308 plinking bullets

[liberalwithagun]

I am looking to start reloading .308 in a much larger quantity. In short, I am tired of shooting wolf/tul/etc in order to meet my budget for the .308. I have a die, brass, primers, and powder available for reloading. However, I am stuck on bullets.

I am looking for a simple and cheap plinking rounds that can be used until hunting season. Once hunting season begins I will buy some higher quality bullets and use them specifically for hunting.

In my search for .308 bullets I have run across quite a few options. The first are pulled mil-surp bullets from midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/32...ter-147-grain-m80-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail

At widener's I ran across some hornaday bullets that are in my price range but the bullet looks a little "small" (carbine round?):

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=1941&dir=278|281|1081|1161


I am looking for something that is under 75 for 500. I would prefer to avoid plated bullets so that I can load the round close to what my hunting round will be.

Looking for advice/ideas/comments on where to find, what I have found, and what you have found.

 

[kingmt]

I use some of the pulled bullets. There not same hole shooters but they are fun to blast rocks with.

 

[liberalwithagun]

Interesting.


Any thoughts on these:

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=410&dir=278|281|1079|1126


Will any 30 (.308) work? I have seen 30 carbine rounds what is the deal with those? How do you tell the difference?

 

[kennedy]

look for bulk serria matchkings on line, I bought 500 from someone, don`t remember who, much cheaper than the big on line retailers.

 

[USSR]

liberalwithagun,

You are trying to go cheap, without looking at bullets that are suitable for your .308. The first bullet you looked at, is indeed for the .30 Carbine. The second bullet you referred to is not really a good choice as well. You should be looking for a .308 spitzer bullet of about 147 - 155 grains. Suggest you look for surplus M80 pulled bullets, as they are likely to be the cheapest you will find.

Don

 

[StandingTall]

Not in the price range you stated, but still a good deal IMO.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14665-c50-g8-b0-p0-.30_Cal_150gr_FMJBT_Bullets_250ct.aspx

They are not plated bullets and not pulled.

 

[XxBulletBendeRXx]

Check out Rocky Mountain Reloading....

They have pretty cheap 308 pills that would do well for short range plinking and blasting... I really Like the site.. All prices are the total "shipped" price. Good deals, even at lower quantities... Here is the link. They ship fairly quik too.. about 3-4 days to get to me way out west. Good luck.. http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/

 

[kingmt]

I have used both the M80s & the carbine. The M80 is the ones I was talking about. The Carbine I couldn't keep all the shoots on the side of a pickup truck with my 30-06.

 

[liberalwithagun]

@USSR

How do I tell what bullets are suited/made for my .308? When I look on each site there does not seem to be any clarification as to what is suitable.

Is it the bullet grain weight?
Simply being .308 diameter?

At this point the M80 .308 @ wideners looks to be the best deal for quality and price.

EDIT:

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7238&dir=278|281|1081|1161

These would be proper for a bolt action .308 correct?

 

[kingmt]

I'm not Don but yes.

 

[liberalwithagun]

Completely unrelated question but I don't have all my books in front of me nor does this require a new thread.

What does it mean to "work up" to a load. I realize that it means you start at the minimum grains of the load and keep going up. My question is when do you stop? What do you look for?

I will consult ABC's of reloading when I get home but I thought I would throw it out here really quick.

 

[XxBulletBendeRXx]

To work up a load means to work up the most accurate load with the specific bullet type, powder and sometimes brass combinations your working with that performs best in YOUR gun. Some combinations like to be near or at max loadings while some like lower loading preasures and lower velocities... Your loading manuals should explain this and your question to what to look for in Overpreasure signs. Always start low and "work up" to what best Suits YOUR gun and ammo combination.
Example.. set up targets for each load and test for grouping with 5 shot groups for each load. I like to set up and shoot 2-3 five shot groups with each load to get a better average reading on how the accuracy is coming along with each load. I go up in .5 grain increments til I get what I am looking for or show signs of overpreasure. I hope this helps..
B.B.

 

[merrick4]

check out Hornady 3037, 150 grain FMJ. I think I bought in bulk on sale for .18 ea. I can't recall where, i'll try to look it up for you. Very nice plinking rounds.

 

[liberalwithagun]

@bullet - Thank you. Great summary and explanation.

 

[guzzi]

What merrick4 said

My wife ordered these from Graff & Sons.

In her 24" 308 1/10 twist, she has found that 44 grains of Varget works very well.

Shoot Safe.

 

[kingmt]

If your primers flaten to fill the pockets you are getting there. If your cases stick, primers get holes, or little circles where the ejector is then your past there.

You don't always get the flaten primers before you get over pressure signs. Some powders spike at a certin pressure.

 

[medalguy]

Pat's Reloading has some good pulled .308 military bullets perfect for .308:

Mil 308 M80 147 FMJ US Mil Pulls 1,000 $110.00

http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx?category=Bullets

Scroll about halfway down the page and look for MIL 308 in the left column. Pat's is good people to deal with. Remember these are pulled and not match bullets. As kingmt said, they are good to blast rocks and cans with.

 

[kingmt]

I haven't bought any in a few months but that sounds high for M80s.

 

[Walkalong]

What do you look for?

Accuracy, with no pressure signs. As you work up to max there will be more than one "sweet" spot, depending on how low you start and how far you go. Pick one at the recoil/velocity range you like.

Of course, with the cheapest bullets, especially open base FMJ, accuracy will not be top notch.

 

[liberalwithagun]

I went with the M80 bullets @ wideners. 95.00 for 500. A little above my range but these were never installed and I was ordering some other items from wideners anyway.