308 Win Ammo

[Dusty44]

Yesterday,  MidwayUSA opened a sale on RWS UNI 308 Winchester ammo.  180 gr lead nose,  "torpedo tail" --  whatever that is?  It says 'reloadable brass.'  The list price on this European made ammo is given at $47.+ per box of 20.  For the sale,  it is $19.99.  I am mentioning it in case you do not get a 'flier' in your inbox.  (I have already ordered as much as I think I can afford).

This message needs be deleted in a few days-----  ?  Old,  outdated by then.

[Dusty44]

I do not know what to think about the delays in getting merchandise from MidwayUSA.  I ordered ammo on the 13Th,  somewhere in the pre-dawn via computer link.  The stuff arrived on my front porch via UPS Ground in the middle of the day today,  the 15Th.  They have spoiled me for when I really have to wait for merchandise from just about every other vendor.

This German made ammo is quite different.  My caliper battery is dead so I am unable to measure accurately.  I am just eyeballing with a ruler.  OAL appears to be at least .100 shorter than the 2.800 OAL HP handloads I am comparing them to,  and about .050 shorter than the Hornady factory Superformance rounds.  The RWS UNI bullets have a thicker nose section and a less tapered ogive than the others.  The point is rounded but not quite like a 'round nose' bullet and is lead back for .012 - .015 from the tip.  At about .440 from the tip the jacket has a raised square rim like a SWC,  easily visible but raised only a couple of thousandths above the ogive.  The raised part continues back to the cannelure at the case rim and appears to be a straight sided cylinder shape.  The jacket is nickel plated,  bright silver color.  The base of the bullet is a cone according to a little picture on the box and if the picture is accurate the cone has a 90 degree point facing out/rearward.  This cone is called a 'torpedo shape tail.'  The bullet has a dual core,  softer forward and harder in the back.

MidwayUSA said the cases are reloadable and the information on the boxes seems to indicate Boxer priming.  The European terminology is new to me.  Noncorrosive/no mercury priming chemistry is specified.

A ballistics table on the box for a 23.5 inch barrel says:  2560 fps & 2619 ft.lbs at the muzzle;  2315 fps & 2142 ft.lbs at 100 yds;  2085 fps & 1737 ft.lbs at 200 yds;  1867 fps & 1393 ft.lbs at 300 yds. 

Point of aim 100 yds,  drop 4.5 inches at 200 yds,  17.1 inches at 300 yds.  With a point of aim at 176 yds the max rise at 100 yds is 1.6 inches;  the drop at 200 yds is 1.4 inches;  and the drop at 250 yds is 5.7 inches.

A graph shows that this bullet is intended to have its best terminal performance at 176 yards,  plus or minus a rather narrow variation that could be  perhaps  125 yds out to just beyond 200 yards.  Up closer it would be likely to make a neat hole through the target game and out farther might not perform well.  It is not a significant consideration for me so long as it makes holes in those paper targets. 

I hope it feeds well in the DPMS.  If not,  I have no doubt it will do well in the bolt guns.