Federal Gold Medal, No Longer Match?

[Texas10]

I have a box of GM308M 168 gr. with Federal Gold Medal Match printed on the label, but looking online, I see only see Federal Gold Medal, Sierra MatchKing. The word Match is not on the box. Velocity is same, part number is same.

Is it the same? What made them decide to eliminate the word Match?

 

[TAJ45]

LC is purported to be very soft now that FC is at the helm.

 

[Park ranger]

It’s the same. Federal GMM never used LC.

 

[243Mendoza]

Sierra Matchkings are match bullets. I guess the question is does this cartridge use Fed 210M primers?

 

[Texas10]

Thanks. I shot some of the newer, no MATCH wording and it shot magnificent. 3 rounds in a .22 group at 100 yds.

Now, to see if I can duplicate it with hand loads.

What do you think? 4064 or Varget and 168 SMK's.

 

[Zero333]

It's still the same stuff. They stopped calling it match when they started loading some of it with the 185 gr Berger.

So now we have .....

Gold Medal MatchKing.

& Gold Medal Berger.

 

[Rsadams]

Thanks. I shot some of the newer, no MATCH wording and it shot magnificent. 3 rounds in a .22 group at 100 yds.

Now, to see if I can duplicate it with hand loads.

What do you think? 4064 or Varget and 168 SMK's.

42gr of IMR-4064 out of a 24 inch barrel is a good start , it's my normal load for 168gr SMK...

Edit... In .308 of course...

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Texas10,

where did the other two shots go?

 

[Steve Ladino]

Thanks. I shot some of the newer, no MATCH wording and it shot magnificent. 3 rounds in a .22 group at 100 yds.

Now, to see if I can duplicate it with hand loads.

What do you think? 4064 or Varget and 168 SMK's.

I think the issue of temperature sensitivity might, I say might be a consideration. Varget's claims of insensitivity to temp. changes gives it a thumbs up in my book.

 

[Texas10]

Somewhere there is a chart listing powders by rate of change in pressure per degree of temp F. I can never find it, I suppose I just don't know the correct terminology to do a search. As i recall, Varget is .8% per degree.

 

[Texas10]

Just got my box from Brownells with two boxes of FGGM 168 match ammo and a box of 168 SMKs to do some load matching.

First things first was I measured the CBTO of the FGGM and found it varied between 2.226 and 2.230 on the several samples I checked and an OAL of 2.800 plus or minus a few thou. I did not check all 40.

Next I set up a dummy cartridge using my FF brass drilled and tapped 6/32 and a 168 SMK from my new shipment loaded and found touch at 2.220 which means in my Shilen match barrel the FGGM is .006 to .010 IN the lands. No wonder is shoots so well!

[Using a method Texas 10 confirmed Bullets were in the lands.]

Since I'm developing this load for 300 and under, I'm considering finding a lower and more accurate node. Maybe somewhere around 38 or 39 grains. Any comments on where to start or where that node might be?

26 inch, 10 twist Shilen, 205M's, Varget, Hornaday match brass.

 

[Jimmy James]

The gold box stuff has issues going in a match chamber. Never had a problem with the white and blue box. Have no experience with the new packaging. I only buy to shoot as reference and for testing. Neck tension is too high for bug holes.

 

[Concha]

The gold box stuff has issues going in a match chamber. Never had a problem with the white and blue box. Have no experience with the new packaging. I only buy to shoot as reference and for testing. Neck tension is too high for bug holes.

Interestingly enough, some people credit the accuracy of the FGMM to the soft brass and light neck tension.

 

[Jimmy James]

It is very accurate. I like to say if your 308 wont shoot it inside an inch there is something wrong with your gun. I started testing different neck tensions, 175SMK's sorted by bto and VV n540 and got my 10 twst Brux bbl shooting bug holes at 100yds with a 339 bushing.

 

[CT10ring]

Just got my box from Brownells with two boxes of FGGM 168 match ammo and a box of 168 SMKs to do some load matching.

First things first was I measured the CBTO of the FGGM and found it varied between 2.226 and 2.230 on the several samples I checked and an OAL of 2.800 plus or minus a few thou. I did not check all 40.

Next I set up a dummy cartridge using my FF brass drilled and tapped 6/32 and a 168 SMK from my new shipment loaded and found touch at 2.220 which means in my Shilen match barrel the FGGM is .006 to .010 IN the lands. No wonder is shoots so well!

To confirm, I slid a live FGGM round up the chamber with the bolt out and gave it a firm push. With a cleaning rod down the muzzle, it took a firm push on the rod to dislodge the round confirming the factory load is in the lands in my barrel.

Since I'm developing this load for 300 and under, I'm considering finding a lower and more accurate node. Maybe somewhere around 38 or 39 grains. Any comments on where to start or where that node might be?

26 inch, 10 twist Shilen, 205M's, Varget, Hornaday match brass.

RL15 & Varget both worked for me, seemed to be interchangeable. 1 /11.25 twist (Shilen Match 24" bbl), bolt. no chrono.

 

[Pat clark]

I have a box of GM308M 168 gr. with Federal Gold Medal Match printed on the label, but looking online, I see only see Federal Gold Medal, Sierra MatchKing. The word Match is not on the box. Velocity is same, part number is same.

Is it the same? What made them decide to eliminate the word Match?

I have been using federal gold medal "match" 308 168 gr in my tikka t3 ctr...with fantastic results. Can no longer find the red box "match" ammo, have tried 168 gr federal premium match king...out of 2 boxes could not close bolt with 5 rounds, went from 1/2 -3/4 moa at 100 meters...to 1-1.5 moa at 100 meters....coincidence? Noticed brass color very bright in comparison to "match" ammo

 

[Texas10]

I have been using federal gold medal "match" 308 168 gr in my tikka t3 ctr...with fantastic results. Can no longer find the red box "match" ammo, have tried 168 gr federal premium match king...out of 2 boxes could not close bolt with 5 rounds, went from 1/2 -3/4 moa at 100 meters...to 1-1.5 moa at 100 meters....coincidence? Noticed brass color very bright in comparison to "match" ammo

I put together a 308 win using a lefty Savage small shank model 10 action, 28 inch Shilen select match SS barrel I purchased used, and a new Savage BVSS stock I modified from 4.25 screw spacing to 4.4 and bedded.

TODAY it was shooting well under half a moa using newly purchased FGGM 168 gr ammo at 100 yds.

When I screwed this barrel on and headspaced it, I found that FGGM 168 gr chambered with the ogive seated .005 into the lands. It seems to like that seating depth.

 

[DGP4]

The closest performance to the GMM I can get in my heavy barrel .308 Howa 1500 is with 168 grain SMKs over 42 grains of Varget with a COAL of 2.85" I tried the 4064 powder first but it was not as accurate.

 

[D-4297]

When I last checked mil/spec data , the original GMM round was loaded with a 168gr. SMK and 42.2gr. of 4064 . And it won a lot of titles , ribbons and championships for the AMU . The temp-sensitivity issue is a bit over-blown in my mind , because I'm using it in Phoenix year round , and have about the same load change weights from winter to summer loads as I do with Varget and H-4895 . Whatever works for you .