Question about 147 grain FMJBT mil surp bullets?

[Jasper1573]

I have been thinking about buying several thousand of these bullets for general plinking purposes since they are relatively cheap.

My question is...does the open boat tail of the bullet expose the lead core to the heat of the burning powder and change the dynamics of the bullet's center of gravity as it leaves the barrel.

I have fired some of the Winchester 7.62x51 FMJBT rounds through my 308 and had very lack luster results. I am curious if it was the Winchester round or the 147 grain bullet or both.

On the other hand, I have fired numerous DAG 93 mil surp rounds at 147 grains and they shot fine, but they were cupro-nickel bullets with a closed boat tail.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[USSR]

My question is...does the open boat tail of the bullet expose the lead core to the heat of the burning powder and change the dynamics of the bullet's center of gravity as it leaves the barrel.

Yep, exposed lead at the base. The problem is not so much the lead exposed to the heat, as it is the lack of a uniform base (such as you find with hollowpoint and softpoint bullets), and the fact that there is very little bearing surface with these bullets. They are pretty much all ogive and boattail.

I have fired some of the Winchester 7.62x51 FMJBT rounds through my 308 and had very lack luster results. I am curious if it was the Winchester round or the 147 grain bullet or both.

And you will likely find disappointing results with these bullets as well. Save your money and buy a better bullet. Just MHO.

Don

 

[dardascastbullets]

My old time shooting buddy and I used to buy the 147's (the same as you have described) by the 10,000 count lots. We would shoot them at 200 and 300 yards for big bore practice. Our experimentation allowed us to shoot fantastic groups with them. Good enough that we would shoot them in competition at 200 yards and win! We used surplus military powder too! Experiment and you will find that you too can shoot these with great success.

 

[Walkalong]

The problem is not so much the lead exposed to the heat, as it is the lack of a uniform base (such as you find with hollowpoint and softpoint bullets), and the fact that there is very little bearing surface with these bullets.

Yep, the base of the bullet is very important to accuracy. The FMJ-BT (Any caliber) with its open base simply cannot match a bullet with a closed base, whether it is a HP or SP. The base simply will not be as square, not to mention the lead core not being square at the base, and thus unbalanced.

They make good cheap plinkers.

The "closed tip" "FMJ" with its closed base is becoming popular, simply because they are more accurate than the typical old FMJ-BT with its open base.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...35mm-115-grain-closed-tip-flat-base-box-of-20