I picked up my first batch of ammo for my new 308 yesterday. I bought 40 rounds of PPU Facrory 150gn SP loads and 100 PPU cases for reloading. The cost, $126 Oh well, I suppose that is the cost of our sport these days.

I intended picking up some Federal SP primers for our mate Gelan, but they were sold out. I have no doubt that somebody came into the shop when they first came available, asked how many they had, and said I’ll take the lot. That seems to be the way these days…no care or thought for fellow shooters. I even got lambasted heavily on Facebook in a reloading Forum for criticising those that do this instead of being considerate of others. The Gunshop did have a large quantity of Federal Premium LP primers, but considering Australia now has a calibre restriction on pistols (we are restricted to .38 calibre without approval) it doesn’t surprise me.

I intended picking up my new rifle on Monday, but unfortunately I’ll be away for the next week, at least, paying a visit to my brother about 1300km south of me. He has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and his Oncologist gave him 4 to 6 weeks only left, and as we well know it could be 4 - 6 days, weeks or months with this insidious disease.

It is good to catch up mate.
Sorry to hear about your brother, I hope is is not in too much pain.

Not too worry about the primer, sooner or later they would be available again in Sydney.
Give us the review of your gun once you got it.

If driving past Sydney, give me a yell

sorry to read about your bro....enjoy the time you have left mate.
primers have just about come right over here...and when Vince finds those keys he will have enough again.

Elvis wrote:

sorry to read about your bro....enjoy the time you have left mate. primers have just about come right over here...and when Vince finds those keys he will have enough again.

My brother isn’t travelling very well right now…see my post in Spam-O-Rama mate.

Oh, I found my keys ok mate…and when I opened the safe I found over a thousand SR primers and about the same LR primers, so I’ll be right for a while. There are primers available here in Brisbane, but I’m a bit picky, and as I developed all my loads using Remington Primers, I like to stick with them.

Vince wrote:

I picked up my first batch of ammo for my new 308 yesterday. I bought 40 rounds of PPU Facrory 150gn SP loads and 100 PPU cases for reloading. The cost, $126 Oh well, I suppose that is the cost of our sport these days. I intended picking up some Federal SP primers for our mate Gelan, but they were sold out. I have no doubt that somebody came into the shop when they first came available, asked how many they had, and said I’ll take the lot. That seems to be the way these days…no care or thought for fellow shooters. I even got lambasted heavily on Facebook in a reloading Forum for criticising those that do this instead of being considerate of others. The Gunshop did have a large quantity of Federal Premium LP primers, but considering Australia now has a calibre restriction on pistols (we are restricted to .38 calibre without approval) it doesn’t surprise me. I intended picking up my new rifle on Monday, but unfortunately I’ll be away for the next week, at least, paying a visit to my brother about 1300km south of me. He has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and his Oncologist gave him 4 to 6 weeks only left, and as we well know it could be 4 - 6 days, weeks or months with this insidious disease.

Well dang Vince. I read and commented on your other post before seeing this one. Mrs. Wolf had pancreatic cancer as well. When diagnosed it was already at stage 4. From diagnosis till she left me was seven months. The place of the tumour was such that surgery was not an option and treatment was to extend life it was never considered as a possibility for a cure. My condolences.

Grey_Wolf wrote:

Well dang Vince. I read and commented on your other post before seeing this one. Mrs. Wolf had pancreatic cancer as well. When diagnosed it was already at stage 4. From diagnosis till she left me was seven months. The place of the tumour was such that surgery was not an option and treatment was to extend life it was never considered as a possibility for a cure. My condolences.

My brother was exactly the same as your wife mate…at Stage 4 before it was identified. Again, the same in that surgery is not an option. The Oncologist has stopped all medication now, no doubt because it is a waste of time and resources because it won’t achieve anything. It’s just a waiting game now.

Heading off home tomorrow, and boy am I looking forward to making up some 308 hand loads for my new rifle. If possible, I’ll be planning on heading out to the range next Friday…time permitting.

I’m not sure what 308 projectiles I have…probably Hornady 150gn Flat Nose that I would have purchased for my 30.30…if not, I’ll have to buy some. I’ve decided to run with the 150gn bullet because it seems to be a good all-rounder that meets and defeats most situations I’m likely to encounter. I “ummed and arred” about the 168gn offering, but thought the little extra it offers, and the difference in powder loading isn’t really worth the trouble, so it will be the 150gn bullet.

Sorry to hear about your brother and your ordeal. Hang in there.

When you can, give an update on the new .308 and the range testing. All the best...
Gil

Gil Martin wrote:

Sorry to hear about your brother and your ordeal. Hang in there. When you can, give an update on the new .308 and the range testing. All the best... Gil

Thanks Gil. I am trying to plan a range session this week (Friday), but all hinges on the funeral for my brother who passed away last Friday. Whichever way, I’m looking forward to getting out to the range with my 308 rifle so I can zero the scope and test the PPU Factory 150gn ammo.

Deb's and my deepest condolences. Good brother's are hard to come by.

Bushmaster wrote:

Deb's and my deepest condolences. Good brother's are hard to come by.

Thank you my friend. Ken was a lot like Larry in some respects…one of the good guys.

Vince wrote:

I “ummed and arred” about the 168gn offering

A go to for a lot of people, myself included is Sierra 168gr MatchKing's with a charge of 43.5gr of IMR4064/Varget/AR2208.

It closely approximates the Federal's Gold Medal Match commercial offering.

If you substitute Sierra's 165gr GameKing, out to a couple hundred yards, your POI doesn't change enough to matter when hunting deer.

Dimitri wrote:

Vince wrote: I “ummed and arred” about the 168gn offering A go to for a lot of people, myself included is Sierra 168gr MatchKing's with a charge of 43.5gr of IMR4064/Varget/AR2208. It closely approximates the Federal's Gold Medal Match commercial offering. If you substitute Sierra's 165gr GameKing, out to a couple hundred yards, your POI doesn't change enough to matter when hunting deer.

Hm, food for thought there mate. I used the 168gr bullet in my 30.30 TC Contender 10” BBL for IHMSA matches, and it would print 5” groups at 200yds using iron sights. Maybe the 165gr offering might just be the way to go. Certainly something I’ll consider strongly depending on availability of bullets. Only problem I can see is the cost of Sierra bullets compared to other brands…can be poisonously high. Although after checking the net, they seem to be on par with other brands, with Speer being a little cheaper. Just a matter of what’s available really.
Sierra
308 165GR HPBT GAMEKING NEW $83.95
308 165GR SBT GAMEKING NEW $77.95

SPEER
308CAL
HOT COR SOFT POINT
100 PACK
308CAL 150GR NEW $62.95
308CAL 165GR NEW $68.95

OK, I managed to secure the last pack of Speer 165gr HotCor SP bullets at my “go to” gun store.

I have AR2208 (Varget), BM8208 (IMR 8208) and AR2206H (H4895) of which all are listed for this bullet weight, so as soon as I can get my hands on a set of LEE Ultimate Collet Dies…hopefully tomorrow…I’ll start putting some loads together to work out a good load.