Help Identify These Mystery Bullets

[doc540]

Definitely make for a different looking .308 round compared to the usual Sierra/Hornday

Information

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[browningautorifle]

The outside measurement given comes up at .307 though. 7.62x54 has a much bigger outside diameter.

Don't suppose you can use a conventional micrometer to measure outside and confirm diameter could you? Too, there'll be someone alone shortly that already knows exactly what it's for...

[Bruce McAskill]

Vintage Hunter is correct. It is Finnish ball ammo. They used barrels in their Mosin Nagant's of .308. and D166 is right.

[doc540]

Vintage Hunter is correct. It is Finnish ball ammo. They used barrels in their Mosin Nagant's of .308. and D166 is right.

Thanks!

I've searched the net high and low and could not confirm 166 grains anywhere.

Not doubting you, just looking to confirm.

Can you provide a link showing Finnish D166 ball ammo at 166 grains?

thanks again

[browningautorifle]

Finally...

[vintage hunter]

The Finns did have one model with a .3082" bore, the M28/30 iirc. All others, except the M39 were .309". All M39's have .310" bores.
The bullets you have are the wartime version and should have a diameter of 7.87mm or 7.88m(.310"),not 7.8mm(.307") as you noted in the op.. The modern Lapua D166 bullet is of a different profile, i.e. boat tail.
7.62x54r.net and mosinnagant.net both have photos of whole and sectioned wartime D166
bullets/cartridges for comparison on the ammunition identification pages in the Finnish section. Note the second "cannelure" on the Finn made bullets. It's not really a cannelure but rather an identification band found only on Finn made bullets. Winchester did a contract run of D166 ammo for Finnland but it lacks the band and also has the usual Winchester cannelure.
Neither site lists a weight for the D166 bullet.

[browningautorifle]

The bullets you have are the wartime version and should have a diameter of 7.87mm or 7.88m(.310"),not 7.8mm(.307") as you noted in the op..

That's why I was hoping for a micrometer measurement in inches...ie .308, .309, .310...

[vintage hunter]

That's why I was hoping for a micrometer measurement in inches...ie .308, .309, .310...

Understood. But at the same time you didnt really want to take my word on what they are did you ? Be honest....

[browningautorifle]

But at the same time you didnt really want to take my word on what they are did you

Where would you read that in?

[doc540]

I'd gladly mail a few to any of you experts for examination and re-measurement.

Using two different calipers I just measured a dozen of them, and they're .308 at their widest points.

And using two different reloading scales they weigh 166 grains.

Very interesting discussion.

Thanks