Range Report practice ammo

[mlw332]

ok guys here is the deal...
Mark at SAC is building a rifle for me in 308.
As a main ammo I am going to use the FGMM 168s this is what my gun will be zero to and what I will shoot when I need "perfect" hits.
I have an opportunity to purchase a rather large sum of TulaAmmo?? I believe that is the correct spelling. In 150gr FMJ.
As a practice round will this ammo be acceptable to really learn the 308 and learn more about changing for wind/elevation and so on? I am aware that the two bullets will perform differently but just based on learning the cartridge and how the different element will affect it how will I fair using this?
Thanks
M Womack

 

[bohem]

Re: practice ammo

The Tula stuff is trash, MG food IMO. Steel jacketed or steel cased trash that has no place in a precision rifle like the kind that Mark routinely turns out.

The money saved on that ammo would be better spent buying FGMM in bulk or the PRVI "match" or smartest yet would be to save the pennies and get into rolling your own ammo.

 

[mlw332]

Re: practice ammo

alright enough said ha... thanks for the input

 

[timelinex]

Re: practice ammo

At first I was really looking for cheaper ammo, to practice with as well... But at the end of the day you stop using it because it doesn't serve as great practice when you don't know if you pulled the shot or its the ammo..

 

[gstaylorg]

Re: practice ammo

I would suggest getting some Southwest Run-N-Gun ammo in either the 168 Amax or 175 SMK flavors if $$$ is an issue. This ammo is quite a bit less expensive than FGMM, for example, but will shoot light years better than Tula. It's very good stuff at a reasonable price.

 

[Onemoretime]

Re: practice ammo

Don't waste your time with the 168's, bump to the 175's IMHO.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Re: practice ammo

I use AE 168 OTM for practice ammo. I use Fed GMM 168 when competing. Sometimes the AE shoots better than the GMM. The bullet in the AE is made by Speer for this AE ammo and has basically the same BC as the GMM SMK 168. I don't waste a lot of time and effort with the two. I average and use one set of variables. .2135 G7, bullet length 1.21", and the average zero and velocity between the two (your own mileage may vary). I used to use PPU 168 but it has a much higher BC, longer bullet, lower MV though it is cheaper. But because the PPU bullet is so much different I no longer use it other than to compare zeroes at 100 yards. Check your barrel twist if you are going to use 168. Make sure it is compatible.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: practice ammo

IMHO the best practice ammo is .22LR. Using the 'working rifle' for marksmanship training and/or practice is only slightly less wssteful of bore life than doing it with substandard ammo.

My 'working rifles' seldom engage anything more threatening than a paper target. That does not cheapen their bore life commodity; it costs the same to replace a bore regardless of what one uses the barrel to do. To me, the bore needs to be reserved for tasks like what the rifle is intended to do, and very limited other duties, like load development and new load batch confirmation.

Using it to do training and practice taxes the resource without adding to its effectiveness. Matters like marksmanship skill improvement or maintenance need not employ the primary resource. Any other reliably consistent resource can do the job, and should be counted upon to supplement the main resource's effectiveness.

It's similar to the concept of force multiplication. You might send out a SWAT team to enforce parking regulation, but there are better, and more appropriate resources to employ for such tasks.

Greg

 

[bohem]

Re: practice ammo

Under a large band of circumstances I'd agree with Greg here, however I have 2 caveats:

1) It's a 308, the cost to replace a barrel after 8-10k+ rounds is a drop in the bucket compared to sending enough ammo to get it to the point you need it rebarreled.

2) The 22 trainer teaches a number of good things, however if the rifle is not the same stock and same trigger treating it as the heavy duty trainer teaches you to shoot that rifle, stock, and trigger. It doesn't immediately carry over to the centerfire precision rifle.

I don't particularly like dry firing as an "only" type training tool either. However, like all of these things it's a tool to be used for some applications but it is not a replacement for actual trigger time on the rifle intended for the saving or taking of life.

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: practice ammo

[Hijack]
What is the difference between SW AMMO Match 175smk and Run and Gun 175smk?

Is it the just the brass (once fired LC vs New Winchester)?
And is the Premium worth the extra $10.00 (with new Lapua brass)?

Yeah, I roll my own, but "just in case" and I need to buy.
[/Hijack]