.243 subsonic loads

Anyone had a muck around and found a load in .243.
Tikka is 1:10" I believe so doubt it will stabilise 100gr so ideally something a bit smaller. Right on the edge of stability where it tumbles on impact would be ideal!

Before anyone says they are a waste of time etc etc, I am pretty well versed on subsonics. Have used plenty in my .308. Thing is with some of the work I am doing deer are number one on the hit list but hares are number 2. It simply isn't practical to carry 2 rifles whilst on foot and it would only be for the occasional shot on a hare if need be.

I have trail boss and can figure it out but if someone has already gone down this route it will save me a bit of time.

Cheers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQOEy6bofKg

Well the 5-9grn range works for the 308 so it probably isn't silly starting point.

Yes I have done 105 gr subs in my 243, at 30 mtr it tumbled the length of a goat and found it under the skin.
Trail boss, note mine's a 1:8 twist barrel so may not be relivent to you.
Happy to find my loading book and look up what I used in you want.
Z

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Originally Posted by ZQLewis

Yes I have done 105 gr subs in my 243, at 30 mtr it tumbled the length of a goat and found it under the skin.
Trail boss, note mine's a 1:8 twist barrel so may not be relivent to you.
Happy to find my loading book and look up what I used in you want.
Z

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Nice!
Cheers for the offer but my 1:10" won't stabilise 105s going supersonic.

Some useful info here maybe?

https://dallasreloads.com/product/6-creedmoor-subsonic/

talks about using Sierra 85gr SP for 1:10 twist

FYI, I have tried 90gr XTP in 308, was subsonic with 4.5gr of AS50n. For comparison, 165gr bullet in 308 was subsonic with 6.0gr of AS50n...

Will check my sub loads tomorrow and let you know,only used on small game though.

I think one of your biggest issues with this will be finding decent pills in a reliable amount. May be something you have to sort yourself with a suitable mold...

I’d carry two rifles or forget the hares and concentrate on the deer, or do seperate hunts

Even subs alert the deer to your intentions when you least want them to

You probably would not shoot hares on the way in. But they will likely still be around on the way out long after the deer are dealt with or disappeared....maybe settle for a cheaper hare suitable standard load. with a known different zero/POA for the half doz hare shots you get to take? Or is it a lot more?

I stocked up on old part boxes and cheap new of 80gn flatbase SP, like S&B.. they still come up regularly. I use a 100gn premium for deer, not that I shoot many, but the half/price 80gn for e.g. turkey, rabbit and hare (with cheaper powder and primers.), which I personally get to shoot many more of. Using a Zastava M70, 1:10 twist. Culling turkeys at 200-250m is great training :)

Anyway, if you do sort the subsonic route please post an update. Might be useful to know.

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Originally Posted by Jhon

You probably would not shoot hares on the way in. But they will likely still be around on the way out long after the deer are dealt with or disappeared....maybe settle for a cheaper hare suitable standard load. with a known different zero/POA for the half doz hare shots you get to take? Or is it a lot more?

I stocked up on old part boxes and cheap new of 80gn flatbase SP, like S&B.. they still come up regularly. I use a 100gn premium for deer, not that I shoot many, but the half/price 80gn for e.g. turkey, rabbit and hare (with cheaper powder and primers.), which I personally get to shoot many more of. Using a Zastava M70, 1:10 twist. Culling turkeys at 200-250m is great training :)

Anyway, if you do sort the subsonic route please post an update. Might be useful to know.

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If you want cheap accurate projectiles Delta Mike do the 75gr flat base hollow points for $40 per 100 and they do a significant amount of damage to small critters.

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Originally Posted by The bomb

Will check my sub loads tomorrow and let you know,only used on small game though.

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@The bomb that would be awesome, cheers

FYI, Just looked up my old reloading book.

8 gr trailboss pushed my 105 gr bergers at aprox 1000 fps from my 24" barrel 243.

Also know that 14 gr of trailboss pushed the 58gr vmax at 23-2400 fps from a 20" barrel and that was great fun for short range goats in my Sav 99 lever action.
Made for fast easy followup shoots.
Z

6.5g trail boss with 62g pill and light crimp is my sub .243 load,only used on small game though.

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Originally Posted by TLB

If you want cheap accurate projectiles Delta Mike do the 75gr flat base hollow points for $40 per 100 and they do a significant amount of damage to small critters.

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Headshots on goats?

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Originally Posted by Jhon

Headshots on goats?

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I don't think I have head shot any with them but chest shot quite a few. My load isn't going super fast as it was just the most accurate load.
Tend to mostly shoot hares and rabbits with them.

I load the below for a mate:

Code:

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243 subsonic load:
6.7gr of Trail Boss
Sierra 75gr HP #1510
COL 2.620"

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He uses it to head shot goats and pigs on his property without upsetting the deer too much. Saying that, he has taken a few deer as well with it. Accurate out to 50m without tumbling.


Cheers,
JaSa

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JaSa

I load the below for a mate:

Code:

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243 subsonic load:
6.7gr of Trail Boss
Sierra 75gr HP #1510
COL 2.620"

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He uses it to head shot goats and pigs on his property without upsetting the deer too much. Saying that, he has taken a few deer as well with it. Accurate out to 50m without tumbling.


Cheers,
JaSa

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Twist and barrel length?)

Sorry for the late reply.
18" with 1:8 twist rate and supressor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JaSa

I load the below for a mate:

Code:

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243 subsonic load:
6.7gr of Trail Boss
Sierra 75gr HP #1510
COL 2.620"

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He uses it to head shot goats and pigs on his property without upsetting the deer too much. Saying that, he has taken a few deer as well with it. Accurate out to 50m without tumbling.


Cheers,
JaSa

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There is a pest control operator in NSW that I chat with, He uses Hornaday 6mm 75 Vmax's in a 6mmBR for culling feral pigs has some spectacular videos on the effectiveness of them on pigs and Roos
the Speer 75 HP should also work well in sub loads,
I cast a 108 grain FP 6mm that would be good for head shots in sub loads is accurate in my 1:8" 6mmBR have not tried sub loads in a 1:10" yet

Don't get hung up on the twist rate, 1:10 twist will stabilise most bullets up to 100 grain and Targex 105s.

That hollow point load from earlier sounds like a winner.

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Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

Don't get hung up on the twist rate, 1:10 twist will stabilise most bullets up to 100 grain and Targex 105s.

That hollow point load from earlier sounds like a winner.

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In some rifles, but not as subsonic loads, they go unstable under 2800fps

As tokoroa said stability is a relationship between bullet length and rotational speed, it has nothing to do with bullet weight but velocity features strongly.
The slower the speed the lower the rpm and the more unstable it is. Think of a spinning top, as it slows it starts to wobble. Bullets behave in basically the same way.