Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

[meles meles]

oomans,

We're contemplating commissioning a moderated rifle, basically an update of the De Lisle concept but with out the constraint of having to use existing service ammunition. The rifle will be shot at a range of 300 yards, hence another good reason for abandoning the .45ACP. What would you recommend as a calibre and bullet? The bullet will ideally have a high sectional density and good aerodynamics so as to retain downrange energy when loaded to subsonic levels. Perhaps something like .338 in a necked out 7.62x39 case ?

[kennyc]

300 Blackout, or Whisper?

[Sim G]

Already exists in the .300 Whisper. ACC came out with their version also, the .300 Blackout.

The Whisper has been out for a while and dies, cases and the likes freely available over t'interweb. Loads of data as well. Bullets straight from an average dealers shelves.

Edit: Same time post as Kenny!

[Sim G]

Funnily enough I read on the Savage site that after advertising models of their rifles in Blackoutq, they were not going ahead with production as they could not achieve the accuracy they desired.....

[ovenpaa]

I would opt for a roll your own type of thing, maybe base it on a 9,3 Mauser but use 30-06 brass expanded to take a cast boolit of around 350-275 grains.

[meles meles]

ooman: tell us more of these mythical cast boolits of which thou speakest...

Our thinking is that we need a big, heavy aerodynamic bullet and a small to medium size case. The powder might best be a slow to moderate burner, with just enough of it used to fill the case (to prevent secondary detonation).

[ovenpaa]

.223 expanded to .308 then as per the Whisper.

[Sandgroper]

Just use a 168 grain A-Max bullet (308 Win) with 8gr of titegroup, as per the Hodgdon data - that's what I did and it works a treat. :shakeshout:

You then have the option of switching from subsonic to full power and back again.

[meles meles]

Hmmm, ovenpaa, why not start off with a 7.62 cartridge to begin with, say NATO x51 or even a tiddly little Soviet x39, and pop a big, long cast boolit in it, seated well back into the case with just enough powder to give it a 1,100 fps kick up the boat-tail ?

[meles meles]

Just use a 168 grain A-Max bullet (308 Win) with 8gr of titegroup, as per the Hodgdon data - that's what I did and it works a treat. :shakeshout:

You then have the option of switching from subsonic to full power and back again.

Sounds like a good start. How does it do at 300 yards?