Hornady Sub-X projectiles

[Wapiti]

Hi all,
Wondering if any of you guys have tried the Hornady 175 and 190gn Sub-X projectiles in .30 cal.

Two questions,
If you found they shoot OK for subsonic velocities and,
Has anyone tried them on suitable game to see just how well they expand?
They are said to be meant for that purpose... probably for .300 BO.

[bigpete]

Yes I've tried the 190gn ones in my 308.

I found performance to be a little lack luster

[Wapiti]

Accuracy or expansion mate?

If they're not capable of hitting where the crosshairs tell them to, they aren't good for what I intend.

But I found Hornady to be hit and miss for the whole time I've ever reloaded ammo. Some good, some not. So with projies so bloody expensive nowadays, it pays to ask...

[Wapiti]

I've been staring at a few bags of 220gn Sierra Matchkings from another rifle's use, for the job, and these would be easier to get subsonic, but I know they will act like heavy pencils on game and I'm not into wounding anything.

[Flyonline]

Shoot em backwards or file a bigger meplat?

Only 2 or 3 goats I shot with sub x were sub par with limited expansion, but 3 is a very low sample size and shot placement could have been better.

Plenty of vids on Pootube with people dropping up to red deer size out to 100m.

[bigpete]

Accuracy or expansion mate?

If they're not capable of hitting where the crosshairs tell them to, they aren't good for what I intend.

But I found Hornady to be hit and miss for the whole time I've ever reloaded ammo. Some good, some not. So with projies so bloody expensive nowadays, it pays to ask...

They were accurate but not good killers imo.
Personally I've always had very good accuracy from hornady

[cusco]

Hi, I have used these in my 300 Blackout Ruger American at subsonic speeds. I have shot about half a dozen pigs with all dropping on the spot with careful shot placement. On larger pigs I aim for head/neck. Smaller ones go down with body hits. Rifle is fitted with a thermal scope so at night I sneak in close. I have not done any examination of animals re expansion of projectile as like I said they all dropped quickly. Accuracy wise at my 50 mts zero they group well, sub moa in my gun. I believe they like a fast twist barrel. ( Ruger is 1 in 8 ??) Check out the 300 Blackout thread in the Reloading section for data. Hope this helps.

[Wapiti]

Thanks guys for your real-world input. Very appreciated.
Cusco, I'll be using in 308 so am stuck with the 1-10" twist. So I guess I'll have to make the decision based on that.
As Bigpete and Flyonline reckon expansion can be a bit sub-par, maybe I'll try some of the heavier plastic tipped VMax or BT's first.
I know they shoot well between 2700 - 3500 (308's to 300 RUM) in different .30's so I'll give them a go first to find a powder charge.
Big drop in speed to what I'm used to so it will be completely alien to me.

I'm now considering the Sierra 135, 150 and 165 "Varminters": with the big open phillips head type hollow point, as these are bombs at 2-3x speed of sound. Might be great going slow. These have been available in 500 boxes at a big store on the Qld coast for great value and they shoot like Matchkings group-wise at normal cartridge speeds. But the sub loads will be for quite close so don't really need to be as fussy I guess.

[bigpete]

I've used 87gn sierra pistol bullets over 14gn of trailboss in a 308 with decent accuracy. Fwiw subsonic 190gn sub x shot great from a 1 in 10 twist 308

[Wapiti]

Great help Bigpete, thank you.

[bigrich]

I've been staring at a few bags of 220gn Sierra Matchkings from another rifle's use, for the job, and these would be easier to get subsonic, but I know they will act like heavy pencils on game and I'm not into wounding anything.

back in the day, pre "96, i bought a pristine 6.5x55 husky for the extravagant sum of $69 . with open sights i could outshoot a mates new, scoped ,stirling 22 mag at 100 . geez i wish i still had young eyes , anyway back on topic . back then the only factory ammo was super expensive norma hunting ammo , or ex military in a plain brown cardboard packet that was cheap. using a bracket jig on a bench grinder for consistency, i'd grind a 3-4mm flat point on the end of the ex-mil bullets and hey presto, they used to expand awesome on average size pigs . maybe a slight mod on your matchkings might yield better consistent results on game at sub sonic velocity . i did try hollow pointing the swede ex military ammo as well , but way to explosive on bigger game . subsonic might be different in your case .
just a thought anyway mate

[Wapiti]

Years ago, in my early '20's I used to hunt a mates property with an old 1951 Springfield Armory Garand. I'd zigzag slowly between the big old prickly pear trees because the pigs'd scrounge under them for the fruit the crows'd knock down.
Anyway I'd grind a 3-4mm flat on the FMJ military ammo I had. It would half skin the medium ones. Same in an Iraeli 308 Mauser I had then.
I'd forgotten about all that until your post above bigrich, that reminded me that all that stuff still has huge merits today, and never affected POI or trajectory at all. As far as I ever aimed at game anyway!

[bigrich]

Years ago, in my early '20's I used to hunt a mates property with an old 1951 Springfield Armory Garand. I'd zigzag slowly between the big old prickly pear trees because the pigs'd scrounge under them for the fruit the crows'd knock down.
Anyway I'd grind a 3-4mm flat on the FMJ military ammo I had. It would half skin the medium ones. Same in an Iraeli 308 Mauser I had then.
I'd forgotten about all that until your post above bigrich, that reminded me that all that stuff still has huge merits today, and never affected POI or trajectory at all. As far as I ever aimed at game anyway!

Yeah I thought it might be worth mentioning with your heavy match king dilemma. Pig hunting with a 30-06 garrand would be memorable. lol. The good old days hey ! Cheers