Practice bullets

Bill Daniel · December 8, 2018, 09:47 PM

I need more trigger time on my target rifle but don’t want to burn up all my SMK’s in doing so. Any one know of a source for inexpensive jacketed .308 bullets? I am about out of the 168 grain blems I bought a while back.
Thanks,
All the best,
Bill

jugornot · December 8, 2018, 10:00 PM

My target rifle is a Savage model 12 FTR in 308. My practice rifle is a Savage model 12 FTR in 223. Much cheaper ammo and the same rifle. The biggest difference is the recoil. I also put time in on in on 22lr. Their are cheap ways to practice. Powder Valley is where I got my last big batch of SMKs.

egd · December 8, 2018, 10:26 PM

I don't shoot 308, but RMR (Rocky Mountain Reloading) Has good prices on everything I've used and the quality is great.

Chainsaw. · December 8, 2018, 11:23 PM

I love everglades. Fast shipping too.

http://www.evergladesammo.com/30cal-...j-seconds.html

std7mag · December 9, 2018, 06:35 AM

Have you checked out Hornady?
For my 7mm rifles i use a lot of their SST. Cost effective shooting. Cheaper than Ballistic Tips, same poi, same powder charge. Accurate enough out to 500 yards. (I just haven't tried them further).
They do have a Match bullet comparable to Sierra, and quite in expensive.

Bfglowkey · December 9, 2018, 10:30 AM

If your handloading I have found that the Hornady 168 Match BTHPs shoot very near to the SMKs of the same in Sierra. Very minor POI change but accuracy wise its very close. They usually run 20% cheaper in all quantity amounts but really shine if you buy by the 500s. MidwayUSA is having huge discounts on both brands so might be worth the look. My pet load with 168 SMKs works the exact same as the Hornady load in BTHP and only difference is seating cause slightly different bullet shapes. Now I would still back down powder charge 5% and work back up to ensure this for saftey but mine ended up exactly the same using OCW method...YMMV. ( Barnes Match Burners also work well and cheaper just harder to find )

**Unclenick** · December 9, 2018, 11:21 AM

I looked at all the usual suspects, but for jacketed bullets I don't find much encouragement. You used to be able to import 168-grain Match bullets at a good price, but now PRVI is selling for about what Sierra is at Graf. No real luck anywhere else, either. I suspect the tarrifs have had a significant effect on anything made of metal. Mid-South's bulk Monster Match brand is more than Hornady 168's and I would trust the latter first.

Since the cost of the metal seems to be such a big factor, I would take a look at giving up matching recoil and point of impact and just get some 100-grain half-jacket or 110-grain carbine bullets and load them over Trail Boss or even Unique or some such and just figure out the difference in POI if you don't want to change your sights for fear of forgetting to change them back later.

RC20 · December 9, 2018, 02:59 PM

Get the best bang for your buck, I am seeing interesting result with the Horandy 168 ELD,
I get them from wherever the price and shipping is the least. SMKs don't go on sale so its the blemish or Hornday.

That said, I don't shoot for accuracy to a POA, I shoot for groups. If its off POA, I can put it on POA if I want. If its on the paper I can see and not mixed with another group, I shoot the whole 5 to 10.

You just want to know if you and the load are grouping, you can adjust the scope if you need to or leave as is for the main event bullets.

cw308 · December 9, 2018, 06:30 PM

I'm a benchrest shooter , been shooting the same rifle for many years , my one an only . I only feed it Sierra 168 gr MK . Round count is important , practice on form with snap caps . I try to make every round count a barrel only has a certain amount of accurate life . I'm on my second barrel close to third . Only feed it what shoots best . As another post answered a 22 for trigger time is a good idea when not shooting center fire .

Bill Daniel · December 11, 2018, 10:16 AM

Thanks to all.
I found some Noma blems at Shooters Pro Shop.
All the best,
Bill

hounddawg · December 11, 2018, 01:14 PM

I have found Nosler Custom Competitions are almost identical to SMK's in the most of the common weights .264 caliber. Never tried then in .308 but they are a cost effective and accurate alternative to SMK's and Bergers

Mule · December 11, 2018, 01:54 PM

If you happen to take a drive through Missouri, stop at the Sierra factory store in Sedalia. They dip then out of a steel drum and sell by the pound.

RC20 · December 11, 2018, 04:04 PM

Dang, road trip?

5whiskey · December 13, 2018, 12:42 PM

Glad you found something OP. This is the very reason why I'm going to start casting. Figured it would barely be worth my time for pistol bullets, hence why I've always just bought them. But the savings on rifle bullets, and being able to make everything I'll shoot for the year in an afternoon? Totally worth it. Even if I do have to shoot reduced loads (I shoot heavy for caliber bullets in rifle mostly, so I really don't have to reduce so much).

