I've noted this for quite some time as to why .308 projectiles are marked .308 on the boxes however my 4 micrometers say they are .307 in diameter. Either I have some bad mic's or?
Swift, Silent, & Friendly
Posts: 426 | Location: Nevada | Registered: 14 July 2003
The Mic. may need calibrated. pressure has a lot to do with precise measurement. Its a touchy touchy feely kind of thing. check along the length of the bullet. you may be too close to the tip? What brand bullet do you have? If they are seconds or bulk they could be undersize.
Posts: 2134 | Location: Ohio | Registered: 26 June 2000
I checked .284 which when mic'd came out as .284, .243 mic'd 243, .338 same, 375 same. Only .308 bullets came out as .307.
Sierra .30, .307, same for Speer, same for Hornady, same for Nosler. I mentioned it to other reloaders at my club and several guys said they are finding .30 military bullet some are as small as .306 as well as commercial bullets being .307. Hell even Russian, Chinese, etc. ammo mic's .310/.311.
PS, I'm gentle when using the mic.
Swift, Silent, & Friendly
Posts: 426 | Location: Nevada | Registered: 14 July 2003
Yeah I agree you can zero your mic. Most 308 bullets today don't measure .308. They've not only changed bullets they've changed barrel dimension such a groove depth. Groove depth isn't as deep as it originally use to be. You had a good honest .004 groove depth in the old days and now they feel comfortable with .003
308, 307, I suggest both will be acceptable for all hunting..perhaps not at a bench rest shoot. It just not enough to make any difference in most rifles. If one doesn't shoot well don't use them, use whatever shoots best..your over thinking a non existent problem I suspect..