Projectile thoughts?

sfwusc · November 11, 2016, 10:15 AM

I am looking for advice on .30 150 gr(m1 and 1903a3), .30 165gr(hunting), .40 180gr, .30 150 (30-30 hunting), also for 8mm Mauser and 7.7 jap projectiles.

ligonierbill · November 11, 2016, 10:48 AM

Can't address all of these, but I am generally, though not exclusively, partial to Sierra bullets.

For 8x57 175 Sierra Pro Hunter (especially over Re-17).

For 30-06 165 SGK.

For 30-30 150 Sierra Pro Hunter (#2000 Flat Point)

Don't know how they'll do in your Japanese rifle, but the 0.311 diameter 150 and 180 gr Pro Hunters work well in my Mosin-Nagant.

schmellba99 · November 11, 2016, 10:55 AM

For the M1 and 1903a3, some good FMJ's are what I like to use. Hornady is what I have most of. None of my .mil guns are MOA and they all shoot about what I expect them to shoot.

For the hunting rounds, you have a whole lot of choices. I'm particularly fond of the Nosler line myself - the Accubonds, Ballistic Tips and the Combined Technologies rounds are far and away my favorite. I've had nothing but great accuracy when I do my part and performance has never failed me.

That being said - Sierra, Hornady, Winchester, Berger, Barnes and most other major brands all make solid hunting projectiles that will do the job as long as you do yours. Find what works best and stick with it IMO and don't worry about needing the latest and greatest or best marketed round.

**Unclenick** · November 11, 2016, 11:44 AM

Agree that the Garand is most easily fed with FMJ's. Though it depends on the individual rifle, you will usually find the Hornady 150 grain FMJ does about all you can get from gun. They are also economical. I buy them in bulk from Midsouth Shooter's supply. 2100 for about $0.18 at this point. I am using either the CCI #34 or the TulAmmo KVB 762 primer with VV N135 with them these days, but the old standard loads of 4895 or 4064 will work fine, too.

The Springfield will shoot any 150 just fine, so it depends on your purpose, be it hunting or target shooting or whatever.

T. O'Heir · November 11, 2016, 01:26 PM

What brand of bullet really makes no difference for rifles or handguns. How you load 'em does. Usually best to pick the weight according to what you're hunting and start with the accuracy load from your manual. IMR4064 for .30-06.
Any 150 to 180 grain hunting bullet will be fine for an M1 Rifle/'03A3. 165's are best for an all-round .30 calibre hunting load though.
"...most easily fed with FMJ's..." Or 168 grain HPBT's. Hornady makes a good one. So does Sierra. However, an M1 Rifle shoots an SP as well as it does FMJ's.
Any 165 grain hunting bullet will do. No need for 'premium' bullets either. A Speer SP works as well as a No$ler Partition.
"...30-30 hunting..." Use the same 165 or a 170 but an RN or FP. Sierra makes a couple 150 grain Flat Points and a 170 FP.
The 7.7 Jap originally used a 181 grain .311" bullet. Same diameter as the nominal bullet diameter for a .303 Brit. Hornady makes a 174 grain .3105. Sierra makes a 174 grain .311" Matchking and a 150 and 180 grain SP.
8mm Mauser uses a .323" bullet. Sierra makes a 150 and 175 grain SP plus a 200 grain Matchking and a 220 grain GameKing.

schmellba99 · November 11, 2016, 06:24 PM

Quote:

What brand of bullet really makes no difference for rifles or handguns

Yeah....gonna have to just disagree on this one, at least for some guns anyway.

firewrench044 · November 14, 2016, 05:22 AM

sfwusc --

We need more information to be able to help you
you have ask about many rifles
To avoid confusion please ask about one at a time
to keep all our brains on the same track and avoid
confusion between rifles

target or hunting or both
at what range
for what game
where will it be used ( hunting - open plains or heavy brush )
( National Match or informal range )
are there any limitations ( low recoil or cost )

Mobuck · November 14, 2016, 07:12 AM

The most accurate hunting type bullet I've found for my 8x57 Mausers is the Nosler 180 BT. For the 30/06, I'm a firm believer in the Nosler 165 BT. IMR 4064 and 4895 work fine in both cartridges.
.308 FMJ bullets are available from nearly every maker and even some surplus "pulled" mil-spec on the market. For just shooting, any will work well enough.

