FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

[zero_vis_diver]

I'm placing an order this week and need help making a decision. I have a factory Remington 700 VS 26" barrel.

I <span style="text-decoration: underline">worked</span> for a guy who reloaded for me, and after some load development we came up with a load that would shoot sub-MOA out to 500 yards with 175 SMKs (averaging around 4.5" @500 but I've only fired about seven 5-shot groups at this distance. For some reason I can only shoot about MOA at 100 yards with this load but sub-MOA further out. I'm guessing that is due to the 175s need more distance to stabilize, but I only have about 250 rounds total of high power rifle under my belt.

As of last Fall I quit my job and am now working hard to grow my own small business competing against my former boss (among others). I guess you can imagine what happened to our friendship. Right now I have neither the time nor the space (or the money) to reload, but that will be changing in a year or so.

So here are my questions. Should I buy the FGMM 175s from Palmetto State for $21 a box, the Southwest Ammunition 175s with the Lapua cases at $29, or the SW loaded in Winchester brass at $23 a box? Is the Lapua brass that much better than the Federal or Winchester? I will only be shooting the ammo through one rifle and plan to neck-size as much as possible to extend brass life. What is the brass life expectancy between Lapua and the others and does it more than make up for the extra expense? Anyone with direct experience? Does the Southwest ammo shoot as good as the FGMM in a factory Remington 700?

Since my business is just now starting to turn a profit, I am finally writing myself some (small) paychecks. After paying the bills and reinvesting some of the profits into the business, I only have about $150 to spend which would equate to about 7 boxes of FGMM, 6 boxes of the SW Winchester, or 5 boxes of the SW Lapua. I would like to buy from SW as their small, quality-based business model reflects my own business model, but I don't know how well their ammo would shoot in a factory Remington 700. Everyone who has tried it on this forum seems more than happy with it.

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[jroberts]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

get the southwest 308 175 loaded in the lakecity brass...same bullets and loading process but uses lakecity brass...its cheaper and that means more rounds and more shooting which is always better

 

[KHOOKS]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

I hav'nt run any of the SW ammo but a few guys I shoot with have been shooting it with pretty good results. I would say it shoots just as good as the FGMM stuff. As for as the brass goes the better of the three will be the Lupua braas then the Winchester. Remintons brass is know for softnees. I would try to get 100 rounds of the FGMM with the same lot# and shoot it and see what you think then you'll have a 100 round lot of brass to work and shoot until the brass is junk. Then when you can try the SW in the Lupua brass (100 lot). This will let you see which your rifle like the best and what you can live with until you get set-up to reload. Now after I found out which ammo shoots better then continue to buy some to shot and build your brass up. You may also take a look at the Hornady match ammo. I shot it side by side with the FGMM 168gr stuff and Hornady's 168gr match stuff I could tell a differnance out ot 500y. So I bought up a case of the Hornady ammo. Run that till it was gone then started reloading for my rifle. I have had really good results out of the hornady brass I put about a 12 firing on the brass before casehead seperation happened. I'm running 44.5grs of RL-15 with BR2 primer under a 178gr amax. Not super hot but not a super mild load either.

Hope this helps.

 

[zero_vis_diver]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

So maybe the run-n-gun SW ammo? I see they have it for $0.75/round for us, so $150 I could get 200 rounds. In all honesty, right now I'm probably about a one MOA shooter no matter what ammo I shoot. Has anyone shot the R-n-G? If it is MOA capable I should try to get more experience than try to get the best value for reloading in the future, shouldn't I?

I'm not shooting matches, I'm just going to be punching holes in paper. I just have a great place to shoot. My dad has a grain farm that is almost a square mile. Some of his fields are over 1600 yards long, so I just wanted to move the target out past 500 where I have been shooting.

By shooting the best possible ammo I figured it would reduce as many mechanical variables as possible, but if the Run-N-Gun is MOA capable it should work fine. I can always buy dream brass later when funding is better and I have a bench set up. I guess it makes more sense to just get as much practice as possible, right?.

Thanks for the opinions so far, keep them coming.

 

[Deano]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

I haven't shot any SW ammo, but I do use the FGMM and you can not go wrong by choosing them, excellent ammo.

 

[dieselgeek]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

I'm gong to order some sw this week and give it a try.

 

[netranger6]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

I shoot both. The SW is every bit as good as the FGGM, I have dot drills to back it up too. I usually order it in LC brass, but always get at least one loaded in Lapua for future purposes. Great stuff, great price. However, when Midway had the FGGM 175's for $20.00 a box.

 

[zero_vis_diver]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

netranger6 and jroberts,

Have you used the Run-N-Gun that is loaded with remanufactured LC brass or do they make loads in new LC brass? The only LC brass for .308 I see is the Run-N-Gun stuff.

 

[Guest]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

Our 200 round case orders are cheaper than $23 a box for the 175smk. Our price is the same as FGMM if you order 200 or more. Our run and gun is just as good as any of them, perfect for practice, or when you can't pick up your brass.

Zach

 

[demo-dick]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

Still some of that 20$ FGMM 175 around, just have to dig deeper. Pm for location, I dont wanna give away my honey hole as I have been buying it almost weekly for two months now, and don't want it to disappear immediately.

 

[zero_vis_diver]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

Thanks for the reply, Mike, I think I'll give you a shot. I'll be placing an order for 200 rds. of the 175gr. Run-N-Gun this week.

 

[AlabamaShooter]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

I have used the SW ammo 175smk load in the winchester brass with good results on targets from 300-500+ yds.
As with the FGMM loads it stabilizes past 400 yds, Ive shot my best groups at 500yds with the SW ammo.
If I ever get to stop traveling so damn much and get to shoot some run and gun matches it will be my go to ammo for sure.

AS

 

[zero_vis_diver]

Re: FGMM or Southwest Ammunition?

I ordered 200 rounds of the Run N Gun today. We'll see how it does compared to the reloads I have on hand.

I'll get to shoot it next week. Depending on wind, I might take it out to 500 yards. If that goes well I'll give it a shot at a thousand.