WTK: .308 vs .30-06 military bullets

[Rik]

Another newbie question: is there a difference in bullet shape (length, ogive, etc) between .308 and .30-06 military bullets?

I found some 145gr .30-06 tracer bullets that are cheap, cheap, cheap. But I need to know if they can be reloaded into .308 or not.

I can care less if the tracer works or not.

Thanks!

[Sig220]

The difference is the length and the crimping ogive.

If you used the ogive on the bullets, your OAL would be too long. When you seat them to the correct OAL, you take up a lot of case space with the bullet.

Tracers are lighter then a straight FMJ, as the back end is filled with a chemical for the trace, not lead. Which probably affects ballistics to some degree....how much I am not sure. For a 145gn bullet they are considerably longer.

They are doable in a .308, just be aware of the OAL issue and how it takes up case space. Start low on the powder and work up....slowly.

[fire for effect]

The only thing that differentiates a .308 bullet from a 3006 bullet is the location of the crimping groove cannelure. Ignore the cannelure and seat to proper overall length. Remember as posted above, that your bullet is longer than normal because of the makeup of the Bullet, so case capacity will be absorbed by the seating depth.

[Greensborobob]

All of differences are about 1/10 of an inch or half that. These are large by my standards.

The 30-06 Tracer is 1.45" and embeds in the Brass .604"

The 7.62 Tracer is 1.35" and embeds in the brass .565"

In real life I would not be at maximum loads and not be concerned.

[instr8]

Originally posted by Rik
Another newbie question: is there a difference in bullet shape (length, ogive, etc) between .308 and .30-06 military bullets?

I found some 145gr .30-06 tracer bullets that are cheap, cheap, cheap. But I need to know if they can be reloaded into .308 or not.

I can care less if the tracer works or not.

Thanks!

I found them too. While I did buy some, The above guys are correct. The real issue for me and for you too (unless you live in the desert) is that most of these tracers will light and will start fires. I can't shoot them for having to put out fires. I live in a heavily wooded area. When your bullet strikes the ground, the flaming tracer compound comes out and flys wildly up to 200-300yds away, lands in dry brush, and poof, starts a fire. They are more trouble than they are worth. You might get a few to keep for SHTF shooting when you are at a place where you really don't care if the the woods burn down.

[Rik]

Yeah, I am aware of the fire hazard and combined with the other problems I don't think I'm going to pick them up. Even in a SHTF situation I rather not start fires and burn a place down that I may have to rely on. I'll just spend the extra $ for regular 308 FMJs.

Thanks for all the info guys.

[daschnoz]

Originally posted by instr8


...You might get a few to keep for SHTF shooting when you are at a place where you really don't care if the the woods burn down.

... or in the event that you WANT to light something up...

[steveo539]

How cheap is "cheap, cheap, cheap"? Care to send me some contact info? I live in western Washington State and we have many wet rainy days when starting a fire isn't much of a concern. Do tracers damage your barrel? I might like to try some of these if I could get load data. Seems like for SHTF tracers would just show others where you were shooting from.

Steve

[Artful]

Originally posted by steveo539
Seems like for SHTF tracers would just show others where you were shooting from.

Steve

might if they are behind you - but it's a good reminder that your mag is about to run out on an HK! First two in (ergo last two out) trace others don't