What bullet would you choose?

[SamHouston]

Hey ya'll!

I am a long time lurker, first time poster.

I have a hypothetical question for ya. Let's say you were about to go to war. You don't know where, could be Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, E. Europe, or wherever. You are going to be given an M14 (don't want to get into other platforms or that the AR-15, FAL, Cetme, G3, etc. etc. is better) and you can choose whichever bullet you want for it. There is going to be no Geneva Convention to worry about here, though. You only want to choose the bullet that is going to do the best job. Do you step up to a 175 gr BTHP for the range? Sierra Game King for the stopping power? 147 FMJ for the reliability? Black Hills match grade ammo?

For me, I think I would choose 165 or 180 grain ballistic tip. The ballistic tip helps with feeding but still allows great expansion and the heavier bullet will reach out a bit if the need comes up.

Well, what do you take?

 

[rcmodel]

165 - 168 weight range is probably the most efficient weight in .308 from a trajectory standpoint.

But if you insist on going to war, I would take 150 grain M61 AP ball.

Bad guys tend to hide behind hard stuff when you shoot at them during a war.


rcmodel

 

[CWL]

I'd use military ball. Whatever is plentyful and is being issued.

 

[SoCalShooter]

I think I would stick with what CWL said, I like plentiful.

 

[MachIVshooter]

There is going to be no Geneva Convention to worry about here, though. You only want to choose the bullet that is going to do the best job.

Geneva convention deals with treatment of POW's and war criminals. Hague convention is the one that restricts ammunition types that are intended for use on personnel.

But back to the point, I'd probably go with 150 grain boat tail spitzers. But an M-14 wouldn't be my choice for a combat rifle. I would go AR-10 carbine or, if it proves reliable, the new Kel-Tec RFB carbine.

 

[Conqueror]

I would use whatever weight was most appropriate for the twist of my issued rifle's barrel, but regardless of weight I'd be using ballistic tips of some sort.

 

[1lostinspace]

lol you guy are going to think I am crazy but I am not.

I would go with 110 grain Vmax it will penetrate a car and most light things but will make the bad guys turn inside out....splat.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

The V-Max is a varmint bullet and so are hollowpoints. I'll take the effective and proven M61 "ball" myself.

 

[SamHouston]

Sorry for the convention confusion. I knew it was one of those and, of course, missed the 50/50 guess.

When picking the ap rounds, are you picking them to make sure they will go through any type of body armor or cover/concealment for the most part? Seems like you would be sacrificing a little of the "stopping" power a hollowpoint or softpoint bullet would give.

 

[birdbustr]

Ballistic tips and V-max would probably have a harder time with Kevlar than some kind of bonded bullet. I know lots of deer hunters love the ballistic tips, but they have just as many who don't want a jacket separation and consider an exit hole a must.

I think I would go for a Hornady Interbond in 150 grain.

 

[davepool]

I would choose something that explodes on impact, leaving a hole big enough to see through

 

[rcmodel]

When picking the ap rounds, are you picking them to make sure they will go through any type of body armor or cover/concealment for the most part? Seems like you would be sacrificing a little of the "stopping" power a hollowpoint or softpoint bullet would give.

Yes! Hard target penetration.
"Stopping Power" be danged!

You can't kill them, or even stop them from shooting back, if you can't get through the cover they are sure to be hiding behind.

Whether it's a vehicle, or mud wall, or a twig & stick goat pen, the AP will not blow up. It may not make it through, but the chances are far better then a varmint / hunting round.

If you had specified a bolt-action sniper rifle, my choice would be different.
But for an M-14 and Rattle-Battle, I want AP, or at least GI ball!


rcmodel

 

[buck460XVR]

I'd go with ball ammo also for the penetration. Besides a wounded man ties up two or three other soldiers trying to help him. A dead man is just dead. Besides, hit 'em in the right places and you don't have to worry about expansion.

 

[SamHouston]

Ok then...

If you had specified a bolt-action sniper rifle, my choice would be different.

Out of the bolt action sniper rifle you were taking to war what bullet would you choose then?

 

[KiltedClaymore]

i would use 180 grain cor-lok spear points with a mag of AP on hand

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Good old Ball ammo or maybe some 168gr match.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

You shoot a man through the lungs with a .30 caliber rifle round, it's not going to matter if the bullet expanded or not. He's going to be out of the fight with a sucking chest wound, and dead soon without medical help.

I would use whatever was in plentiful supply, providing I could get a chance to zero the weapon with it so I would know roughly what accuracy I could depend on.

Now, if the enemy are zombies, it might different. Zombies don't hide behind stuff, and the only thing you might have to shoot through to hit a zombie is the 4 or 5 zombies in front of the one you're aiming at; so AP ammunition might not be necessary. In that case, I would pick a match round with the 168 gr. Sierra Match King HPBT bullet.