.308 Win bullet choice

The Hodgdon web site and most manuals specify loads for 110 gr 308 FMJ bullets.
/Bryan

I can't cite where I believe I read this, but I don't believe "30 carbine" bullets were meant to be fired in 308 Win rifles. Major difference in velocity and bullet construction...might not shoot real well. Can anyone lend any credibility to this?

Sierra lists 3 110gr bullets in 308 - an FMJ, RN, and HP with ballistic coefficients reported to velocities of 2800. I don't see what would differentiate a round nose 110 seen in a 30 Carbine cartridge from these offerings. They aren't specifying that velocites be kept under 2200 or anything.

In fact the part #2100 110gr RN is the same bullet the Lyman 48th Ed. used for it's 30 Carb jacketed load.

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=rifle&caliberID=9

/B

Canuck-IL said:

Sierra lists 3 110gr bullets in 308 - an FMJ, RN, and HP with ballistic coefficients reported to velocities of 2800. I don't see what would differentiate a round nose 110 seen in a 30 Carbine cartridge from these offerings. They aren't specifying that velocites be kept under 2200 or anything.

In fact the part #2100 110gr RN is the same bullet the Lyman 48th Ed. used for it's 30 Carb jacketed load.

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=rifle&caliberID=9

/B

Click to expand...

Yeah, and matter of fact the Sierra 50th Anniversary manual list the Firearm Used as a Winchester Model 70 with a 26" 1:12 twist barrel for all three of those bullets. The only .308 bullets I have from Sierra labeled Handgun Only are some #8005 85 grain RN which also show up in the chart. The box is clearly labeled in red Handgun Use Only.

While not mentioning H4895 they do cover IMR 4895. So any of the 110 grain bullets should not be a problem.

Ron

I've got some cast boolits I'm going to test saturday.

I'll post the results.

190 grain gas checked, and some 180 grain pointy ones with gas checks.

30 carb bullets fire fine in .308- they are my varmint load over h4895.

Mind you, the drop is.........sharp. And thats out of a 26" BBL.

But, with that in mind, plenty accurate.

There are plenty of 30 cal bullets out there in the mil-spec weight line you are looking for.

check these out :

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8979&dir=278|281|1081|1161

The original ball design, and instock.

Welcome to .308- you have the best tool ever invented for it : 4895.

I have tried almost every odd thing in the world. Like 88 gr 9mm thru 158 gr .357 bullets down the spout of a .350 REM magnum. Did they work, kind of. Some almost, was it good? Nope. You can make carbine bullets function in your rifle but my experience lends me to think accuracy would be frustrating at best.

Your thoughts about gas check cast bullets is more plausible. You have to be careful to keep your velocities moderate or even with the gas check, the bullet will strip the rifleing and fill the grooves with lead. Then your gun won't shoot any bullet accurately until properly cleaned. Removing the lead from a rifle barrel is a tedious task and better done with specific tools designed for that. Do it wrong and you can damage the barrel for life.

Sometimes you can skin a cat with a rock but usually results vary. As cheap as milspec .308 bullets are, don't frustrate yourself until you have a bit more experience.
As stated before, my advice is worth what I charge for it...

I use Speer's 125 grain bullets in my FNAR .308 Winchester. I also use this bullet in my Ruger Mini-Thirty in 7.62x39mm. Shoots sweet. I use Win 748 in the FNAR and AA-1680 for the commie round. Works well for me and doesn't break the bank. For rather inexpensive loads, these work well for me. I haven't had trouble getting these bullets as they can be ordered from Midway, Natchez, Midsouth, and a host of others.