Accuracy Potential of 308/30-06 Military Bullets?

[1911user]

I'm looking for some cheap(er) 30 caliber bullets that would shoot 1.5 moa or better from a bolt action rifle that is sub-moa with match grade ammo. This would be for semi-serious plinking practice at 100-200 yards.

One thought was the flat base 152gr bullets pulled from old 30-06 military ammo. They're cheap enough, but do they have the accuracy potential after being pulled even if there are no cut marks on the jacket? IIRC a good Garand in a tight stock was easily a 2moa rifle with this ammo. Are there other good candidtates? The expensive solution is to just buy match bullets, but I'm trying to be cheap about it

 

[30Cal]

The Speer 125gr TNT bullet is excellent (match worthy) and you should be able to find it for pretty cheap. I've never gotten a surplus bullet (or commercial equivalent) to shoot well.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Of the surplus bullets, the 175 grain bullets originally loaded in 30.06 match ammo seem to work the best in 1:10 twist barrels like the M1 Garand has. The 150 grain ball isn't batch ammo, for shooting bad guys with in quantity, but isn't particularly accurate in that barrel twist. In the past, I've had very good luck loading the 175 grain surplus bullets in my Hook Bowden tuned M1. Shot minute of angle all day long.

I don't know what twist your bolt action is, but if it's 1:10, it'll most likely prefer the heavier bullets. Also, those were designed for accuracy, unlike the M2 ball, which was designed more for economy.

Dave

 

[1911user]

It's a 1:10
I haven't seen heavier pulled bullets for sale. They would be ideal.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Well dang, Bud, I may have given you a bum steer. I checked all my usual resources and nobody had any. Pat's Reloading did have some reasonable prices on 168 grainers though.

If you're reloading for a bolt action, you may want to consider casting your own. Lots of very accurate cast bullets out there for the .30 caliber. Make great practice rounds.

Dave

 

[Winger Ed.]

Cast bullets in .30 cal. are great. I shoot bunches of them in .30-06, .308, and that's all I shoot in .30-30. Get the round nose 170ish-180 or so grain ones up around 2,000fps and you've got basically the performance of a full house/factory .30-30 round with no barrel wear.

.

 

[Vitamin G]

The Speer 125gr TNT bullet is excellent (match worthy) and you should be able to find it for pretty cheap. I've never gotten a surplus bullet (or commercial equivalent) to shoot well.

I couldn't believe this when i experienced it. I was getting better accuracy with "bulk pack" bullets than with sierra gamekings. (albeit not matchkings)

Makes me wanna go varminting.

 

[30Cal]

I couldn't believe this when i experienced it. I was getting better accuracy with "bulk pack" bullets than with sierra gamekings. (albeit not matchkings)

Makes me wanna go varminting.

I hear ya! I found them them for $125/2000 delivered a couple months back. I wish he'd had more in stock. It's hard to believe, but my match ammo costs me 17¢ a pop.

Ty