In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Bullet Mold for 30/40
victorj19
Member Posts: 3,642 ✭✭✭
A friend would like me cast some 200 to 220 gr bullets for with 311 dia. I located a couple of Lyman molds that seem to fit and are out of production so the search may take some time for the mold. If gas checks are called for must they be installed? I would cast hard bullets & don't have a sizer.
Comments
Second, you should consider the bore diameter (probably somewhere around .302"). Select a mold with a .311"+ base area and .302 or greater nose so it rides the lands.
For a cheap try, Lee makes a 200 gr mold that drops at about 311 (even though they bill it as a 309). Works very well in my Krag. You might also try the Lyman 311299 or 314299 (sized down a little). Or the 311284.
You can get a .311 sizer from Lee for about $9 that screws into your press. Will also crimp on the check.
You don't absolutely need a check even with bullets intended for one, but you'll have to limit velocity to around 1000 fps max. I shoot some plain based ones with 5 gr of Bullseye pistol powder at 50 yards, or 9 gr of Trail Boss, they run about 900 fps. Mousefart loads, very quiet.
I would however get the gas checks. For an extra 3 cents per round, being able to push up to 2000 fps is worth it to me as I find accuracy is better in the 1800 fps range- too fast for plain base.
If you don't actually need a .311" bullet, the Lee mould for the .30-30 will work very well indeed in a Krag. It is their 309C-170-FP. Finding .30-caliber gas checks is a whale of a lot easier than finding the larger ones you'd need for a .311" bullet.
I second jonk's wise words. Don't forget to look at Lee moulds, especially since this is a project for a friend who may not wish to continue with it long enough to justify the cost of a Lyman.
If you don't actually need a .311" bullet, the Lee mould for the .30-30 will work very well indeed in a Krag. It is their 309C-170-FP. Finding .30-caliber gas checks is a whale of a lot easier than finding the larger ones you'd need for a .311" bullet.
The same check is used for .309 and .311. Maybe in the past there were separate offerings but all .311 and .314 molds I've seen take a standard check. Which confuses me a bit, I admit, but they seem to work just fine.