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Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:13 am
by 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 ?

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:56 am
by kennyc
300 Blackout, or Whisper?

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:58 am
by 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! :clap:

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:00 pm
by 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.....

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:13 pm
by 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.

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:27 pm
by 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).

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:53 pm
by ovenpaa
.223 expanded to .308 then as per the Whisper.

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:59 pm
by 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.

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 2:00 pm
by 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 ?

Re: Silent and slippery: subsonic handloads...

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 2:01 pm
by meles meles
Sandgroper wrote: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?