Short version. Looking for a HPBT bullet with similar dimensions and more consistent, precise construction than a Hornady 150 grain FMJ/BT. This is their lowest-priced bullet, #3037. I want a similar bullet as it'll provide the shortest jump to the lands in my .308 gas gun. If anyone has measured the jump to the lands (I do it to the jam) and has found something similar or better but in a HPBT design, I'm all ears.
Long Version. I recently had my .308 re-barreled as it was closing on a field gauge and my overall headspace was fairly long when measured with a comparator. I had several accurate loads with this barrel, consistently MOA or less so I was sort of sorry to see it go. The accurate loads were mostly with bullets in the 150 grain range but a few that were higher in weight.
My most accurate load has always been with a plane Jane Hornady 150 grain FMJ/, #3037. This is literally their least expensive bullet and it's really for plinking, not even a "match" bullet. I always thought it had to do with a number of factors, one being the rifle just liked 150 grain projectiles.
Once the new barrel was in and I had the rifle back, I took it to the range for barrel break-in. Right off the bat, the same 150 grain load was shooting
really well. I had a scope with a 1 MOA dot (Athlon 2-12) which made it hard to go after stellar groupings. And given the barrel was new, I wasn't expecting anything out of it at that point. I'd cleaned the barrel down to new, no copper, prior.
I did have two failure to fires with light primer strikes that were very difficult to eject early on but the rest of the session went fine with no FTF's of any kind. Thinking maybe I had a very tight chamber and may need a small base die, I started measuring/testing a few different cases with known headspace below that of the of the rifle, all sized with a normal full length die (Forester or Hornady). All chambered and ejected without issue. Tried a few hand-load cartridges as well as factory Federal Gold Medal 175 grain cartridges and no issues with them either.
For shits and giggles, I decided to pull out the OAL gauge (Hornady) and just see what the jump to the jam looked like. A lightbulb went off in my head and I decided to measure every bullet I had (have about 10 different bullets). What I discovered was that the el cheapo Hornady FMJ had, by far, the shortest jump to the lands. Measured, it comes out to about 2.840-2 OAL depending on the OAL of the bullet as there's always going to be some variation. Loading out to max PMAG length, I'm within .02 of the jam. Not bolt action close by any means but some bullets were far, far greater, like tenths.
I'd tested various loads using Berger's 155 grain VLD (very low drag) in the old barrel and they didn't shoot well. The OAL is considerably longer to the jam with that bullet. And honestly, the shorter the jump, the more accurate the bullet has been in my experience with this particular rifle.
So I'm looking for a HPBT in the 150-168 range that's provided a smaller jump to the jam than most of the "match" grade bullets. Any suggestions? Dunno if something like the Berger 180 grain OTM juggernaut or even their 168 grain classic hunter produces a shorter jump. I have some Sierra 169's which is my go-to with the bolt gun but they produce a 2.9+ OAL.
Photo, left to right, Berger 155 VLD, Hornady 155 Match HPBT, Hornady 150 SST, Hornady 150 FMJ/BT.
