Mike's Shootin' Shack

The second factor is mentioned because some moulds can be holy terrors to work with, while some are sheer pleasures.

- Mike Venturino

After 50 years of casting bul- lets, it is only natural that I’ve developed favorites. These encompass both bullet designs and an individual mould’s behavior. Some cast bullet designs simply shoot, feed and function better than others meant for the same purpose.

Here is a double favorite: Lyman moulds 311299 and 314299. Set bullets from these two moulds side by side, and there is no discernible difference. In fact, the only difference is that 311299 is meant for American .30-caliber barrels with .300-inch lands and .308-inch groove diameters. Mould 314299 is meant for .31-caliber barrels from around the world, i.e., those with .303-inch lands and .311inch grooves. Lyman lists both designs as weighing 200 grains poured with its #2 alloy blend. I cast with straight Linotype for 195 grains. Number 311299 bullets have been fired in all sorts of .308 Winchesters, .30-40 Krags and .3006s with excellent accuracy. Bullets from mould 314299 have done likewise with rifles chambered for .303 British, 7.7x56mm Japanese and 7.62x54mm Russian. The exception has been a British No. 4 Mk I with a poor bore.