Just what can be accomplished with 173 gn FMJ (M72) bullets?

[DRNewcomb]

Earlier this year, I started shooting F-Class (F-TR .308 @ 600) with what I had from my day shooting NMC. (No, I don't have $4000 to spend on a new rifle and $1500 for a new scope.) I started out really bad but have improved to shooting around 90%, which I attribute paying attention to fundamentals and switching from loading ball powders to Varget. I've been shooting up my Hornady 168s but I'm getting near the bottom of that bin. It happens I have a fairly large stock (maybe 1500) of Army 173 gn FMJBTs (M72?) from back when my club could buy them from the DCM for about 5-6¢ each.

I'm curious if anyone has any recent experience loading and shooting these at 600? Maybe molly coating? I'm trying to use what I've got and avoid paying the current outlandish prices for new bullets. I'm trying to get an idea how much worse they'll be than Sierra or Hornady 168s.

 

[dzelenka]

I sold a .50 ammo can of those last spring for $0.23 apiece. If you buy your match bullets though a drop shipment program you can get pretty close to even and end up with greatly improved bullet performance.

Dan

 

[stool]

if you weight sort them they would be "ok"....but the suggestion above is a good idea. sell and buy modern bullets.

 

[DRNewcomb]

I agree. Selling them as Army "sniper bullets" at a gun show would probably net enough to replace them with at least 168s and be a lot less work than molly coating and/or working up new loads. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[jonbearman]

powder valley has 500 168 match factory blems for 109.95 right now.I bought some and they look fine to me.

 

[DRNewcomb]

powder valley has 500 168 match factory blems for 109.95 right now.I bought some and they look fine to me.

On the website they call them "seconds". If they look fine, it makes me wonder why they are seconds. If it's because of jacket thickness or lead irregularities it might be better to stick with the M72s I have. A bullet with irregularities may shoot great at 100 yd but be a total "flyer" at 600 yd. I know that sometimes first quality overruns are sold as "seconds" to get rid of them but right now I don't see a lot of bullet manufacturers with excess stock to unload.

 

[granite1]

I've used them for a 300 win mag. I know that is a little off topic but I was surprised with the results. I was able to work up a load that had a muzzle velocity just over 2900 fps and gave 3/4" groups at 200yds. I did weight sort them. I intend to try them for a 308win. I say try them, who knows?

 

[Heman]

Typically Sierra seconds are seconds because they aren't polished properly is all I could tell. Last year Midway was selling seconds from a "Manufacturer" of 6.5mm 123's they came in a green box with a Midway sticker on them so I knew where they came from. I've shot them all the way across the course and they shot just fine.

 

[stool]

well i bought some unmarked sierra seconds from midway thinking the same thing.......boy was i wrong.
weight and measurements are all over the place......less than half are close to match quality.....

other purchase on seconds have gone very well 6.5 140's, 68 and 69 223......

the seconds from powder valley are european...i have not sorted any yet but did buy some

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I'll trade you some match bullets for those 173's if you are interested. I have a bunch of berger VLD 30cal midweights sitting around that I never use. PM me and I'll get you a solid list of what I have.

 

[Raptor]

I bought some of the 77gr .224 bullets from PV that were seconds and what I found was the "Ogive" is different. I had ordered and assortment of the 75 and 77grs bullets to find a load for my new Rock River AR. I figured they were probably Sierras being that they were 77grs but I found them to be a near match to the 77gr Noz. that I got. I used my bullet comparitor to check the ogive on the bullets so when I started loading I would have an idea of my seating deapth.

Just using my comparitor I got an over all for the ogive at say 1.292 on the bullet for the Noz 77gr firsts and the seconds were in three lots of 1.292, 1.282 and 1.272.

I did not weigh them yet but they all look fine with no blem marks. I will let you know how well they shoot compared to the firsts I have.

 

[stool]

if you look at the pv part number....you will see that they are from overseas...ppu/s&b or something similar..

I bought some of the 77gr .224 bullets from PV that were seconds and what I found was the "Ogive" is different. I had ordered and assortment of the 75 and 77grs bullets to find a load for my new Rock River AR. I figured they were probably Sierras being that they were 77grs but I found them to be a near match to the 77gr Noz. that I got. I used my bullet comparitor to check the ogive on the bullets so when I started loading I would have an idea of my seating deapth.

Just using my comparitor I got an over all for the ogive at say 1.292 on the bullet for the Noz 77gr firsts and the seconds were in three lots of 1.292, 1.282 and 1.272.

I did not weigh them yet but they all look fine with no blem marks. I will let you know how well they shoot compared to the firsts I have.