.308 bullet in a .312 bore - what kind of accuracy would you expect?

[dmftoy1]

I just got done shooting my M44 Mosin using some Golden Bear ammo and no matter what I tried the accuracy was as bad as ANYTHING I've ever seen. I tried it with Bayonet extended, Bayonet folded, etc etc. Now I'm not the greatest shot in the world, but off of a bench I'm capable of shooting some pretty tight groups.

Anyway, I burned through 60 rounds of the stuff (185 grain bi-metal FMJ) and was really bummed. I came back and decided to pull a bullet to see what diameter it was and it mic'd out at .308 . . .so given that I can drop a .308 bullet through a .312 sizing die and it just falls to the floor . ..what kind of accuracy would you think you'd get? My guess is that the bullets weren't even being spun up . . . .

Just curious what your opinion was. I sure won't be buying anymore Golden Bear ammo

 

[jr45]

308 vs 312

I reload the 7.62x54 ammo and have tried using .308 projectiles and got very poor accuracy. I slugged my barrel (came close to .313) and started using .312 diameter bullets. The accuracy has dramatically increased using the larger bullets. I'm betting that the .308s are not getting a good seal in the barrel.

 

[rcmodel]

It might work with copper jacketed bullets, because they are soft enough to bump up to fit.

But the steel-jacketed Russian stuff is probably too hard to bump up to fit the bore.

("Bi-Metal" is just a buzz-word for a steel jacket with a copper wash coating)



rcmodel

 

[dmftoy1]

Well I just dropped $69 on 100 rounds of boxer brass and some Lee Dies . . .tomorrow I'm going to fire up the old Lyman 314299 and see if we can make this dog hunt.

 

[Canuck-IL]

.308 bullet in a .312 bore - what kind of accuracy would you expect?

you might hit the side of a barn ... from the inside.
/Bryan

 

[dmftoy1]

Well I was keeping them all on the berm . . .that's about all I can say. Have to repair my target holder tomorrow.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[jwr_747]

I've tried .308 bullets in several of my MN's. groups go from minute of angle to minute of moose..311&.312 diameter get them back on the paper. jwr

 

[dmftoy1]

Well I'm firing up the casting bench tomorrow . .hopefully I can take care of it when the brass and dies get here!