Thread: 7mm08 or .243 Subsonic round

From what forum members report, larger calibre subsonics (i.e. 45/70) are pretty noisy anyway. OK you don't get the supersonic crack, but it's not pew pew stuff either, so what is the benefit?

Hunting with dogs, looking after your own hearing, not disturbing deer in the next valley if you want to carry on hunting, and for smaller calibers point blank dispatching shots.
There's lots of reasons for me it was the reloading challenge and to be honest it was the most fun I ever have had shooting a centrefire rifle.
If I got serious about building one for hunting it would probably be a 358 Winchester.

I’ll eventually have a sub load for all my Center fires above 223 so I can pop hares and possoms without alearting the rest of the animals around

If you treat it like it is a subsonic 22 you’ll have a lot more success, basically shoot to break something important inside


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Originally Posted by winaa

Hunting with dogs, looking after your own hearing, not disturbing deer in the next valley if you want to carry on hunting, and for smaller calibers point blank dispatching shots.
There's lots of reasons for me it was the reloading challenge and to be honest it was the most fun I ever have had shooting a centrefire rifle.
If I got serious about building one for hunting it would probably be a 358 Winchester.

308 is a pretty great compromise too
now with sub x freely available and it slinging the same bullet as I do in 300blk (from a blocked 308 length action). but then the ability to stretch out further than the 150m ish limit of the supers in 300blk
its a full circle for me as I started out with 308 and "moved on"

Originally Posted by Bill999

308 is a pretty great compromise too
now with sub x freely available and it slinging the same bullet as I do in 300blk (from a blocked 308 length action). but then the ability to stretch out further than the 150m ish limit of the supers in 300blk
its a full circle for me as I started out with 308 and "moved on"

even the Winchester stuff have some 185gr subsonic Winchester, they also have i think 168gr stuff, always have in my pocket incase i have the time to load one and target oblivious close animals or finishing shots

It all depends on what you want to accomplish? plinking, 100% of the day ninja quiet pest control, supersonic in the morning and evenings for longer range deer then subs putting a wounded animal down point blank and or for the rest of the day shooting bunnies, goats and possums?

My last trip I still had a barely alive stag shot with a supersonic and put him down with a subsonic 151gr cast to the back of the head, its a lot better on the ears for me and the dog than a full noise supersonic and disturbing the surrounding area. During the day we hunt goats and possums. 100m and less the goats gets subs, the dog points possums in trees and rock holes and they get a sub and I pluck the fur. That trip the dog got me 22 possums of that I could shoot safely which payed for my fuel and ammo.

You don’t need a spotlight or traps to get possums just a versatile rifle and dog.

I have done subs in my 243. However i have a 1:8 barrel. loaded a 105gr to sub sonic with trail boss. Don't have my load data book on me just now but if interested I can find it for you.
Accuracy was OK given the range. Only shot 1 goat with it, went in the front, tumbled and came to rest under the skin at the rump.
I have stopped with them at that point in the 243. (Would probably just use a lighter bullet with a minimum charge)
I do still carry some in my 35 calibre for that final finishing shot or but find I have settled upon a mix of 3 loads.
Full power for general shooting, low power (full charge of trailboss) light bullet (pistol) for short range bush shooting without silencer 1500-1800 fps etc and subs for finishing shots, goats, possums etc
Z

Originally Posted by winaa

Hunting with dogs, looking after your own hearing, not disturbing deer in the next valley if you want to carry on hunting, and for smaller calibers point blank dispatching shots.

Fair enough, guess I didn't think about it from a dog and hearing point of view. I'm very much in to the idea of subs. Messed around with 300BLK subs for a year, but never got them to work for me, probably because I don't reload.

Originally Posted by MB

Fair enough, guess I didn't think about it from a dog and hearing point of view. I'm very much in to the idea of subs. Messed around with 300BLK subs for a year, but never got them to work for me, probably because I don't reload.

like we have been saying all the way along...they have thier place...you just need to realise how anemic they are and either place shots extremely well or use a supersonic load....they are great for finishing off game up close,and for hares n possums...if only for that,it is worth having a handful with you.

Hey All

Thanks for the input.
The rounds are meant for small pigs at 25-50m, the intention is to get a couple more shots off before they scarper.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

that video you showed Mikee does show whats possible IF you want to spend the coin,on the very best in projectiles and spend the time and projectiles to work out trajectory 100% corectly .... but other than the lack of noise it does nothing a supersonic round cant do better with less fuss.

I've seen vids of 22LR subs headshooting rabbits at 150yds and thereabouts. You can see the bullet on a trajectory coming in from outer space. They do the biz when they hit but how often do they show the ones they miss?

Originally Posted by Strider B

Hey All

Thanks for the input.
The rounds are meant for small pigs at 25-50m, the intention is to get a couple more shots off before they scarper.

I suggest using @shooternz 130gr lead hollow points in your 7mm08 at a low supersonic speed around 1200-1400 fps max. Night and day performance over subsonic and they are not much louder than a supersonic 22 if you have a good suppressor.