Don Fischer · December 14, 2018, 02:39 PM

I don't shoot match kings a lot anymore but as I recall the price was about the same as reg cup and core bullet's! When I did shoot match kings in a rifle, they were all I would shoot in that rifle!

edit Need to add. If your load was developed using SMK's and your shooting really small groups but you switch to something else to practice with. How do you know if it's the bullet's of you when the group's come out larger?

Bill Daniel · December 16, 2018, 04:17 PM

Thanks to all. My thinking, right or wrong, is to work on my basics as to shooting technique and the beginnings of load development with the blems. Then I will try to perfect the load for my rifle with the SMKs and chase the tightest group.
The Norma blems are the same weight and I believe similar bc.
Thanks again,
Bill

jugornot · December 18, 2018, 09:27 PM

Took 5 rifles to the range today. Savage FTR in 223 and 308, AR in 223 and 308 and a bolt action 22LR. Put 5 shots over the chrono in the FTRs and ARs to get average speeds. Moved to the 500 yard range and practiced head shots. 20 in each rifle. Got boring really fast. Moved to the rimfire range. Must of shot more than 100 rounds. Had metal at 50, 75, 100, 200, 250 and 300 yards. Scope maxed out on the 200 yard metal. The 250 was fairly easy using Kentucky elevation. The 300 yard wasn't loud enough to hear or see move. Time for a better scope for the rimfire. The 22LR was more fun and taught me more than the other 4 rifles combined.The 22LR has the same drop at 300 yards that my 308 has at 1000. Cheap practice.

IMtheNRA · December 19, 2018, 06:08 PM

From what I saw, Wideners has a pretty good selection of cheap .308 bullets, starting at fifteen cents each.

https://www.wideners.com/reloading-s...ts/308-bullets

cw308 · December 22, 2018, 04:52 PM

Never shot long range in civilian llife , shot LR in the service , with scopes you can use a system called bracketing worked really well , look into it .

December 8, 2018, 09:47 PM	#1
Bill Daniel Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2000 Location: Bowling Green, KY. Posts: 518	Practice bullets I need more trigger time on my target rifle but don’t want to burn up all my SMK’s in doing so. Any one know of a source for inexpensive jacketed .308 bullets? I am about out of the 168 grain blems I bought a while back. Thanks, All the best, Bill __________________ Prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and their weapons will become harmless. "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt 1903

December 8, 2018, 10:00 PM	#2
jugornot Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2017 Posts: 197	My target rifle is a Savage model 12 FTR in 308. My practice rifle is a Savage model 12 FTR in 223. Much cheaper ammo and the same rifle. The biggest difference is the recoil. I also put time in on in on 22lr. Their are cheap ways to practice. Powder Valley is where I got my last big batch of SMKs. Last edited by jugornot; December 8, 2018 at 10:33 PM.

December 8, 2018, 11:23 PM	#4
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	I love everglades. Fast shipping too. http://www.evergladesammo.com/30cal-...j-seconds.html __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

December 9, 2018, 06:35 AM	#5
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Have you checked out Hornady? For my 7mm rifles i use a lot of their SST. Cost effective shooting. Cheaper than Ballistic Tips, same poi, same powder charge. Accurate enough out to 500 yards. (I just haven't tried them further). They do have a Match bullet comparable to Sierra, and quite in expensive. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

December 9, 2018, 11:21 AM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I looked at all the usual suspects, but for jacketed bullets I don't find much encouragement. You used to be able to import 168-grain Match bullets at a good price, but now PRVI is selling for about what Sierra is at Graf. No real luck anywhere else, either. I suspect the tarrifs have had a significant effect on anything made of metal. Mid-South's bulk Monster Match brand is more than Hornady 168's and I would trust the latter first. Since the cost of the metal seems to be such a big factor, I would take a look at giving up matching recoil and point of impact and just get some 100-grain half-jacket or 110-grain carbine bullets and load them over Trail Boss or even Unique or some such and just figure out the difference in POI if you don't want to change your sights for fear of forgetting to change them back later. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 8, 2018, 10:26 PM	#3
egd Member Join Date: April 15, 2016 Posts: 73	I don't shoot 308, but RMR (Rocky Mountain Reloading) Has good prices on everything I've used and the quality is great.

