Accuracy vs Boolit profile

[mdevlin53]

I just purchased an MVP Patrol in .308, I went to the range today and was quite please with it, I shot two loads that showed promise. first was a 311-291 behind 23g of RX-7 about 3 inch group at 50 yds with open sights second was a 311-365 behind 25g of the same powder i was able to shoot about 5 of the ten shot group into about an inch or so. i am sure that i might be able to tweak the lyman boolit and get some tighter groups. The question is for hunting deer at ranges below 50 yards would the spire point on the 311-365 be a worse or better choice than the round nose or would it be a wash. By the way the lee 170 flat nose was terrible. the alloy is 20:1 and i am guessing velocities are in the 1800 fps range.

[44man]

20 to 1 might be the worst choice. I would work with alloys. Boolits only depend on fit to twist for accuracy. Hunting is alloy.

[popper]

Fn & 50/50.

[runfiverun]

worse choice.
I like flat points.
a round point would be a second choice, but I'd probably stroke a file across the nose.

[OnHoPr]

At 50 yards I suppose it is really not about accuracy on boolit profile. It is about boolit performance. Speed and alloy go hand in hand. You could make a BruceB soft point for the spitzer that would mushroom maybe even faster than with an alloyed flat point. Though, the flat point does have metplat which generally gives a little more initial smack. You should be able to get the 170 to shoot decent enough for 50 yard shot. If deer were coming/going at any angle the 291 should work.

[mdevlin53]

Well i bit the bullet ( no pun intended) and ordered an Accurate mold. 31-170H. it should drop fat enough for my needs and has a nice flat nose. that should solve my issue.

[runfiverun]

you don't need fat you need shape for fitment.
you have 2 types of fitment mechanical and static.
the 31-165-A is made for a saami cut 308 throat and sizing to 310 will allow it to snuggle into the ball seat area.

[mdevlin53]

the 31-170h is also billed as designed for the .308. a side by side shows they are pretty close except the heavier one has a bit more of a block shaped nose. no matter the die is cast.

[Cherokee]

If your MVP Patrol is like my MVP Heavy Barrel 308, using the M1A magazine, flat nose bullets will not work. More often than not, the flat nose bumps into the front of the magazine and will not feed. That's just my experience, which is why I went with the Lee 3111552R pointed bullet, which shoots great at 100 yd in my MVP with 4198. But I don't hunt with mine. Be interested to see how it works for you.

[runfiverun]

i'll be interested too.
I know the 165-A works in the m-14 on top of 45grs of 4831.
it's too fast for hunting use but it rings the 300 yds gongs well enough.
some idiot around here went and drew It up before moving on to designing molds for HM-2.

[mdevlin53]

The lee 170 flat nose fed with no issues so it may not be an issue. the profile is a bit more pointed but i am hopeful.

[mdevlin53]

Update.
The new mold arrived and cast well. i loaded up a bunch and went to the range. the nose was no problem for feeding(checked with a dummy round before i loaded up a box) 23 gr of rx7 was an accurate load about an inch and a half at fifty probably would have been better id a better shooter was behind the trigger. It will do fine for my purposes. Deer over 50 are rare where i hunt. I am pleased and may try this in the 30-06 and perhaps my two 30-30s.

[jimb16]

FWIW, I used to have a 700 BDL in .308. I used a moderately soft alloy and midrange loads. I did have a good scope on the rifle, but that really doesn't effect the accuracy potential of the load. The bullet I used was the 311291 with a lyman GC. I commonly shot sub MOA groups with this loading. I think one of the keys was sizing at .310 instead of .308. That RN bullet has tremendous potential. I suggest you work with it until you find the load, OAL, powder and diameter that it likes in your rifle before moving on in search of something better. Best group was a 40 shot (Yes I said 40) group at 100 yards of sandbags that measured 1.1 inch! Note I said best, not smallest.