I am going to start casting .30 caliber bullets, and need some suggestions...
I'm going to load for two Winchester 30/30's, a 1980's "Ranger" and a 1949 vintage Model 94. I am also hoping to build an accurate cast bullet load for a 1984 vintage Browning 1895 lever rifle in 30/06. My intended purposes will be target shooting and knocking over steel targets out to 100 yards. If I hunt with these rifles, I'll use factory 150 grain jacketed bullets...
I'm looking at Lee's 170 grain flat point mold, .309 diameter with a gas check, sized with a Lyman 4500 lubricaor and sizer. If this bullet works well in both 30/30 and 30/06 I'd be tickled to death...
I'm also thinking about heavier bullets for the Browning 30/06, I'm looking at the Lee 180 and 200 grain Round Nose Molds, but lubing and sizing them with Lee Alox and the Lee Lube and sizing kit, installing gas checks with the Lee sizing die...
The only reason I'm thinking of using Alox instead of my Lyman sizer and lubricator is the top punch, I have a flat nose top punch that should work with all flat nose bullets, but round nose and spitzer bullets would require buying and installing more top punches for round nose and spitzer bullets...
Anybody out there use Lee Alox and gas checks in 30/06? I'm thinking of velocitys in the moderate range, something like 1700 FPS or so...
Also, I'm thinking of doing this with straight wheel weight lead, hoping the gas check should be enough to eliminate leading without adding any tin or anything else to my lead. I've had good luck (no leading and good accuracy) with straight wheel weight lead in 45/70 pushed to 1300 FPS or so.....