November 11, 2016, 10:15 AM	#1
sfwusc Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2013 Posts: 231	Projectile thoughts? I am looking for advice on .30 150 gr(m1 and 1903a3), .30 165gr(hunting), .40 180gr, .30 150 (30-30 hunting), also for 8mm Mauser and 7.7 jap projectiles.

November 11, 2016, 11:44 AM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Agree that the Garand is most easily fed with FMJ's. Though it depends on the individual rifle, you will usually find the Hornady 150 grain FMJ does about all you can get from gun. They are also economical. I buy them in bulk from Midsouth Shooter's supply. 2100 for about $0.18 at this point. I am using either the CCI #34 or the TulAmmo KVB 762 primer with VV N135 with them these days, but the old standard loads of 4895 or 4064 will work fine, too. The Springfield will shoot any 150 just fine, so it depends on your purpose, be it hunting or target shooting or whatever. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 11, 2016, 01:26 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	What brand of bullet really makes no difference for rifles or handguns. How you load 'em does. Usually best to pick the weight according to what you're hunting and start with the accuracy load from your manual. IMR4064 for .30-06. Any 150 to 180 grain hunting bullet will be fine for an M1 Rifle/'03A3. 165's are best for an all-round .30 calibre hunting load though. "...most easily fed with FMJ's..." Or 168 grain HPBT's. Hornady makes a good one. So does Sierra. However, an M1 Rifle shoots an SP as well as it does FMJ's. Any 165 grain hunting bullet will do. No need for 'premium' bullets either. A Speer SP works as well as a No$ler Partition. "...30-30 hunting..." Use the same 165 or a 170 but an RN or FP. Sierra makes a couple 150 grain Flat Points and a 170 FP. The 7.7 Jap originally used a 181 grain .311" bullet. Same diameter as the nominal bullet diameter for a .303 Brit. Hornady makes a 174 grain .3105. Sierra makes a 174 grain .311" Matchking and a 150 and 180 grain SP. 8mm Mauser uses a .323" bullet. Sierra makes a 150 and 175 grain SP plus a 200 grain Matchking and a 220 grain GameKing. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 11, 2016, 10:48 AM	#2
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	Can't address all of these, but I am generally, though not exclusively, partial to Sierra bullets. For 8x57 175 Sierra Pro Hunter (especially over Re-17). For 30-06 165 SGK. For 30-30 150 Sierra Pro Hunter (#2000 Flat Point) Don't know how they'll do in your Japanese rifle, but the 0.311 diameter 150 and 180 gr Pro Hunters work well in my Mosin-Nagant.

November 11, 2016, 10:55 AM	#3
schmellba99 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 803	For the M1 and 1903a3, some good FMJ's are what I like to use. Hornady is what I have most of. None of my .mil guns are MOA and they all shoot about what I expect them to shoot. For the hunting rounds, you have a whole lot of choices. I'm particularly fond of the Nosler line myself - the Accubonds, Ballistic Tips and the Combined Technologies rounds are far and away my favorite. I've had nothing but great accuracy when I do my part and performance has never failed me. That being said - Sierra, Hornady, Winchester, Berger, Barnes and most other major brands all make solid hunting projectiles that will do the job as long as you do yours. Find what works best and stick with it IMO and don't worry about needing the latest and greatest or best marketed round.

November 14, 2016, 05:22 AM	#7
firewrench044 Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 381	sfwusc -- We need more information to be able to help you you have ask about many rifles To avoid confusion please ask about one at a time to keep all our brains on the same track and avoid confusion between rifles target or hunting or both at what range for what game where will it be used ( hunting - open plains or heavy brush ) ( National Match or informal range ) are there any limitations ( low recoil or cost )

November 14, 2016, 07:12 AM	#8
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	The most accurate hunting type bullet I've found for my 8x57 Mausers is the Nosler 180 BT. For the 30/06, I'm a firm believer in the Nosler 165 BT. IMR 4064 and 4895 work fine in both cartridges. .308 FMJ bullets are available from nearly every maker and even some surplus "pulled" mil-spec on the market. For just shooting, any will work well enough.