just bought some 308 bullets........

eganx · December 6, 2008, 09:15 AM

I found a killer deal on some 308 bullets so I put in an order for 500 to try them out. got them in yesterday and measured about 10 with my dial calipers and they are measuring .306 and .3065. now, I have never reloaded for 308 but it was my understanding that the bullet diameter is supposed to be .308. are these going to work???? I was just planning to use these for target shooting with my FAL, so if they are not super accurate its ok.

45Marlin carbine · December 6, 2008, 09:43 AM

they will shoot OK but likely not top-grade grouping. sure you got your calipers zeroed/calibrated?

kraigwy · December 6, 2008, 11:03 AM

If it bothers you, select a diameter you want, buy a bullet sizer (used by bullet casters) and buy a .308 bullet sizer die and run all the bullets through it.

I have a .375 mold, that uses 3/8 copper tubing to make jackets. I cut the tubing to length. put the tubing piece into the mold and poor in the lead. Sometimes the jackets are a slight bit out of round, so I run them throught my cast bullet sizer. They come out perfect round and a heck of a lot more accurate.

However, before you do anything, I'd just shoot them and see what happens. Also slug your barrel, see if its .308 or .3085, or what ever. Not all barrels are the same diameter, even ones coming from the same factory.

But really, how much does it effect your gun. Are you a bench rest shooter or are you just popping critters up to 300 yards.

KD5NRH · December 6, 2008, 11:48 AM

What weight are they? That sounds closer to .32ACP (.307") than .308 (.308" for jacketed or .309 for cast")

eganx · December 6, 2008, 02:56 PM

they are 150grn. I think they should work for shooting paper @ 100 yards

Trajan · December 6, 2008, 03:14 PM

all bullets I buy, hornady, speer, winchester, whoever... measure less than whatever the actual caliber is...

I always wondered about that.

Edward429451 · December 6, 2008, 04:41 PM

I've seen lots of undersized bullets also. Go shoot some. See if they're worth a hoot. Then post back.

velocette · December 6, 2008, 07:53 PM

I just went out into my shop & measured 4 different 30 cal. bullets from 4 different manufacturors using my calibrated (to NIST) digital calipers.

Sierra 168 HPBT match: .308"
Winchester 147 FMJBT: .308"
Remington 150 gr. SP: .308"
Prvi Partizan 150 gr SP: .3085"

For what its worth.

Roger

wogpotter · December 6, 2008, 10:08 PM

I'd be concerned about them backing out of the cases in the magazine with a semi-auto.

MASTERCAST.COM · December 7, 2008, 01:51 AM

A friend of mine just bought some 9mm bullets at a killer price...they measured from .353 to .357 diameter and were advertised to be Winchester bullets.

BEWARE the "Killer prices".....those 9mm bullet did not shoot worth a toot!

[email protected]

MASTERCAST.COM · December 7, 2008, 01:55 AM

Sorry about that.

[email protected]

T. O'Heir · December 7, 2008, 02:35 AM

Pulled milsurp? Seconds? Yep, they should be .308". However, "killer deals" aren't always on high quality stuff.
"...never reloaded for 308..." You must full length resize the cases every time for any semi-auto. If your brass is milsurp, the primer crimp will have to come out. Use your chamfering tool or buy a primer pocket swager.
A crimp isn't necessary, but I'd add a light crimp, if those bullets actually are .306" diameter(measure 'em with a micrometer or a digital vernier. It's not difficult to mis-read a dial calipre. Especially if you don't use one regularly.)
IMR4895, IMR4064 or Varget will do nicely.
In any case, an FAL isn't a target rifle. It's a battle rifle. 45.0 grains of IMR4895 is given as the accuracy load for a 150 grain jacketed bullet in my Lyman manual. That'll do nicely for plinking ammo. Even if the bullets are undersized. Undersized bullets will not hurt your FAL. They just won't shoot terribly well.

Slamfire · December 7, 2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Undersized bullets will not hurt your FAL. They just won't shoot terribly well.

Absolutely true in my experience. Expect pie pan sized groups at 100 yards.

Quote:

If it bothers you, select a diameter you want, buy a bullet sizer (used by bullet casters) and buy a .308 bullet sizer die and run all the bullets through it

I suspect these are jacketed, but even if they were cast, I don't see how running .306 bullets through a .308 die will make them larger.

If there is a way, let me know. I have some .311's that I would like to make .313"

totalloser · December 9, 2008, 10:56 PM

I agree with T O'Heir. Dial calipers are VERY easy to get a bad reading on. If you bear down on them they will give you a reading that is off by .002" I would zero the calipers, and try again.

