Page 1 of 2

Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 10:12 pm
by Rich Jordan
I recently built up a .300 Blackout carbine (pistol length gas system), and enjoy it enough I'm going to reload for it. Even the lowest price commercial ammo is too expensive for semi-regular practice and I've got all the gear. I'm testing Berry's 220gr plated bullets for subsonic (no suppressors here in ill-annoy but they're fun to shoot). I wanted to get some 125gr bullets to try for supersonic usage based on recommendations, and went shopping at Cabelas. Other than picking up the occasional deal on Midway blems or bulk sale .224 bullets, my inventory was all purchased prior to the mid 2000s when work and the earlier loss of the only nearby outdoor range killed my centerfire rifle practice access.

After getting component bullet price shock at Cabelas this weekend I decided to stick with the quantity of bulk 150gr FMJs (from .30-06 reloading) that I have on hand for practice unless I can get a deal on the lighter ones. I bought one box of 125gr Hornady SSTs to try, but no Sierra 125gr MatchKings available. I've also got heavier match and hunting bullets but looking for one heavy sub and one light supersonic load to settle on. I don't hunt so that isn't a factor.

I have on hand Lil'Gun, AA1680, IMR4227, and H110 (I used to reload M1 Carbine) so according to the reloading info I've reviewed I'm pretty well set up on that front.

Any suggestions on 125gr jacketed bullets beyond Sierra Matchking for this caliber appreciated.

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 10:26 pm
by HTRN
You go into a retail store, and then are shocked at retail prices?! :?

I think Speer TNTs are the cheapest jacketed 125 grn 308 bullets around - if you buy in quantity they're under 20 cents a bullet. :ugeek:

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 10:28 pm
by Old Grafton
maybe check with these folks:

http://missouribullet.com/index.php

I have no experience with or connection to these bullets or their makers; just saved the link for future inquiry--but they look interesting.

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 12:07 am
by Rich Jordan
HTRN wrote:You go into a retail store, and then are shocked at retail prices?! :?

I think Speer TNTs are the cheapest jacketed 125 grn 308 bullets around - if you buy in quantity they're under 20 cents a bullet. :ugeek:
I think MSRP is even higher. The Sierras they had were cheaper but they were soft point hunting bullets, not poly-tipped. The 125gr SSTs cost 10$ more for the hundred than a box of 180gr Hornady Interbonds that I bought at Cabelas pre-Obama, and those were not cheap bullets. Yes, I know, metal prices and all and obummer closing down the last lead smelters in the US, but I was surprised at the magnitude of the price increases.

I wanted to get some in to reload this weekend/week so I can take them to the range next Saturday if possible. Hadn't done much online but the box price was almost the same or even higher at my normal online stores (plus shipping, less tax) as Cabelas and I had some 20% off gift cards so my net price was less terrible. But they also only carried the individual 100 count boxes, no bulk deals (there were some on equivalent Sierra that dropped the price per round somewhat).

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 12:22 am
by Rich Jordan
Old Grafton wrote:maybe check with these folks:

http://missouribullet.com/index.php

I have no experience with or connection to these bullets or their makers; just saved the link for future inquiry--but they look interesting.
Thanks for the link. Their FAQ is amusing. I've been reading up on coated bullets in general (even watched a few DIY home casting/coating videos), and the site has a 215gr bullet designed for 300 Blackout, but that would be subsonic. The plated and coated bullets I've been reading about mostly recommend not pushing them much over 1300fps; Missouri bullet doesn't even provide that info; I think that coated, like plated, need to be treated like cast lead bullets and use their loading data, not jacketed. I want jacketed for the supersonics.

But thanks, I'm going to order a sample pack to try the subs.

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:12 am
by Netpackrat
Psst....

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pr ... ctId/26184

Also these guys occasionally have pretty good deals on Blackout applicable pulled bullets:

https://americanreloading.com/en/73-30-caliber-308

I bought a bunch of 220 grain Matchking pulls from them a while back.

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:37 am
by Steamforger
I've generally found American Reloading to be ok. RMR is another source I used for pulled boolets.

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:40 am
by Netpackrat
Also, by making me dig up that link to the 220 Lapuas on sale, you caused me to buy another 500 of them, bastage. But at basically half off for Lapua components it's hard to go wrong.

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 4:31 am
by Rich Jordan
Thanks for the link. I actually used to use them 20+ years ago, they just fell off my radar.

No deals on the 125s right now but worth checking on.

Rich

Re: Component bullets cost too much.

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 3:39 am
by Rich Jordan
Netpackrat wrote:Also, by making me dig up that link to the 220 Lapuas on sale, you caused me to buy another 500 of them, bastage. But at basically half off for Lapua components it's hard to go wrong.
I ordered a box. They're so pretty! I almost feel guilty at the thought of lobbing them out subsonic from the .300 Blackout...

These might have to be tried in the .30-06...