.3065 bullets

[dead meat]

I got a old box of Norma bullets in an auction buy, FMJ silver in colour, dia is odd though. The bullet measure .3065 not a lot under .308 but i wonder if they had a specific cartridge they were made for. Any ideas?

 

[Eagleye]

I got a old box of Norma bullets in an auction buy, FMJ silver in colour, dia is odd though. The bullet measure .3065 not a lot under .308 but i wonder if they had a specific cartridge they were made for. Any ideas?

No specific cartridge. A fair number of earlier made Norma and Sako bullets had diameters slightly under .307"
You will probably note that those silver jacketed bullets are magnetic. I have several boxes of the Silver jacketed
bullets in soft point, boat tail configuration. Decent game bullets, but not intended for very high velocities.

There were exceptions.....The original 308 Norma Magnum ammo was loaded with the silver jacketed bullet, but
was designated "Dual-Core" It was a pretty tough bullet, even at 30 cal magnum speeds.

Unless you have a 30 cal rifle with a generous bore/groove diameter, your bullets should work just fine. Dave.

 

[B]

I have measured a lot of 7.62x25 bullets at exactly that, PPU I believe. What grain and profile are the bullets you have? Silver jacket is almost certainly cupro-nickel.

 

[mbogo3]

7.5x55

 

[Ganderite]

The IVI 7.62x51 bullets tended to be undersize. We often made the rifle barrels undersized too, to shoot them better.

But you bullets will shoot ok in a 308 barrel.

 

[Snider shooter]

Dominion 6.5x54 M/S is loaded with bullets measuring 0.259. I couldn’t understand why my reloads worked excellent and Dominion half of the time wouldn’t stay on the paper. Everyone I took apart was 0.259.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

The IVI 7.62x51 bullets tended to be undersize. We often made the rifle barrels undersized too, to shoot them better.

... .

A lot of IVI bullets were also not quite round. I have a Gaillard .3065 stainless barrel spec'd to that crap ammunition.

 

[Maple57]

I once had an Israeli Mauser that did not shoot very well. The rifling looked just fine but accuracy was very poor. So I started loading 308 ammo using projectiles for a 7.62 x 39. After that it became a solid one MOA rifle.

In my case there was an advantage to running a larger than .308 projectile, but I don't see a case where using a smaller projectile might be advantageous. Possibly creates a safety margin for the military in muddy Vietnam conditions.

I have often thought bullet manufacturers should intentionally produce slightly over size bullets for use in barrels with a high round count. I'm sure it would improve accuracy.

 

[dead meat]

These bullets are magnetic so likely a steel jacket. Not going to be using them myself as i don't shoot calibers larger than my 6.5 swede anymore. Off to the Swift Current gun show with them next week.