308 147FMJBT Loads?

[wolfe28]

Hey there;
I'm looking for a fairly accurate plinking load for my 308 using surplus 147 FMJBT projectiles. I will be using Varget mostly, but I also have some 4064, winchester large rifle primers, and either federal or winchester brass.
Suggestions and favorite loads?
Thanks,
D

 

[Davo]

Ive put together a few like this recently. Winchester brass, federal primers, and 40-44 grains of Varget. I seat the rounds till the reach the crimp mark.
Accuracy is mediocre at best. I get 2-3 inch groups at 100 yards.

 

[Grumulkin]

I have some bulk buy Winchester .308 caliber FMJ BT bullets I tried in a 308 Winchester. I also got mediocre accuracy at least with IMR 4064; maybe another powder would have worked better.

I suspect the only advantage to these bullets is their cheapness. If you want accuracy, you'll probably have to cough up the green for a bit better quality.

 

[wolfe28]

2-3 Inch groups are fine.

I'm not expecting to get the one hole groups I get with a 180 SGK over Varget with winchester brass and primers. All I want is a resonably accurate plinking round, so I can keep practicing with my 308 for hunting season. Being able to pick up 147 FMJBT's for $130/K makes them too hard to pass up and not use. Thanks a bunch.
D

 

[Mark whiz]

All you have to do is look at the mil-spec for the 147gr FMJs to realize that the best that is expected of such bullets is 2 to 3 MOA at 100yds and that is about the best you can expect from any loads you make for them. The Aussie Mil-Surplus ammo would shoot 1 MOA, but they were 144gr FMJs and not hardly found on the market these days.

 

[alucard0822]

45gr of varget and a 147gr fmj duplicate mil spec loads fairly well. 45gr of H4895 maybe a little more so, both have functioned well in my uncle's M1A that tends to be a little finicky with faster or slower powders, and they are about as accurate as the 147grainers are capable of, I use those same bullets over 50gr of 4895 in my 30-06 garand for cheap fun and nosler 168gr HPBT bulk packs for more serious target work

 

[Dave R]

I just worked up a load the past weekend using "pulled" 147gr. milsurp bullets. Except I used H335 powder. I got best accuracy at 43-44gr. of H335. Best accuracy was 2-3", same as everyone else.

 

[spencerhut]

I just did a batch of 147g Winchester FMJBT with CCI LR Primers in LC 05 Brass with 43.5g of IMR4895. Trimmed to 1.95in for the RCBS X-Die to size and then used Lee seating and FCD to seat the bullet at 2.800 OAL and very lightly crimp. Did some informal testing on some IDPA cardboard targets and had no problem making 20 out of 20 a-zone head shots. Good enough for me.

Edit: My gun is an M1A Loaded with a Burris 1.5-6x Euro Diamond Scope. My shots above were taken at ~40 yards as rapidly as the target could be acquired ~1 second per shot.

 

[jr81452]

i use 46.4gr BL-(c)2 with 147 FMJBT and cci LR primers, win brass and get about 1.25" @ 100yards with a COL of 2.800. but thats from a bolt gun. you don't say if you are using a semi auto or not, but i would think not if you're practicing for dear hunting.

 

[wolfe28]

Yes, I'm using a bolt gun.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that. I'm using a Savage 112BVSS, 24" barrel in stainless.
Thanks again,
D