December 6, 2008, 09:15 AM	#1
eganx Junior Member Join Date: November 8, 2008 Posts: 11	just bought some 308 bullets........ I found a killer deal on some 308 bullets so I put in an order for 500 to try them out. got them in yesterday and measured about 10 with my dial calipers and they are measuring .306 and .3065. now, I have never reloaded for 308 but it was my understanding that the bullet diameter is supposed to be .308. are these going to work???? I was just planning to use these for target shooting with my FAL, so if they are not super accurate its ok.

December 6, 2008, 11:03 AM	#3
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	If it bothers you, select a diameter you want, buy a bullet sizer (used by bullet casters) and buy a .308 bullet sizer die and run all the bullets through it. I have a .375 mold, that uses 3/8 copper tubing to make jackets. I cut the tubing to length. put the tubing piece into the mold and poor in the lead. Sometimes the jackets are a slight bit out of round, so I run them throught my cast bullet sizer. They come out perfect round and a heck of a lot more accurate. However, before you do anything, I'd just shoot them and see what happens. Also slug your barrel, see if its .308 or .3085, or what ever. Not all barrels are the same diameter, even ones coming from the same factory. But really, how much does it effect your gun. Are you a bench rest shooter or are you just popping critters up to 300 yards. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

December 6, 2008, 07:53 PM	#8
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	I just went out into my shop & measured 4 different 30 cal. bullets from 4 different manufacturors using my calibrated (to NIST) digital calipers. Sierra 168 HPBT match: .308" Winchester 147 FMJBT: .308" Remington 150 gr. SP: .308" Prvi Partizan 150 gr SP: .3085" For what its worth. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

December 7, 2008, 01:51 AM	#10
MASTERCAST.COM Junior member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Posts: 63	Kraigwy..... A friend of mine just bought some 9mm bullets at a killer price...they measured from .353 to .357 diameter and were advertised to be Winchester bullets. BEWARE the "Killer prices".....those 9mm bullet did not shoot worth a toot! [email protected]

December 7, 2008, 01:55 AM	#11
MASTERCAST.COM Junior member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Posts: 63	Ooops! That should have been "eganX" Sorry about that. [email protected]

December 6, 2008, 09:43 AM	#2
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	they will shoot OK but likely not top-grade grouping. sure you got your calipers zeroed/calibrated?

December 6, 2008, 11:48 AM	#4
KD5NRH Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Location: Stephenville TX Posts: 176	What weight are they? That sounds closer to .32ACP (.307") than .308 (.308" for jacketed or .309 for cast")

December 6, 2008, 02:56 PM	#5
eganx Junior Member Join Date: November 8, 2008 Posts: 11	they are 150grn. I think they should work for shooting paper @ 100 yards

December 6, 2008, 03:14 PM	#6
Trajan Member Join Date: May 19, 2007 Posts: 51	all bullets I buy, hornady, speer, winchester, whoever... measure less than whatever the actual caliber is... I always wondered about that.

December 6, 2008, 04:41 PM	#7
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I've seen lots of undersized bullets also. Go shoot some. See if they're worth a hoot. Then post back.

December 6, 2008, 10:08 PM	#9
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I'd be concerned about them backing out of the cases in the magazine with a semi-auto.

December 7, 2008, 02:35 AM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Pulled milsurp? Seconds? Yep, they should be .308". However, "killer deals" aren't always on high quality stuff. "...never reloaded for 308..." You must full length resize the cases every time for any semi-auto. If your brass is milsurp, the primer crimp will have to come out. Use your chamfering tool or buy a primer pocket swager. A crimp isn't necessary, but I'd add a light crimp, if those bullets actually are .306" diameter(measure 'em with a micrometer or a digital vernier. It's not difficult to mis-read a dial calipre. Especially if you don't use one regularly.) IMR4895, IMR4064 or Varget will do nicely. In any case, an FAL isn't a target rifle. It's a battle rifle. 45.0 grains of IMR4895 is given as the accuracy load for a 150 grain jacketed bullet in my Lyman manual. That'll do nicely for plinking ammo. Even if the bullets are undersized. Undersized bullets will not hurt your FAL. They just won't shoot terribly well. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

December 9, 2008, 10:56 PM	#14
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	I agree with T O'Heir. Dial calipers are VERY easy to get a bad reading on. If you bear down on them they will give you a reading that is off by .002" I would zero the calipers, and try again. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.