Components for a good .308 "plinking" load.

[Davo]

Seeing as how 7.62 keeps getting more expensive Id like to develop a good plinking load for my .308 savage, and soon for a .308 enfield also. Im looking for a fairly inexpensive load that is clean with decent accuracy if possible. I will not be weighing powder charges for each case, and will be using a mixed lot of used 7.62 nato brass. I already have primers.
I have thought about pulled military bullets, they seem reasonably priced. If I go that route would you recommend the 150gr flat bases used in the 06, or the 147 gr boat tails used in the nato load? These will be used at 200 yds and less, and if one is known for better accuracy id go that route.
As far as powder, ive heard that surplus powder is pretty good. I have heard good things about several different powders, but would prefer one that could handle heavier bullets if needed (175 gr SMK), again I would prefer it to be clean burning. Any recommendations? What do you guys pay for haz mat on surplus powders?

 

[30Cal]

125gr Speer TNT

 

[Davo]

Id like to stay a little heavier 150 gr. or so.

 

[USSR]

Im looking for a fairly inexpensive load that is clean with decent accuracy if possible. I will not be weighing powder charges for each case, and will be using a mixed lot of used 7.62 nato brass. I already have primers.
I have thought about pulled military bullets, they seem reasonably priced. If I go that route would you recommend the 150gr flat bases used in the 06, or the 147 gr boat tails used in the nato load? These will be used at 200 yds and less, and if one is known for better accuracy id go that route.

I'm confused. You're taking every shortcut possible, and looking for decent accuracy with one surplus bullet over another?

Don

 

[Davo]

Im asking if I were to use a surplus bullet, of those 2 which would yeild better results.

 

[Dave R]

I have only shot the 147gr, not the 150gr. flat base.

However, since the 147gr boattail was designed for the .308, that's the way I go. Cost is the same, right?

I just bought at batch from www.hi-techammo.com. $35+ shipping for 500. Oddly enough, tracers cost the same as FMJ. I hear they don't all light.

 

[goon]

I think the 147 grain bullets would do fine too. I have never reloaded any surplus bullets in a .308 but I have shot some really good groups with South African and Portugese surplus out of the Savages I had.
Don't skimp on powder. I haven't heard of anyone having problems from using pull down powder but I would still be a little nervous about using it. Reloading sort of starts off with a pretty unforgiving margin for error and my personal choice is to not add any more.

 

[fatelk]

I bought some bullets from hitech recently, 147 FMJ-BT. I was not happy when I got them but it turned out OK (mostly). They have dents from being pulled and I thought that would adversely affect accuracy. They also were not sized, though they are advertised as sized.

I called and he said I could return them to be sized and they would pay shipping both ways, but I decided to run them through my little Lee .308 sizer and see how they shot. I shot three 5-shot groups through a very accurate 30-06 and the largest was 1.8" at 100 yards. Not bad at all for old mixed military bullets.

I have noticed that the prices have been going up tremendously on surplus components in the last couple months. I wanted to buy a bunch of surplus powder last year, but needed to find someone to split an order with to justify the high shipping and hazmat fees. Since then the price has increased about 50% and I won't be ordering any anytime soon.

That being said, I have used surplus powder, even pulldown, and it works great. You just need to carefully work up a load each time you get a new lot, even if it is the same number. They say burning rates can vary from lot to lot. I haven't used a lot of it so I don't claim to be an expert.

The hazmat rate I think is $20 per package, plus regular shipping, up to six or eight 8lb cans in a box. It seems like one of the places I was looking at would pay the hazmat fee if you bought at least 6 8lb cans, but who can afford $600 worth of gunpowder?

Slight hijack: Anyone in the Willamette Valley (Oregon) area interested in splitting an order of surplus powder? www.gibrass.com has 8lb jugs of WC846 (perfect for .308) for $88/8lbs.

 

[Zippy06]

Try these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-30-Cal-Pul...emZ140060466791QQcategoryZ71113QQcmdZViewItem

or
http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-30-Cal-147...emZ140090307955QQcategoryZ71113QQcmdZViewItem

 

[qajaq59]

The military pulls OR the Oregon Trails cast bullets from Midway are probably your best bets. I use the pulls in my K31 and the cast in my 30-30s. Both can be loaded to accuracy with a little effort.