Prvi 8x57 198 gr FMJ Loads

[Maj Dad]

I have searched here & elsewhere until I fell asleep at the wheel, so I will just ask if anyone has a load for this particular bullet? I have 200gr sp's & SMKHPs & 220 gr heavies for 8x57, and 150s & 175s, but have never shot this particular bullet. They looked so nice I bought 500, but before I start extrapolating & working up loads, if anyone has a proven performer I would appreciate the input. My best load with the 175 gr SP (Rem or Hornady, not at shop now) was a hot one with 2520 in new Rem cases, gave me a repeatable 1" 100-yd group off the bench (glass-bedded VZ-24, open sights!), so that rifle at least is capable of good accuracy. I am starting to like the idea of shooting bullets of the original design, along with the heavies, just for fun. I have 4, 3 K98Ks (one a Yugo post-war re-bbl) and the VZ-24. Next comes cast bullets...
Thanks,
George J.

 

[Sunray]

Load for the bullet weight. Who made it or its construction doesn't matter. For a 198 grain bullet use 200 grain data. The 2 grains won't make any difference.

 

[stubbicatt]

I would offer a word of caution with respect to loading bullets according to their weight. Many bullets of the same weight differ in other important respects including bearing surface and materials of construction. If you cannot find data specific to your brand and model of bullet, do begin at starting loads and work your way up watching for pressure signs.

 

[Maj Dad]

Right on, stubbi - these Prvi bullets, which are very consistently 199 gr no doubt as a result of the metric conversion, have about half the bearing surface of the 200 gr SMK HPs I use. The gilding metal jacket is almost certainly different from the SMKs, and they are open base BTs versus the solid base of all the others I have. I was just curious to see if anyone had worked up this particular bullet before I press on doing just that.
Thanks for your replies, gents

 

[crazysccrmd]

Find some N202 if you can. Off the top of my head I used 44.7gr with Nosler 200 bthp for 2500fps out of a 17.5" barrel.