Author Topic: Lyman moulds (Read 656 times)

Don Fischer · « **on:** May 11, 2006, 03:15:38 PM »

Have a 30-06 I'm gonna shoot cast bullets in. Only problem is I've never cast for rifles larger than 22 (22 Hornet) and that was long ago. Will look for a lyman mould but not sure what bullet weight or what dia sizer to get. Some say one thing some another. Barrel not in great shape so I'm gussing oversize? Also hear that in 30 cal, the heavier bullets work best? Must also have the base for a gas check.

cherok9878 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:16:21 PM »

Don, first I would slug the bore, egg shaped fishing weight, see what the bore diameter is and go from there. Lyman 311284 seems to be the overall choice for a bullet over 200 gn. second is 311041 - 173 gn. There are many bullets that will perform in the 06, in cast usually heavier is better. I have sized at 309 and 310 for a 308 bore. Both shoot equally well in my old 03A3. I use gas checks with this rifle at around 2000fps max and have hardly any leading. Air cooled WW.. .........What are you going to do with this round?

Don Fischer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2006, 04:02:01 PM »

What I have is an 03A3 I got from a friend that died. He had it made in 1945 by Paul Jaeger and he shot a bunch of crosive primers without cleaning it well. Rifle is in great shape other than the pitted bore and I though I'd turn it into a cast bullet gun. It's gonna be a toy more than anything. I have a ton of lead and cast for my 38 and my 32long now. Like doing it; as tho I needed another hobby! I'm not a serious caster, just like shooting cast in my handguns.

Thinking of deer hunting with it sometime or maybe a rifle to start my grandchildren on. Just though of that. Great way to start a kid on centerfire rifles!

Nobade · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2006, 05:06:46 PM »

I know Lyman and everybody says size your bullets to the groove diameter, but I have found much more cast bullet happiness sizing them to fit the throat or no more than .0005 smaller. That way if the throat is larger than the groove diameter, which is the case in 99% of rifles, you don't get a bunch of blowby between the case mouth and the bore. The way to do that is to either use cerrosafe and make a cast, or make an impact impression of it. Since I learned this trick from Veral Smith I have had way better luck getting cast bullets to shoot in rifles. As for a bullet, try something like #311299 if the bore is right on the money at .300. If it's bigger, you might try #311284 or some other non bore riding design. If really big, sometimes #313299 can be used to good effect. Just have to see what a chamber cast tells you it'll need. And yes, that's sure a good way to get youngsters shooting centerfires! My daughter loves to shoot the 30-30 with 7.0 gr. Clays - it's not loud, super accurate, and no recoil. Plus she gets to help out reloading them for the next outing.