December 9, 2018, 10:30 AM	#6
Bfglowkey Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2018 Posts: 302	If your handloading I have found that the Hornady 168 Match BTHPs shoot very near to the SMKs of the same in Sierra. Very minor POI change but accuracy wise its very close. They usually run 20% cheaper in all quantity amounts but really shine if you buy by the 500s. MidwayUSA is having huge discounts on both brands so might be worth the look. My pet load with 168 SMKs works the exact same as the Hornady load in BTHP and only difference is seating cause slightly different bullet shapes. Now I would still back down powder charge 5% and work back up to ensure this for saftey but mine ended up exactly the same using OCW method...YMMV. ( Barnes Match Burners also work well and cheaper just harder to find )

December 9, 2018, 02:59 PM	#8
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Get the best bang for your buck, I am seeing interesting result with the Horandy 168 ELD, I get them from wherever the price and shipping is the least. SMKs don't go on sale so its the blemish or Hornday. That said, I don't shoot for accuracy to a POA, I shoot for groups. If its off POA, I can put it on POA if I want. If its on the paper I can see and not mixed with another group, I shoot the whole 5 to 10. You just want to know if you and the load are grouping, you can adjust the scope if you need to or leave as is for the main event bullets. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

December 9, 2018, 06:30 PM	#9
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	I'm a benchrest shooter , been shooting the same rifle for many years , my one an only . I only feed it Sierra 168 gr MK . Round count is important , practice on form with snap caps . I try to make every round count a barrel only has a certain amount of accurate life . I'm on my second barrel close to third . Only feed it what shoots best . As another post answered a 22 for trigger time is a good idea when not shooting center fire .

December 11, 2018, 10:16 AM	#10
Bill Daniel Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2000 Location: Bowling Green, KY. Posts: 518	Practice Bullets Thanks to all. I found some Noma blems at Shooters Pro Shop. All the best, Bill __________________ Prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and their weapons will become harmless. "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt 1903

December 11, 2018, 01:14 PM	#11
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	I have found Nosler Custom Competitions are almost identical to SMK's in the most of the common weights .264 caliber. Never tried then in .308 but they are a cost effective and accurate alternative to SMK's and Bergers __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

December 11, 2018, 01:54 PM	#12
Mule Member Join Date: October 16, 2002 Location: Franklin County Missouri Posts: 84	If you happen to take a drive through Missouri, stop at the Sierra factory store in Sedalia. They dip then out of a steel drum and sell by the pound. __________________ Shoot Safe! Shoot Often!

December 11, 2018, 04:04 PM	#13
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Dang, road trip? __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

December 13, 2018, 12:42 PM	#14
5whiskey Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,657	Glad you found something OP. This is the very reason why I'm going to start casting. Figured it would barely be worth my time for pistol bullets, hence why I've always just bought them. But the savings on rifle bullets, and being able to make everything I'll shoot for the year in an afternoon? Totally worth it. Even if I do have to shoot reduced loads (I shoot heavy for caliber bullets in rifle mostly, so I really don't have to reduce so much). __________________ Support the NRA-ILA Auction, ends 03/09/2018 https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=593946

December 14, 2018, 02:39 PM	#15
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	I don't shoot match kings a lot anymore but as I recall the price was about the same as reg cup and core bullet's! When I did shoot match kings in a rifle, they were all I would shoot in that rifle! edit Need to add. If your load was developed using SMK's and your shooting really small groups but you switch to something else to practice with. How do you know if it's the bullet's of you when the group's come out larger?

December 16, 2018, 04:17 PM	#16
Bill Daniel Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2000 Location: Bowling Green, KY. Posts: 518	Practice bullets Thanks to all. My thinking, right or wrong, is to work on my basics as to shooting technique and the beginnings of load development with the blems. Then I will try to perfect the load for my rifle with the SMKs and chase the tightest group. The Norma blems are the same weight and I believe similar bc. Thanks again, Bill __________________ Prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and their weapons will become harmless. "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt 1903

December 18, 2018, 09:27 PM	#17
jugornot Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2017 Posts: 197	Took 5 rifles to the range today. Savage FTR in 223 and 308, AR in 223 and 308 and a bolt action 22LR. Put 5 shots over the chrono in the FTRs and ARs to get average speeds. Moved to the 500 yard range and practiced head shots. 20 in each rifle. Got boring really fast. Moved to the rimfire range. Must of shot more than 100 rounds. Had metal at 50, 75, 100, 200, 250 and 300 yards. Scope maxed out on the 200 yard metal. The 250 was fairly easy using Kentucky elevation. The 300 yard wasn't loud enough to hear or see move. Time for a better scope for the rimfire. The 22LR was more fun and taught me more than the other 4 rifles combined.The 22LR has the same drop at 300 yards that my 308 has at 1000. Cheap practice.

December 19, 2018, 06:08 PM	#18
IMtheNRA Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2001 Posts: 298	From what I saw, Wideners has a pretty good selection of cheap .308 bullets, starting at fifteen cents each. https://www.wideners.com/reloading-s...ts/308-bullets

December 22, 2018, 04:52 PM	#19
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Never shot long range in civilian llife , shot LR in the service , with scopes you can use a system called bracketing worked really well , look into it .