Sub-sonic .308 hunting rounds

[pip]

Trail boss for subsonic plus a bit more if needed, and ADI2206H CAN USE the 60% rule, eg use 60% of a given load. These are quite soft. But of drop but are accurate.

[Noisydad]

I'm following this thread closely as I acquired a about a thousand 150gn .308 diam. cast bullets for free and want try them in my FN Mauser 30-06.

[chookah]

I thought you were supposed to be the cast bullet pro telling us, Noisy!

[Noisydad]

Thus far I've only pushed cast bullets as fast as possible with smokeful powder not super slow with smokeless.

[chookah]

Well, get to it then

[bear foot bowhunter]

Ik this is an old thred but im pretty much looking at the same thing . hunting small blocks and taking the mrs shooting . planing on picking some trailboss up today and loading it with 185gr cast bullets . who has tried this and how did it go . by my calculation a sub 185gr bullet is in the relms of +p 9mm or higher end of 45 as far as power gose so shot placment is key

[Oldbloke]

Trail boss is definitely the go for that sort of speed.
Shotgun powders can be used between about 1200fps to 1600fps using a 180gr cast bullets. Just check out the ADI manual. Or email them.

[bear foot bowhunter]

Trail boss is definitely the go for that sort of speed.
Shotgun powders can be used between about 1200fps to 1600fps using a 180gr cast bullets. Just check out the ADI manual. Or email them.

Awsom thanks bud . has anyone run these through 1/12 twist

[Oldbloke]

Got a feeling my 3006 is 1/12.

[bigpete]

I used to run a 170gn 30-30 projectile over 9.3gn of trailboss for 1030fps. Was very accurate in my 1:10 twist but really didn't mushroom at all. Good out to 100m. Basically think 22 rimfire in trajectory

[deye243]

10 grs of trailboss is subsonic and gives u good case volume

It works the best full stop!!!Tested some out over Easter weekend great on property's were space is a issue!!!!A mate uses them on smaller blocks ,they don't open up but they still are effective!!!!

and this the reason you should never use these on smaller blocks because they bounce like a bloody rubber ball

[in2anity]

I mostly shoot 10gr Trail Boss under a 165gr hard-cast RNFP 30/30 pill for practicing high power MS - it yields about 2moa groups at 100m through my 1/11 tikka CTR. Very pleasant to shoot and your follow-through is far better due to the reduced recoil. I.e. You can see where the rounds are landing which is helpful for doping.

As Bp said I’ve hunted with it but it tends not to expand, often passing right through. That said, it still breaks down small-to-medium game; enough to follow up with a second shot if need be. Try and get a soft lead bullet if you’re using them for quite hunting.

[Oldbloke]

Try and get a soft lead bullet if you’re using them for quite hunting.

Or perhaps drill a hole in the tip?

[bigpete]

Drilling a hole in the tip doesn't seem to do a lot lol

[Oldbloke]

Drilling a hole in the tip doesn't seem to do a lot lol

So you tried it?

[in2anity]

Try and get a soft lead bullet if you’re using them for quite hunting.

Or perhaps drill a hole in the tip?

Haven’t tried this, sounds interesting - but TBH if I’m feeling like a cowboy and hunting with lead, I load the same projectile over some 2207 through the 30/30 - that hits with a bit more authority. FWIW I reckon exactly the same load would work even better in the 308.

[bigpete]

Yeah I did with some lead bullets and tried them in water containers. Didn't do much but it might be different in flesh

[SCJ429]

Get the novice shooter to double up the ear protection, squashy ear plugs with ear muffs over the top. Are you sure you cannot get your hands on a 22LR for her to learn on? Also get the shooter to learn seated with shooting sticks. Better than prone and have them hit themselves on the eyebrow when they get the eye relief wrong. Shoot balls or cans at shorter distances to make it fun and build confidence.

