[panther308]

Well guys I have looked and read at alot of places and I am new so bare with me, I have only been reloading for about 3 yrs and have only had my M1A for about the same amount of time and have been using 3037's from Hornady but I found that Wideners has some bulk bullets made by Privi for about $18 hundred which is a really good price but have heard some negative so what gives are they worth it ? i want to be able to 2-3 MOA or better say out to 300 yrds is that possible with this bullet

Thanks

 

[hammonje]

These are not bad projectiles. I could acheive some pretty good groups with these bullets, although my load development was not exhaustive enough. I use them to make batches of handloads for my friends who have M1A's but are not great shots. They are always begging me for handloads. Handloads made with these are about 1.5 MOA and are still better than anything but FGMM.

I save the Nosler and SMK's for myself. I weighed out ten bullets to see the consistency and the Widener's 168's are quite consistent in terms of mass.

167.1 gr
167.3
167.1
167.2
167.4
167.5
167.3
167.3
167.2
167.1

AVG 167.25 gr
SD 0.1354

Personally, I would purchase the Nosler 168 CC BTHP bullets from Midsouth Shooters Supply for $195/k. Almost as cheap as the Widener's at $180/k and a much superior bullet. SMK's are way too expensive and the Noslers land same POI for me.

Here's the link:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0011565934

 

[Trung Si]

If You are interested in an Accurate and Consistant Load save Your Money and go with SMKs and don't Look Back!

 

[panther308]

My plan was to use these with IMR 4895 along with a WLR primer with a COAL of 2.800" inside some .308 brass from Scharch, I will be loading on a 550.
I had heard that the OAL may vary alot due to the quality ? and their is limited seating area so this is a concern with set back in a semi-auto I do taper crimp but not much only about .002

 

[hammonje]

No crimp. With match bullets with no cannelure I do not crimp, as neck tension will keep them in place.

Also....I usually have my COAL for 168/175 gr bullet loads at 2.82 - 2.83".

Sounds like a good recipe for a nice round. Same powder I use and if the brass is military once-fired than it should be easy to find a place to start. Only difference is I use CCI 34 primers.

I performed some load development yesterday for 175 SMK with these components and will post the data later. I would start at 39.5 gr and work up in 0.5 gr increments until you get up to 41.5 gr. My great loads were always in the 41.1 - 41.5 gr IMR-4895 range in military NATO brass for 168/175 gr projectiles.

 

[NYCSTRIPES]

IMHO, for the $2 per hundred difference in price, I would go with the Nosler competition bullets over the surplus stuff. They're every bit as good as the Sierras.

 

[panther308]

IMHO, for the $2 per hundred difference in price, I would go with the Nosler competition bullets over the surplus stuff. They're every bit as good as the Sierras.

The cheapest I found Nosler CC was $4.50 per hundred more from Midway this includes s/h the 168's from Wideners have free s/h if you get 2K unless you have a better supplier for $2 per hundred diff I would spend it

 

[USSR]

About 4 months ago, MidSouth had 1,000 of the Nosler 168gr CC match bullets on sale for $176. Now that was a deal.

Don

 

[panther308]

I have been looking at the Nosler CC 168's and the cheapest I can find them is $2101K x2 +s/h is $450 from Midway, I received a sample of the one's from Wideners from a forum member on another forum and on first inspection they look really good until you start measuring them, the weight seems to avg about 169.0gn the OAL varies about .005, they are about .030 longer than SMK's the thing that really got my attention was the limited seating area, I don't have anything fancy to measure them with but they do not seem to have a large bearing surface as stated by some and would have to be seated long maybe past mag length ? my concern is bullet setback
I made up (5) of them to test in a bolt gun against SMK's , having them seated at 2.810" the bullet diam at the mouth of the case is .304, I put approx .002 crimp on the cases.
This got me thinking (very dangerous) so I made up a dummy round in match brass that had been neck sized only and seated one of the Wideners to a COAL of 2.810" for my M1A I then proceeded to cycle it thru the action and after (5) cycles the round grew to 2.838 and I was able to push it back in to what ever length I needed, I performed this informal test 2 times (sized brass each time) and the results were the same.
I then resized the same brass and did the same test using a SMK and it only moved .001 (first time) and .002.5 (2nd time)
I know these are not match bullets by any means but this does not instill upon me to drop $$ on only to be disappointed by their performance or worst damage me or my rifle, maybe a more seasoned reloader can chime in

 

[panther308]

Found the Nosler CC 168's at Midsouth for a grand total of $418.41 for 2K that is $2.97 per hundred more than the Privi 168's from Wideners to use in my stock M1A from SA am I crazy to pay the up charge ?

 

[walkonmars]

Nosler factory seconds are available for $0.19 each. Shipping is flat rate.

You can buy Nosler 168 BTHP factory seconds for less than $0.19 each directly from Noslers retail shop.
Shipping is flat rate for less than $15 per thousand.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/index.php?p=11&b=8&s=363&t=Custom Competition

I have used these bullets and they work great in my Supermatch and Swiss K31.

 

[panther308]

You can buy Nosler 168 BTHP factory seconds for less than $0.19 each directly from Noslers retail shop.
Shipping is flat rate for less than $15 per thousand.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/index.php?p=11&b=8&s=363&t=Custom Competition

I have used these bullets and they work great in my Supermatch and Swiss K31.

I looked on their site but did not find the BTHP's only the Spitzer points unless I missed something like a Spitzer is the same thing

 

[walkonmars]

168's and 175's HPBT available.

"Custom Competition" 168 and 175 grain HPBT are available as of 8:23pm PST today for $18.70 per hundred.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/index.php?p=11&b=8&s=363&t=Custom Competition

 

[NYCSTRIPES]

19.44 per hundred from Midsouth, but you have to buy 1000. 168gr Nosler Competition.
Not seconds. Item #115-65934
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0011565934

 

[hagar the horrible]

I think Nosler just label these as seconds so they can sell them direct and not undercut their retail dealers. Ordered from them a bunch of times, always happy.

 

[panther308]

Pardon my ignorance but I see they are a Spitzer bullet, is that just the design of the bullet ?
I am fairly new to this so pardon my ignorance, the only thing I have reloaded so far is 9MM FMJ and Speer GD 124's for pistol and H3037 Bulk for my M1A and SMK 168's for my bolt gun i guess I am confused on Spitzer BTHP

 

[hammonje]

Called Nosler....they stated the seconds have no change in POI. Merely cosmetic blemishes. I just ordered 1k 175 gr CC projectiles for $200 shipped.

Nice......thanks for the heads up walkonmars.

 

[hammonje]

I think Nosler just label these as seconds so they can sell them direct and not undercut their retail dealers. Ordered from them a bunch of times, always happy.

I asked the Nosler tech expert this directly and he said, "No comment!!!" I take that as you may be right on that one hagar.

 

[charlie98]

Had the Noslers setting on the doorstep today when I got home...

Whoo-hoo! ...ain't they pretty!

 

[hammonje]

Just got another 1k myself from MidwayUSA. I called em up and they matched the Midsouth Shooters Supply price.