Surplus bullets?
 

Anyone have a good source for surplus .308 bullets? I like shooting SMKs, but I'd also like to work up a good blasting load for the .300 Whisper. Commercial bullets are around $0.25 and up.

I've found a source for .308 Israeli pulldowns for $110 / 1000. But I found a place a few weeks ago that had surplus bullets for around half that price. Now I can't find it.

I believe these cheaper bullets were actually .311" pulldowns from 7.62x54R, which had been swagged down to .308". And I'm also not sure if they were copper jacketed, or steel jacket with a copper wash. Anyone ever try loading these in the .300W?

Any other sources of surplus or other inexpensive components?

Cheap surplus bullet material.
 

Consider recasting wheel weights. . Cast lead typically gives better stability and better expansion than military surplus bullets designed to work a much higher velocities. They're not so good for gas operated semi-autos as they can foul the gas port.

Check a few tire shops.

Not so good for silencers either - for the same reason.

That sounds like Pats Reloading. They were advertising match bullets or some such hoohaa which turned out to be 54R bullets resized to .308. In any case they were cheap if I recall and available which is better than can be said for US or other NATO pulldown stuff. We've been shooting US 147gr bullets for some time though we load them supersonic. Accuracy is pretty good and they are much cheaper for plinking.

good luck
Frank

That's it. Bookmarked it this time.

Looks like prices have nearly doubled since last time I was there. Probably be better off paying slightly more and getting copper jacketed surplus.

Thanks.

I use Hornady 150gr FMJs for my general plinking with the 300. I got 1000 of them when I bought a Hornady LNL AP.

Cheap bullets...
 

Buy 147 grain military bullets, run them through a Lee 308 sizer. Then load them in backwards. Base to the outside.
Strictly for varmits and such. Very explosive to eratic results.
Dave
Sierra Vista, AZ

147-152 pulled mil stuff is my favourite for both subsonics and supersonics.

What is the lowest weight bullets you guys have gotten to cycle at subsonic speeds?

Right now I can cycle 175 grain milsurp BTHPs with 9.5 grains of H110 which is around 1050 fps and I even had them cycle at 9.3 grains the other day when I was testing loads but my chrono was acting up so I am not sure of the fps.

I might try some of the Nosler 175 grain seconds and see how those work.

I have been having good luck with the 208 grain A-Max seconds that Midway had on sale for like $20 a box of 100 the other week.

But for sub loads it is better to go heavier than lighter. My cross over weight is 200 grains. I have hunted successful with 180 BTs at subsonic but they work even better at supersonic!