Rolling your own 308 168 gr. FGGM

[doubletap66]

A few years back, I got a new Tac Ops Tango 51. While I was waiting for it, I bought 1000 factory 168 FGGM in two different lots. Next, I bought componets to roll my own. I am no noob to reloading, but was confused when measuring the ogive length and comparing to the COAL of the factory loads VS handloads. My handloads had a longer COAL of .010 to .015". I pulled 10 bullets from each of 2 lots of FGMM, and found that they were shorter than Sierra 168 gr. componets.
Upon close inspection, the meplat (tip) of the factory bullet was in ALL cases smashed down to some varying degree. That accounted for the .010 to .015 difference in length. I believe that this was an intentional alteration by Federal to get the ogive out to a reasonable length, while still maintaining required SAAMI specs for COAL.
This is one more good reason to never gauge rounds by OAL. I don't know if Federal is still doing this to the meplat. Has anyone else recently pulled new bullets and checked them?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Rolling your own 308 168 gr. FGGM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dt66</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> A few years back, I got a new Tac Ops Tango 51. While I was waiting for it, I bought 1000 factory 168 FGGM in two different lots. Next, I bought componets to roll my own. I am no noob to reloading, but was confused when measuring the ogive length and comparing to the COAL of the factory loads VS handloads. My handloads had a longer COAL of .010 to .015". I pulled 10 bullets from each of 2 lots of FGMM, and found that they were shorter than Sierra 168 gr. componets.
Upon close inspection, the meplat (tip) of the factory bullet was in ALL cases smashed down to some varying degree. That accounted for the .010 to .015 difference in length. I believe that this was an intentional alteration by Federal to get the ogive out to a reasonable length, while still maintaining required SAAMI specs for COAL.
This is one more good reason to never gauge rounds by OAL. I don't know if Federal is still doing this to the meplat. Has anyone else recently pulled new bullets and checked them?

</div></div>

I have some mid 90s 'blue/white' box FGMM 168s, but I don't think I'm going to pull any down and compare them with my seven boxes of 168 SMKs, of varying lots.

Bullet production changes over time, is one thing. I don't know why Federal would be mucking with the meplats of a match grade bullet, do you?

SMKs are know for their jagged meplats, as you know, but they're generally pointy.

Anyhow, maybe they ran out of 168 SMKs and called up PRVI and got some of their bullets?

Chris

 

[jagged77]

Re: Rolling your own 308 168 gr. FGGM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChrisGarrett</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Anyhow, maybe they ran out of 168 SMKs and called up PRVI and got some of their bullets?

</div></div>

I sincerely hope not! Anyway the PRIVI I've had were longer than SMK's and quite easy to tell apart. Awful bloody things...

 

[doubletap66]

Re: Rolling your own 308 168 gr. FGGM

These were Sierra bullets, and they were the current style of box.

 

[ColoWyo]

Re: Rolling your own 308 168 gr. FGGM

Something to think about.

If I were you, I'd ditch the 168's if you ever want to shoot past 800 yards. I know they are great bullets inside of 800, but die quickly after.

 

[doubletap66]

Re: Rolling your own 308 168 gr. FGGM

Beyond 800, I use 185 Bergers in the 308, or go to my Scalpel 6.5 Creedmoor or Remedy 338 LM for the really long stuff.

 

[metalmike]

Re: Rolling your own 308 168 gr. FGGM

Good point on the meplats. I definitely would second that on any factory ammo measurement as a reference. I was actually working up a 168FGMM copy for my 20" rifle on 4064 powder. I have to check my notes again, but I was up around 43.5 grains and an easy 30-40 thousandths more COAL for my FN rifle. I took it out to over 700 yards and it seemed to replicate the FGMM for drop, but it was definitely holding better groups at 100 and 200 yards. I was using once-fired FGMM cases.