, and Lyman. No Accurate molds yet. But, I will cure that this spring. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere I intended to order a 311-315 - 2 gas check & 2 plain base. They function in all of my 30 calibers that I’ve tested so far. Hopefully I can shoot a few early next week as the temperatures are going above zero into the teens! The only difficulty might be not being able to see the targets through the snow that’s predicted. Only have a couple hours of daylight so if snow and daylight happens at the same time, well we’ll see.

 

[Jwatts8815]

I have NEI (all made by Walt), NOE, Arsenal, RCBS, and Lyman. No Accurate molds yet. But, I will cure that this spring. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere I intended to order a 311-315 - 2 gas check & 2 plain base. They function in all of my 30 calibers that I’ve tested so far. Hopefully I can shoot a few early next week as the temperatures are going above zero into the teens! The only difficulty might be not being able to see the targets through the snow that’s predicted. Only have a couple hours of daylight so if snow and daylight happens at the same time, well we’ll see.

Well, hopefully the snow doesn’t stop you!!! I’m planning on shooting some 10mm and 45 colt tomorrow

 

[Glaciers]

So here’s a couple of 30 caliber bullets I cast


308-220 NEI, 311-176 LFN Arsenal GC & PB, 311-180 RCBS, 311-047 Lyman
The NEI & the 2 Arsenal’s measure .299 - .300 on the nose. The RCBS & Lyman are slightly larger in the nose and are marginal in the 94’s

Edit: the Arsenal mold was designed specifically for 94’s and it measures out to be a winner.
Springtime in Alaska it’s 40 below. I think that’s how the song goes. And that’s about when I’ll get to test them.


The NEI 220 in a 30-30 dummy which cycles through my Savage 99 just fine. Not really interested in filling the nose flat for tubular magazines. Have to make a jig for that which is very low on my personal interest meter. For the tubular mags the RCBS is lots of bullet which weights in at 195 and with conventional lubes cycles just fine.

 

[Winelover]

I have this exact mold in aluminum. It’s my go to .38/.357 mold. Great bullet.

I put a gp100 on layaway today so I’m gonna have to look into it.

 

[harm]

Interesting timing, having just watched a Fortune Cookie video with the Berry's heavy plated bullet earlier today.

I've had a thought brewing for a while regarding a heavy bullet in 30-30, haven't loaded anything past dummies yet. I bought two styles of the NOE 'Taco' mold, off the top of my head the HTC/TL 310-225-RN?

Have been wanting to make the comparison with this bullet designed for the 300 Blackout, due to repeatedly hearing 'it's basically a semi-auto 30-30' from a handful of people.

Not for tube-fed guns, obviously. Doesn't fit the magazine of my 340 or 788 but should be fun to try. forgive the scuff marks on the tumble-lubed round, I seated that bullet with a heavy thumb.

 

[Jwatts8815]

Interesting timing, having just watched a Fortune Cookie video with the Berry's heavy plated bullet earlier today.

I've had a thought brewing for a while regarding a heavy bullet in 30-30, haven't loaded anything past dummies yet. I bought two styles of the NOE 'Taco' mold, off the top of my head the HTC/TL 310-225-RN?

Have been wanting to make the comparison with this bullet designed for the 300 Blackout, due to repeatedly hearing 'it's basically a semi-auto 30-30' from a handful of people.

Not for tube-fed guns, obviously. Doesn't fit the magazine of my 340 or 788 but should be fun to try. forgive the scuff marks on the tumble-lubed round, I seated that bullet with a heavy thumb.

View attachment 24308

Definitely be fun to try!!! I’ve been casting the RCBS 30-180-FN for my Winchester 94 but am absolutely looking into different bullets

 

[Jwatts8815]

So here’s a couple of 30 caliber bullets I cast

View attachment 24306
308-220 NEI, 311-176 LFN Arsenal GC & PB, 311-180 RCBS, 311-047 Lyman
The NEI & the 2 Arsenal’s measure .299 - .300 on the nose. The RCBS & Lyman are slightly larger in the nose and are marginal in the 94’s

Edit: the Arsenal mold was designed specifically for 94’s and it measures out to be a winner.
Springtime in Alaska it’s 40 below. I think that’s how the song goes. And that’s about when I’ll get to test them.

View attachment 24307
The NEI 220 in a 30-30 dummy which cycles through my Savage 99 just fine. Not really interested in filling the nose flat for tubular magazines. Have to make a jig for that which is very low on my personal interest meter. For the tubular mags the RCBS is lots of bullet which weights in at 195 and with conventional lubes cycles just fine.

I wish I could get a good copy off the Lyman 311041 but I have got freaking 2 different ones that both had rough machining at the nose that make the noses look like they had ripples

 

[Glaciers]

You really will be hard pressed to find a better heavy bullet then the RCBS 180

 

[Jwatts8815]

You really will be hard pressed to find a better heavy bullet then the RCBS 180

Oh I believe it !! I’m definitely a big fan of that RCBS 180, thanks for the link, I’ll absolutely check that mold out!!!

 

[JWFilips]

I have a thread started with Big Boy 30-30 bullet Of course it is "Low Node" target shooting.
https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/not-your-fathers-30-30-winchester.5164/

 

[Jwatts8815]

Reading through it now, thanks

 

[STIHL]

Interesting timing, having just watched a Fortune Cookie video with the Berry's heavy plated bullet earlier today.

I've had a thought brewing for a while regarding a heavy bullet in 30-30, haven't loaded anything past dummies yet. I bought two styles of the NOE 'Taco' mold, off the top of my head the HTC/TL 310-225-RN?

Have been wanting to make the comparison with this bullet designed for the 300 Blackout, due to repeatedly hearing 'it's basically a semi-auto 30-30' from a handful of people.

Not for tube-fed guns, obviously. Doesn't fit the magazine of my 340 or 788 but should be fun to try. forgive the scuff marks on the tumble-lubed round, I seated that bullet with a heavy thumb.

View attachment 24308

Comparing a 300BLK to a 30-30 Winchester is ludicrous. Although that big bullet in the 30-30 should make for an interesting adventure.

The 300HAMR is as close to 30-30 ballistics up to a 150gr I haven’t looked at the numbers but when you get to the 170-180 class projectile I feel the 30-30 is going to pull ahead of the HAMR. 170 is the best weight bullet for the 30-30 in IMHO. Be sure to let us know how those shoot. I’m interested.

 

[L Ross]

I would add a ten dollar oven thermometer to Ian’s list.

It really ain’t that hard at all. I watched a few videos and it seemed pretty easy. I don’t stand up my bullets, just bake them in a small wire basket made out of fine mesh expanded metal.

But but but, there'd be tiny flaws in the paint!