favorite bullet of all time

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tturner53 posted this 06 January 2011

The forum looks a little slow so maybe you'll bear with me while I waste a little cyberspace. I was looking in my mold cabinet and wondering why I have so many and which one would I keep if I was cleaning house. Right off I figured I'd have to have more than one but what if I couldn't? Just humor me, this is one of those hypothetical situations. I promise I won't ask what gun would you pick for TEOTWAWKI. I came down to a .30 cal. and narrowed that down to either American .30s or the other ones, the foreign type .31s. I decided American .30 made more sense since I am in America. That narrowed it down to something probably no bigger than .310. Versatility is a big factor, have to work in a 30-30 and a 30-06 too. To make a long story short, the one mold I'd keep if I could only have one is the Saeco #315. It's a good target bullet, could be used for hunting or plinking, and works well in a variety of cartridges and guns. I tried to think of one that would also feed my .32 H&R mag Ruger but drew a blank. If this all sounds nuts blame Paco Kelly. I read an old article of his today in The Fouling Shot about the importance of versatility when you live out in the boonies. But he went with the .35s. Anybody got a favorite bullet of all time?

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RicinYakima posted this 06 January 2011

Lyman #452423:

45 Auto (seated to top of shoulder will feed in GI 1911's)

45 Auto Rim

45 Colt (revolver and carbine)

455 Webley

Ric

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DAMRON G posted this 06 January 2011

NEI #72 155 “Harris” bullet.

Works well in any military 30 i shoot it in (GC or plainbase).Plus its a 6 cavity that casts like a dream.

George

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nimrod posted this 06 January 2011

Having a favorite mold is about like someone ask me what my favorite crappie jig color is? Well it's the one that is catching the most fish right now! And that might change in 15 minutes.

But I'll have to agree tturner53 the Saeco 315 does work in a lot of 30's even shoots fair in my Finn 39. There is probably a better mold for each individual rifle but it does shoot good enough in a bunch of them.

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JetMech posted this 06 January 2011

DAMRON G wrote: NEI #72 155 “Harris” bullet.

Works well in any military 30 i shoot it in (GC or plainbase).Plus its a 6 cavity that casts like a dream.

GeorgeGeorge, I can't find a picture or reference for that mold. Could you post a picture? Edit: Is the Lee C312-155-2R the same bullet?

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DAMRON G posted this 06 January 2011

The Lee is the same basic bullet,but has a bit pointier nose.Both shoot as well.

George

here it is

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gnoahhh posted this 06 January 2011

308-180 NEI for me, if I had to have one mould for both target shooting and hunting. For just hunting, I'll never part with the 190gr. FN SAECO Custom I got from Sid Musselman waaaay back.

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raytear posted this 06 January 2011

NEI 358-282 GC it is a round nose, flat point beauty resembling the Lyman 3589 (358009). Comes out around 295 grains cast of wheelweights and is fat enough to fit my .359 barrel.

In my .35 Whelen it kills whatever game it hits and is easy to hit with. With proper charges it could be used for anything in North America and a lot of Africa. Finished bullets have just the right proportions for seating to the base of the case neck while still covering the lube grooves and fitting in the magazine. It feeds very smoothly thru a VZ-24 action (Czech variant of Mauser 98). Suitable accuracy and penetration are its stock in trade. Once decapitated a pesky squirrel robbing a feeder at about 50 yds. (The fox squirrels in Texas are about the size of red squirrels in the rest of the country, but are REAL feisty.)

That is a hard choice I am glad I do not have to make in actual fact!

Good shooting, y'all! RT

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JeffinNZ posted this 06 January 2011

I am rather fond of the Lyman 311008.

Cheers from New Zealand

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Fg1 posted this 06 January 2011

311291 for me has worked pretty good for 30-30, 7.62x39 . 30-06, 308 ,303 , Argie and 30-40 Krag .

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StrawHat posted this 07 January 2011

Interesting concept. I could narrow it down to one mold per cartridge or maybe one mold per caliber but one mold PERIOD? That would be tough. For me it would have to be either a 45 or 50 caliber, I shoot both 45-70 and 50-70. If I were to stay with the 45, I would most likely keep my 457122, the Gould hollow point. It shoots well in all my 45s. I guess I could size it down for the revolvers but I don't use a bullet that heavy in any of mine. For the 50 it would be the 515141.

For revolvers, I will have to ponder that for a while and since it is snowing, I have the time.

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gunarea posted this 07 January 2011

Hey Guys

   Gotta go with a 38 cal bullet since I am mostly into handgun hunting and shooting. The Lyman 160 gr truncated cone works in a 35 Rem chambered Marlin as well as it does in several different 357 handguns. It kills Florida deer with great efficient economy. Bobcat are tough and generally take more than one good hit but most all other pests are easily dispatched with a single good shot. My particular loads in all would be considered “mild” at best.

                           Getting my moulds would be as difficult as getting my firearms.                                                                                                                Roy

Shoot often, Shoot well

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shjoe posted this 07 January 2011

38/357 mag 158gr RNFP, SW M10 (38spl), ruger security 6 (357mag) 30-06 190gr spire point, M1917 eddystone

i could do very well if limited to these two only.

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BCB posted this 07 January 2011

DAMRON G wrote: The Lee is the same basic bullet,but has a bit pointier nose.Both shoot as well.

George

here it is

DAMRON G

Just a quick question”¦

 

Is the part of that boolit that is in front of the driving band the diameter to fit into the bore and just be a bit oversized?  A bore rider”€is that the term I want to say?

 

BCB

 

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argie1891 posted this 07 January 2011

ok my 2 cents worth. the lyman 311284 if you can get it seated into the case it seems to shoot well in any 30 caliber rifle i have tried it in. joe gifford

if you think you have it figured out then you just dont understand

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BCB posted this 07 January 2011

argie1891 wrote: ok my 2 cents worth. the lyman 311284 if you can get it seated into the case it seems to shoot well in any 30 caliber rifle i have tried it in. joe gifford

Without going to my Lyman manual, is the 311284 the same or close the same as the Lee boolit previously mentioned?

And what do you mean by, “if you can get it seated into the case"?

Thanks...BCB

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Lefty posted this 07 January 2011

Another vote for the Saeco 315 although the RCBS 165 sil has been good to me also.

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jhrosier posted this 07 January 2011

I've had very good results with the 31141 in a bunch of different .30 caliber rifles. So far I've used it in .300 Whisper, 30-30, 30-40 Krag, .308, 30-06, 30 Herret, 7.5x55 Swiss, and 7.62x54 (in a Finn-Mosin ). It would be my first choice for all around use.

Jack

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tturner53 posted this 08 January 2011

BCB, yep, that's a bore rider. Every mold maker makes them, lots of varieties. The idea is the forepart rides on top of the lands, the rear fatter part is groove diameter or a bit bigger, generally speaking.

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Michael K posted this 08 January 2011

Sorry, just can't resist.....  PJ50002, I can melt 10 of them down and get somewhere between 14 and 120 bullets from any of my other moulds.

I must agree with everyone else's opinion, all are excellent choices for all the mentioned reasons.

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Rich/WIS posted this 30 January 2011

RCBS 44-250SWC - 44 mag/special RCBS 38-150KT - 38/357 Lyman 452374 - 45ACP RCBS 308-165SIL - 30/06

Also have a Lyman 4 cav for the 358495 that I used to use for WC loads in the 38; a RCBS 44-225SWC GC that I tried but don't use anymore and a LEE 308-170F that I retired in favor of the RCBS because it shoots better in my rifle.

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