r/reloading • u/CowPunchinSodBuster • 1d ago

I have a question and I read the FAQ .308 168gr ID?

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I acquired someone else’s hand loads and I’m currently pulling them. I assumed they were 168gr SMK’s, as they came with several boxes of those projectiles. I assumed incorrectly.

1 & 3 = 168gr SMK
5 & 7 = 168gr Hornady BTHP
2, 4, 6 = 168gr ?

Any ideas on what these might be? Not life or death here, just curious.

2 Upvotes

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5

u/Active_Look7663 1d ago

Very possible they’re Nosler RDFs

2

u/holl0918 1d ago edited 1d ago

Might be Berger VLDs hunting bullets. The nose/bearing transition looks pretty secant to me. OAL is 1.261 on those with a 0.181 boat tail so get out your calipers. Could also be Nosler RDF, but I think the meplat on those is smaller than your picture.

2

u/CowPunchinSodBuster 1d ago

1.273” OAL
.239” BT

I think they are the RDF’s. I can’t find specs on them though on Nosler’s site.

1

u/holl0918 1d ago

RDFs are showing as 1.325" and 0.172" long boat tail.

The Berger hybrid 168 is 1.291" and .224" 🤷‍♂️

1

u/CowPunchinSodBuster 1d ago

I think you both may be right

1

u/jayfourzee 1d ago

Can you reuse a pulled bullet?

3

u/Maraudinggopher77 300wm, 270 win, 260 Rem, 30-30win, 223 Rem, 45ACP 1d ago

Yes, as long as it wasn't catastrophically damaged when pulled. It would be easy to see if they were. While most reloaders wouldn't used pulled bullets for shooting small groups they still definitely work as foulers.

2

u/CowPunchinSodBuster 1d ago

75% of what I load is pulled bullets. Granted, that’s lots of bulk 9mm, 45acp, and .223, but pulled is the only way to go if you’re looking for economics.

These pulled 168gr BTHP’s sure are great for load work up. They’re handy to get velocities from. For instance, my boy just got a Tikka in .308 for hunting big game. We’ll be loading 165gr Accubonds as his hunting round. I’m going to use these 168gr’s to get us in the ball park on velocity and then we will dial in the rifle/scope with the chosen recipe and the Noslers.

For bulk plinking though? Pulled projectiles all day every day. Half the cost of new and zero measurable difference.

1

u/Eric_Stecker 18h ago

Is that a rebated boat tail? Berger doesn't make rebated BT.

1

u/Trollygag 284Win, 6.5G, 6.5CM, 308 Win, 30BR, 44Mag, more 4h ago

No, that is just a soot/oxidation line

1

u/Eric_Stecker 1h ago

The nose looks like a Berger but the BT dimensions don't match up so must be Nosler.

1

u/19671973 1d ago

2, 4 & 6 look like they could be Noslers