Service Rifle practice ammo

[Keebler750]

I was wondering what you guys build up (or buy) for practice vs. what you use in matches.

I bought 2000 69gr SMKs last year to build for matches but I used those cheapo green and white UMC Remington boxes, at $8 for 20, to practice with because it was so cheap. I spent a ton of time working on my standing and kneeling, to good effect, and it would have cost me an arm and a leg if I had used 'the good stuff.'

Of course I test with the match cartridges, but I try not to waste them. I still have about 1200.

What is a cheap bullet (55gr+ ) to plug my cases with for practice, and where can I get 'em in bulk? (PS...Not crappy.....but cheap....!)

I have oodles of the Remington cases, once fired, and I'll use Varget again, I guess, although it meters like.....poo.

Hey, if you want to suggest a powder and source, be my guest!

 

[kako911]

Well,

Those 55 gr FMJ BT tips sold at Canadian BDX and at TSE would not be a bad choice. you could use some Olin surplus powder.

Would make a super practice load, at a cheap price !

 

[Shelldrake]

I use the same ammo for practice as for matches.

 

[Plink]

I'm using 55gr FMJ BT's out to 100 for match and practice. Some I make, some I buy if I can get a decent price. Depending on the wind, I'll bump up to .68gr Hornadys after that. I don't keep to many around, but enough to run a few matches.

 

[RifleDude]

I'm using .22LR and a 22 cal insert (AR15) to practice on an indoor 25y range in the winter (reduced targets). Other than that, I usualy reload a few thousand rounds at a time with the cheapest 55gr bulk bullets I can find and stuff them into IVI cases with 24gr of WC745 (cheap surplus powder). I'm not so much worried about tight groups here, but to practice my sitting, kneeling, and standing snap shots. Oh, BTW, the cheapest way to practice is to do your daily dry-firing at home, practicing all your different firing positions

 

[NavyShooter]

I have a dedicated .22 upper that I finally completed (with a proper 1/16 twist .22 LR barrel) and I try to put a couple hundred rounds a week through it.

NS

 

[ton45-II]

Lots of dry firing and my air rifle is most of what I do for practice. When I go to the range, which is limited to 200 meters, I use "the load" for my M14.

This load is 12 grains of Red Dot pushing a frontier 110gr plated round nose at around 1800 fps. It shoots about 2-3 inches at 100m and around 6 at 200m.

The BS is not very efficient but it's a great way of practicing my wind doping at these ranges. I practice my positions and focus on tight groups and the wind. The bolt have to be hand cycles, which makes my M14 feel like a fast bolt gun!

I buy the projectiles from higginson powders for 64 bucks for a thousand, add to that the powder pistol, it's an inexpensive way to practice for a 7.62 NATO rifle.

I almost forgot, lots of games on the XBOX 360 for practice.

 

[Keebler750]

Yes, I found dry firing my .22lr, and the AR, at home from low ready up into the aim etc worked really well, getting all the motions, breathing and trigger pre-tension all into it. (I found the pre-tension got the muscles in my forearm set, tightening up my POA.) Then it's all sight picture and trigger squeeze. Plus, I started using the sling to shoot. So I practiced that, too.

Thanks for the input on ammo, guys. I'm trying to figure out what my plan is for this year. I have improved my upper body stability immensly over the winter. I think I'll be able to build on what I learned last year. My biggest problem is mental focus due to other things going on in my life, and I'd like to be able to 'get in the zone' better. Last year taught me I can still do it, if I put my mind to it. That's really important to me. (Getting old....ya know...?)

So.....onward to building my ammo and getting down to business!!!!

 

[Plink]

(Getting old....ya know...?)

Boy do I hear you there.....


I do use the 22lr out on my range in the back 40 a lot as well to practice prone, breathing, and off hand as well.