I am trying to find the bullets to use as components to reload clones of the following cartridges:
62gr Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (TBBC) bonded JSP (XM556FBIT3) (This uses a Speer bullet that Federal and Speer indicate they are not currently selling as a component)
64gr Winchester solid base bonded JSP (Q3313/RA556B) (Winchester states this is a Nosler bullet, that Nosler also does not sell as a component. It is not the Winchester PowerPoint, as many people indicate.)
Speer 64gr Gold Dot JSP (5.56) (Speer indicates this 64 is not available for sale)
Federal 62gr Mk318 Mod0 (T556TNB1)* (This is another unavailable Speer bullet)
62gr Federal bonded JSP Tactical (LE223T3) (Another unavailable Speer bullet)
Does anyone know where I can actually find quantities of the bullets that match the above? I’ve looked for these in most usual locations, but to no avail.
I intend on reloading these to 5.56 pressures.
Appreciate any tip offs to locations to get the above.
I looked around a bit, and when I realized that many of the better 224" bullets aren’t available I decided to go with the 60 grain Partition and the 55 grain TSX.
I wasn’t going to get myself into some kind of a cluster looking for the holy grail of bullets.
The closest you can come to the weight of the Nosler offering is the 60 gr. Partition. It’ll clock 2800 ft/sec from a 16 inch Colt barrel with 26 grs. Varget. Other powders may produce more velocity.
When you compare the additional weight of the ones mentioned, you are only gaining 2 to 4 extra grains. I’d at least try a box of Partitions and see how they work in your firearm.
Thanks, gents. I’ve looked at the Nosler Partition. It is the only one I’ve seen to date, however, I like the heavier bullets and I’ve heard that the Winchester PowerPoint would be a better alternative. I’d still like to see if some of the others can be found, but it is less promising.
During a similar discussion, I recall Doc writing that the 60 gr. Partition is head and shoulders above the Winchester 64 gr. PP. It is not the weight you need to consider as much as the construction of the projectile.
I’ve found that some of my rifles have shown an affinity for Reloder 15 powder…to the point of edging out Varget for accuracy with nearly identical velocity.
The burn rates are nearly the same but Reloader 15 grants higher pressure than Varget with identical charges. Although Varget is far more temperature stable. You just have to try both. Varget powder is a shorter cut than Reloader 15 but the burn retardent in both accounts for the close race.
OP, these occasionally come up for sale as components and I have purchased them in the past:
IIRC I paid about $50 shipped for 500 of them ($0.10 /bullet) from some small website. They are Federal Fusion / Speer Gold Dots. They’re the same bullet afaik apart from difference in cannelure style. If you can find them, they are the most cost effective, high performing .224" component bullet apart from Barnes TSX bullets.
