.308 147gr FMJ accuracy?

[Centurian22]

Title pretty much says it. I'm about to be working up a load for .308 with 147fmj pull downs and IMR4895 or 4064. Can anyone give me an idea of the accuracy they've obtained with 147fmj's in .308? I hope to use them for plinking and moving out to 200-300 yards but only if I can get acceptable accuracy (2MOA?) out of them. I've gotten 1moa at 100yards from 168SMK's but just don't have many left in my box of 100 after load development and buying more is not in the cards for me at the moment financially.

Thanks for any input.

 

[medalguy]

I seriously doubt 2 MOA with M80 bullets, especially with pulls. I shoot a lot of them but most go downrange from a MG. I've shot some through my M1A and I can hit a 6 inch pie plate at 100 yards but not a whole lot better. Good for plinking but not terribly accurate. 168s are a whole 'nother world.

 

[redclay]

FMJ and accuracy should not be used in the same sentence. 168 HP or A-Max would work just fine.

 

[FLIGHT762]

If you get 2 MOA, you will be doing well. The bullets being pulled down doesn't help the accuracy either. Just be aware the M-80 pull downs you have, have mild steel jackets. You can check them with a magnet to be sure, if a magnet sticks, it steel. You didn't post what rifle you're shooting them out of.

I do load and shoot the M-80 pulldowns, but they don't get fired through my premium, match rifle barrels, just my personal preference. I shoot them through my Garands, M-1A's, FAL ,HK-91 etc.

Shooting The M-80's are similar to shooting the Russian, Tula, Wolf etc. ammo as most of them use mild steel bullet jackets.

 

[R.W.Dale]

M80 projectiles are probably easily the least accurate rifle projectile mankind has yet devised. If you get 2moa you're way ahead of the game

 

[Centurian22]

This is what I was afraid of. Bugger. Might just have to stash away some cash until I can score a 500rd box of the 168smk's. Thanks for the info.

 

[Swampman]

You might consider trying the Hornady 150 grain FMJ's.

They're not as good as SMK's, but they're far more accurate than any M-80 pulls I've tried.

 

[mtrmn]

I have gotten 1.5 MOA @100 yds and sometimes less by separating my bullets into lots by weight. This was with new bullets from Widener's. Their 145gr FMJs made by PRVI. I have not tried pulled bullets.

 

[Centurian22]

I'll be shooting these out of a savage axis .308. Not a precision rifle but I don't want to do anything to risk damage to it either. I'll try some out and see what happens after testing with a magnet. Just checked and they are quite attracted to a magnet. Makes me wonder if I want to use them or just try to sell them and put the money towards a box of SMK's.

 

[Sommerled]

I have been using the .308 147gr pulldown bullets with 44.5gr of 4895 in my MP10 with good effect for plinking. I bought 2k from Top Brass, and there are few marks on them, if at all. The load shoots a consistent 2" group from a rest at 100 yds if I do my part. Max load of 4895 produced less accuracy in my rifle.

 

[FLIGHT762]

On the flip side, I have some 150 gr. .30 cal. M-2 ammo pulldowns that were squished by the pulling tool and made many of the bullets oblong that you can see with the naked eye.

The quality of the pulldowns relies on what tool was used and how it was used. I use these for plinking ammo in my Garands. They are not very accurate, but they were cheap at the time.

 

[FROGO207]

If you can get any bulk 150's from Widners they will group much better. They are usually Hornaday or Speer blems. I would call them and ask who made them to be sure before I bought any. Those pulls are not terribly accurate but work OK as foulers or for shootin' tin cans at best. FWIW the tracers I had were even more inaccurate but at 8 for a penny they were a bargain for plinking at 50 YDS.

 

[Centurian22]

Hey Frogo, good to hear from you. I still have those tracers. Some still loaded from our session. My range (orrington) doesn't allow them so its rare I get the chance to use them. I'll try a few at 44.5 and 41.5 of IMR 4895 as long as they check out in the books. Might try a few with trail boss just to see what a .308 mouse fart is like lol

Sommerled that is IMR 4895 correct? Just double checking. Thanks to all for the input.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Even though the 168gr SMK are great bullets they will cost you as you already know. There are other good bullets out there that will cost you less. Hornady has a 168gr Match bullet that is less money. I have shot a lot of the Hornady Match bullets and they are every bit as accurate as the Sierra but at a better price. I have also found that Nosler Custom Competition bullets are very accurate and they also cost less than the Sierra bullets.

Hornady 155gr Match = $27.89/100 - $125.99/500 - $242.99/1000
Hornady 168gr Match = $29.49/100 - $127.79/500 - $220.49/900

Nosler 155gr CC = $29.99/100 - $71.99/250 - $248.99/1000
Nosler 168gr CC = $31.49/100 - $73.99/250 - $248.99/1000

Sierra 150gr MK = $36.49/100 - $169.99/500
Sierra 155gr MK = $36.49/100 - $209.99/500
Sierra 168gr MK = $34.99/100 - $211.99/500

The price for 1000 Hornady and Nosler Match bullets are only slightly higher than the price for 500 Sierra MatchKing bullets in most weights.

All prices taken from midway USA so you might be able to find even better prices if you hunt around the NET... Of course none of the prices are as good as before the "shortage" hit!