Bullets for the M305

[Uncle Rico]

I'd like to put together a load for the M305 and I'm looking at Marstar's 150g TMJ Frontier bullets:

http://www.marstar.ca/ammo-etc/rl-frontier-lg.shtm

50 bullets for $10.00, not bad. Has anyone here used them or have any suggestions on bullets for this gun? Even a recipe would be nice if anyone's willing to share.

 

[firemachine69]

Tagging this for interest. I'm using Hornady Interlock 150gr. BTSP for about $30 per 100. The savings really would add up with a thousand or so.

 

[Uncle Rico]

You'd save $100.00, enough for 500 more bullets.

 

[JBD]

It is a copper plated bullet not jacketed. Treat it like a cast bullet.

 

[sunray]

"...copper plated bullet not jacketed. Treat it like a cast bullet..." Exactly.
You have to work up a load for your rifle. You must full length resize every time too.
150 or 165 hunting bullets or 150, 155, 168 or 175 grain match bullet$ with IMR4895, IMR4064 or Varget(if you can find any) and regular large rifle primers will do nicely. The 165 grain hunting bullet will kill any game you care to hunt.

 

[firemachine69]

Maybe I'll pick up some more Varget from our local GS. Seems like this stuff is going out of style or sumthin'.

 

[rnbra-shooter]

For hunting? Cheap plinking?

That bullet (Frontier TMJ) might or might not reliably feed in your M305.

A bullet that definitely will feed, and is good for plinking, is an FMJ, or other spitzer type (i.e. any hollowpoint match bullet). I don't know where you're located (shipping is a killer for bullets), Higginsons in Ottawa indicates $21.50/100, and gunnutz sponsor Mystic Precision in BC indicates $255/1000.

A 144-168 grain FMJ or HPBT is pretty easy to get to work in an M14-type. Seat to no longer than magazine length (2.800"), work up a full charge of your favourite medium burn rate rifle powder (W748, H335, BL(C)-2, H/IMR4895, Reloder12/15 etc), and have fun.

 

[diemaco]

Anyone know if higginsons has those 150gr FMJ in stock? I tried to get some in the spring and summer and they were on back order.

 

[DarkSyd]

Mystic Precision has an article on reloading for the M1a/305 here:
http://mysticplayer.netfirms.com/articles/m305.htm

Seems to indicate Varget might not be a good idea for your application.

 

[purple]

One bullet worth trying in an M14 type or Garand (or any .30 cal MILSURP) is the Hornady 150gr FMJBT. These were/are available in bulk quantities at a good price (Higginson Powder used to carry them). I've shot a large number of these and found them to be the most accurate of any of the 150gr FMJs.

IMR or H4895 is the baseline propellant for functionality and accuracy in the M14. IMR4064 and IMR3031 (don't hear much about this one nowadays,but it was once a standard for 168gr match loads) have also given me good results.

 

[chemo]

I've always reloaded with h4895, but since the m14 is strictly for plinking I'd use a cheaper powder, anythign reliable and cheaper? Isnt BLC-2 cheaper?

 

[DarkSyd]

One bullet worth trying in an M14 type or Garand (or any .30 cal MILSURP) is the Hornady 150gr FMJBT. These were/are available in bulk quantities at a good price (Higginson Powder used to carry them). I've shot a large number of these and found them to be the most accurate of any of the 150gr FMJs.

Yep, higginson has them.

 

[C185]

The Hornady 150gr FMJ's are great, I just hate how the cannelure is in the wrong spot for seating at 2.800".

 

[purple]

Same case when reloading for the .30-06. I seat them in the .30-06 at 3.280 OAL and in the 7.62 at 2.790 OAL. I don't crimp and everything works well.