[Maxjon]

A fun subsonic load for me has been 8gns of ANY fast burning pistol or shotgun powder up to and including AR2205 behind a 160 plus grain cast bullet. No slower in burn rate than AR2205 is key. But in saying that AR2205 is not position sensitive, I have loaded 8 to 24 grains of it behind cast bullets in 303, 308 and 3006. I have just bought a can of trailboss to try after loading literally 1000s of these subsonic loads. Hopefully TB is as good as they say it is! Try at your own risk!! All I can say is it works for me.
Sub powders Ive tried so far;
AP50N
AP70N
Bluedot
Reddot
Greendot
AR2205
All 8gns and a 160gn plus cast bullet, cant speak for jacketed bullets.
Stay safe, have fun!

[Maxjon]

What about loading some 100-110 grain bullets just under starting load and see how they go. You can always reduce them down more. I wouldn't go below 10% downloading.

Why not below 10%? With the right fast burning pistol or shotgun powder 8 or 10gns is all is needed. And a good cast bullet. Plenty of other choices besides Trailboss. But I'm keen to try it, see what all hype about it is.
Cant speak for jacketed subsonic bullets however.

[Oldbloke]

These are the issues. Ocassionally guns blow up. Also bullets stuck in barrels. From ADI manual.

reduced loads .jpg (39.15 KiB) Viewed 7034 times

Reduced loads 60% max 2206H.JPG (72.59 KiB) Viewed 7034 times

Explosive detonation.jpeg (38.52 KiB) Viewed 7034 times

[Maxjon]

These are the issues. Ocassionally guns blow up. Also bullets stuck in barrels. From ADI manual.

reduced loads .jpg

Reduced loads 60% max 2206H.JPG

Explosive detonation.jpeg

Yes seen that, read it everywhere. All I can say is, the right powder choice is critical. The guys I have been shooting these loads with have been doing so for 30 yrs....or more, never had a problem ever. Go figure.....Beer is great, how do they make it so cheap??

[bladeracer]

[quote="Oldbloke"These are the issues. Ocassionally guns blow up. Also bullets stuck in barrels. From ADI manual.

reduced loads .jpg

Reduced loads 60% max 2206H.JPG

Explosive detonation.jpeg

[/quote


Yes seen that, read it everywhere. All I can say is, the right powder choice is critical. The guys I have been shooting these loads with have been doing so for 30 yrs....or more, never had a problem ever. Go figure.....Beer is great, how do they make it so cheap??

People need to actually read what they're reading.
Light loads...large volume cases...slow burning powders...can sometimes be a problem.
Fast powders in small cases are not a problem.

[Oldbloke]

"People need to actually read what they're reading.
Light loads...large volume cases...slow burning powders...can sometimes be a problem.
Fast powders in small cases are not a problem."

More or less sums it up. With shades in between.

[Maxjon]

I guess 3006, 8mm, 7.62 Nagant, 6.5 Swede, 303 Brit, 308W, are all regarded as small cases then.

[bladeracer]

I guess 3006, 8mm, 7.62 Nagant, 6.5 Swede, 303 Brit, 308W, are all regarded as small cases then.

Not small, but not large either.

[Maxjon]

Yeah it's not something I would try with the 55 BMG. Although it would be nice, it kicks like a real bitch!!

[bladeracer]

Yeah it's not something I would try with the 55 BMG. Although it would be nice, it kicks like a real bitch!!

I would certainly try Trailboss in the big cartridges.

[Oldbloke]

It was popular to use shot gun and pistol powders yonks ago. Try and get hold of some old reloading manuals. Say from the 1970s.

Google is your friend.

[Maxjon]

It was popular to use shot gun and pistol powders yonks ago. Try and get hold of some old reloading manuals. Say from the 1970s.

Google is your friend.

Yeah interesting! I forgot to mention I can only speak for lubricated cast bullets. I cant speak for jacketed bullets, not do I want to, they are a whole different level of friction, and increased risk of barrel obstructions.