New Prvi Bullet?

[harry mac]

I just noticed a new .303 bullet from PPU on Henry Krank's website; a 182 grn FMJ "Match".
Tantalisingly, there's no "BT" in the title, so, could this be a new flat based bullet?
Anyone tried any?
I used to use the old 186grn FNM bullets when they were available, but the supply seems to have dried up now.

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[Richard Hare]

It Sounds promising, Harry!

[harry mac]

I just ordered 100 to try out, and after I'd completed the order I noticed that their 7.62x54 cartridge has a 182grn FMJ BT bullet. I hope it's not the same one, but confidence is not high.

[browningautorifle]

Prvi Bullet

I think you'll find they're the same bullet they use in 7.62x54 R. They're available here as a ball bullet too, out of Vancouver area. I can see us creating a die to bump the base out on these too...otherwise they were good for reasonable shooting.

[ActionYobbo]

privi site lists it as a boat tail

[hayboy]

I saw that too, Harry and had hoped the same, but checked out the privi website and came to the conclusion it was a boat tail unfortunately.
It's something I can really don't get either - nearly everyone agrees a flat bottomed bullet is better in 303, however they are pretty much unobtainable in the UK. Sierra do a 180 grain hunting bullet - soft point - so currently classed as expanding ammo in the UK and therefore hard to get onto your ticket. But what's stopping them making them in fmj? Tooling can't be that much different, can it? And if they supplied them then surely they'd clear up? Has anybody any ideas why the (temperamental) at best boat tails dominate the UK market in 303? I'm curious as I can't see the logic to it

[P246]

I live within drive time of Serra and know a couple folks that worked their. The .311 boat tail FMJ can be sold to guys shooting several milsurps. Russian, Argys, Japs, tight L.E.s, etc. apparently there isn't enough market for a flat base FMJ. I think they are wrong as I would buy the heck out of em, but until someone else is convinced we are screwed. I have a couple No 4s that will shoot boat tails. The rest shoot pulled mark 7 bullets...that supply is almost gone.

[CINDERS]

Supply and demand Seirra's have gone through the roof here @90 cents a pop so we are all looking for alternate sources and with Highland ceasing their 174gn 303 projectile what does that say I guess Seirra could re-tool and make a new cup so the FMJ was flat based but I am guessing they would have to make a complete new forming die as the resultant change in shape may alter the profile. All this will cost $'s and whilst the initial response may be bulk orders the market may slow up and they could be left with a few million projectiles sitting in their stores or gunsmiths with stock on their shelves.
Besides they are a business and have to consider capital outlay verses a return on their investment and in the land of competition taking a gamble may not be in the interest of the businesses profile or even on the board of directors minds at this stage, there are a few places trying to get things like the FB pill going for the 303's The Bullet Factory is one of them.

You have to be realistic how much are you going to go through in a year (Vickers & Bren M G's excluded from this) I have 1400 174gn SMK's brought before the price jump of 50% & 750 174gn Bullet Factory projectiles @42c ea enough for 3 + years of shooting. tbonesmith got it right we are going to one day go down the road of re barreling with Armalons or Lothar Walther brls unless you have a swag of in the grease NOS barrels. Which means the SSR's may have to encompass a section for re barreled rifles to compete among themselves as I feel it would be a negative to have an as issued used MKIII or No.4 going against a freshly barreled rifle with a repro tube in it.

[hayboy]

Hi cinders, thanks for your thoughts, it's interesting to see what other people think about this.
Just a question about Re tooling for flat bottomed bullets.
If Sierra do a 180 grain flat bottomed soft point, wouldn't this be comparatively easy to make into a fmj? I don't know much about bullet manufacture but I can't see it would be a major reworking - what do you think?

[CINDERS]

I am sure the machinists here will chime in shortly with their knowledge on the processes involved.