What do you think of Mil-Spec 30 caliber bullets?

[NB51]

They are BTHP match 30CAL 168GR bullets for $359.00 for 2000 of em. Seems like a good price - but is that brand a good one?

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[USSR]

A lot of the retailers play fast and loose with the term "Mil-Spec". There is no U.S. military specification for a 168gr BTHP bullet. LC M852 used 168SMK's, but these bullets are not Sierra's and will not shoot as such.

Don

[ireload2]

Just ask Mil Spec what mil spec they meet.
Then you can look it up on line at the government's "Assist" web site

[Mike_Mills]

Well, I'm not sure what you want them for.

When you call them "mil-spec", are you referring to the bullets which Widener's sells? If so, they are a good bullet but not benchrest quality, that's for sure. The general thinking is these bullets are made by PRVI.

Their quality is every bit as good as or better than the 147 gr FMJ's I've used in the past. I bought a bunch to use when my 147's run out.

I use these for training which I typically do at 100 and 200 yards. At these short distances even the FMJ's are totally adequate, so are the "mil-spec" bullets.

[NB51]

When you say they're not a benchrest quality. do mean competition shooting? I just do plinking at the range and was looking to get a fairly inexpensive bullet and learn how to reload. I don't need match-grade material at all, but I don't want to buy junk that you couldn't reliably hit the 7 ring at 200 yards.

[John Kepler]

When you say they're not a benchrest quality. do mean competition shooting?

Generally, when one is talking about "match bullets", it's in a competition context....otherwise, why bother?

I just do plinking at the range and was looking to get a fairly inexpensive bullet and learn how to reload. I don't need match-grade material at all, but I don't want to buy junk that you couldn't reliably hit the 7 ring at 200 yards.

In this case, you may get both! I don't consider 18 bucks/100 for bulk bullets "cheap", and with unbranded bulk-bullets, you have NO idea what quality and consistency you are getting. Widener's is generally a good outfit to deal with, and generally sells decent products....that's the only "up-side" I can see in this fairly lousy deal.

[Maury Krupp]

That price is at the high end of average for what you get.

But these days "in stock" is better than "out of stock" so there's that to consider.

I've used the 168s for practice. They'll hold the SR-3 10-ring at 300yd. They're about on a par with the 173gr USGI for mid-range performance, ie OK but nobody's first choice.

If all you want are bullets (any bullets) I'd go with the 145gr and save $50. The QC on those is probably going to be the same as the 168 and you don't really need the heavier bullets until you're shooting at least 300yd.

Or shop around a bit more to see if you can find something (anything) cheaper that someone has in stock. It doesn't take much of a bullet for plinking and reloading practice at 200yd or less.

Maury

[Mike_Mills]

When you say they're not a benchrest quality. do mean competition shooting? I just do plinking at the range and was looking to get a fairly inexpensive bullet and learn how to reload. I don't need match-grade material at all, but I don't want to buy junk that you couldn't reliably hit the 7 ring at 200 yards.

When I said "benchrest" I meant benchrest competition, not just any ole' competition. Benchrest shooting has very, very high standards for accuracy and winning requires,...well, something more than I can deliver right now. In benchrest competition, you'd be at a significant disadvantage if you were shooting these bullets.

In my load development and initial use of these bullets, I was looking for something to be wrong with these. I have measured the variations win bullet weight. I have measured variations in bullet dimensions. I have fired them over a chronograph. I have "sort of", very informally, fired them for group size. I haven't really found anything wrong.

If you are a high power shooter, these bullets should be just fine for anything, probably even out to 600 yards. As Maury says, they'll certainly be okay out to 300 yards. I will use mine for 100 and 200 yard high power practice and for M1 Garand match shooting (typically at 100 yards).

Are they the best deal out there? I don't know. I do know they had bullets when I wanted to buy. They are a decent bullet at a decent price.

Anyway, you asked. So, I told you what I think about them.

[Dan In Indiana]

Midsouth*NOSLER BULLETS*30 CAL 308 DIA 168 GR HOLLOW POINT BOAT TAIL 1000CT