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Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:40 am
by Sudsy
A few years ago, Covid time, I picked up a 2500 IMI FMJ BT Match bullets for my .308 - Didn't even have a .308 at the time but it was part of a large reloading lot at an estate sale and I wanted the primers, powder, and especially the linotype pigs !!
Two still sealed 1000 round bags and one half used open one.
Fast forward to a few minutes ago. I pulled some out of the open bag to load 50 rounds for my new never shot CMP Winchester receiver Garand in 308.
I checked them out - they're .312 diameter and 146 gr. (son of a #$#$#& !!!! I thought I was set for years)
Now I have 2500 (+/-) seeds that I've no idea what to do with. Trade some for .309 probably but that will still leave a lot.
My club has a military rifle group that shoot once or twice a month on the 300 yard range.
If I were to get a rifle to compete, what would be the most accurate choice? (I read 29-inch-barreled Mosin-Nagant somewhere)
I have 9 lbs of H4895 already - what would be a good load to start with with these bullets ?
Where do you find brass for this caliber ?
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:53 am
by millman
A Finnish M39 will be the most accurate Mosin.
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 12:05 pm
by Sudsy
Edit - typo in my post
200 yard range, not the 300
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 2:16 pm
by SA1911a1
Sudsy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:40 am
A few years ago, Covid time, I picked up a 2500 IMI FMJ BT Match bullets for my .308 - Didn't even have a .308 at the time but it was part of a large reloading lot at an estate sale and I wanted the primers, powder, and especially the linotype pigs !!
Two still sealed 1000 round bags and one half used open one.
Fast forward to a few minutes ago. I pulled some out of the open bag to load 50 rounds for my new never shot CMP Winchester receiver Garand in 308.
I checked them out - they're .312 diameter and 146 gr. (son of a #$#$#& !!!! I thought I was set for years)
Now I have 2500 (+/-) seeds that I've no idea what to do with. Trade some for .309 probably but that will still leave a lot.
My club has a military rifle group that shoot once or twice a month on the 300 yard range.
If I were to get a rifle to compete, what would be the most accurate choice? (I read 29-inch-barreled Mosin-Nagant somewhere)
I have 9 lbs of H4895 already - what would be a good load to start with with these bullets ?
Where do you find brass for this caliber ?
I am not a reloader, but can't you just take your pocket knife and shave off 3/1000 of an inch?
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 3:12 pm
by millman
You could use them in an Enfield.
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 3:44 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
Buy an Enfield, or put them up for sale. Someone would buy them.
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:48 pm
by Sudsy
EDIT !!!!! 2/2/2024
Everything I wrote in the OP is wrong ! Turns out my good digital calipers have gone out of whack - the bullets ARE .309, not .312
I set up my lee resizing die in .311 just to see how it might work, If it did I'd size to 309 - the bullet dropped right through with room to spare (as I sat there with a confused look)
Double checked with ever set of calipers I have in the shop, and yup, found the problem
Learn from my mistake, check your calipers !!!
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:50 pm
by Sudsy
Mr Moderator,
If you want to delete this thread that's fine
If you want to leave it as a lesson to others, learn from my stupidity, that's fine too
Re: Thought I had a few thousand .309 but they're .312
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 8:47 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
Everyone gets older and stupid shit seems to happen, nobody escapes that indignity. On a good day I might remember where any of my calipers are, never mind the sizing dies.