Thread: Help needed for 308 subsonic load

that is what i need! thanks so much mate

My mod 7 308 with dpt can seems to like the 151 gn cast projectiles/ Not 100 % sure they are quite subsonic as I dont have a chrony.
Tested at 100 yards to start with, and no tumbling.
I then resighted at 50 yards, given that lack of energy at muzzle is going to restrict the effective killing distance ( imo)



Top 2 are from a cold clean barrel, having sighted at 100. Adjusted scope and then fired the two touching lower shots, before pulling one to the right.

Remington mod 7 with 16 inch barrel plus dpt suppressor. 7.8 gn of trailboss pushing a 151 cast projectile as made by shooternz. Exit wound on 18mm mdf suggests it may be a bit of a meat waster

Duh! Turn picture 90 clockwise

Originally Posted by Bill999

do the lapua projectiles mushroom at all at subsonic speed?

nosler ballistic tips shure dont

@Bill999. They are pointed FMJ so no. They are designed to tumble.

Originally Posted by Pengy

My mod 7 308 with dpt can seems to like the 151 gn cast projectiles/ Not 100 % sure they are quite subsonic as I dont have a chrony.
Tested at 100 yards to start with, and no tumbling.
I then resighted at 50 yards, given that lack of energy at muzzle is going to restrict the effective killing distance ( imo)

Attachment 116206

Top 2 are from a cold clean barrel, having sighted at 100. Adjusted scope and then fired the two touching lower shots, before pulling one to the right.

Remington mod 7 with 16 inch barrel plus dpt suppressor. 7.8 gn of trailboss pushing a 151 cast projectile as made by shooternz. Exit wound on 18mm mdf suggests it may be a bit of a meat waster

I use 7.5gr trailboss with the 308 casts. Pretty quiet. I sight in at 50 and generally only shoot out to that with them. Pretty good on goats. They drop pretty quick though. On my 18" barrel tikka they drop 3.5" at 50 yards. We clocked them at just below sound barrier with that load.

I could shoot out to 75yards with the 7mm(08) projectiles accurately in my old rifle using 7gr trailboss.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

There are other guys here far more qualified to comment like @tikka and a few others than I but when I was playing with subs in 308 years ago the only jacketed projectiles that would expand were pistol hornady xtp? 90gr....they definitely expand but my testing on game was very limited to a couple of pigs and a couple of goats all at less than 50y and they definitely expanded and all 4 exited.
Now if doing the same I would be looking at Roberts 150 hollow point or the flash segmented projectile if useing on game was the end goal.

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hi vietnamcam. what kind of twist rate were you using with the xtp? were you not overly happy with the killing power of them? i was wanting them for a few muttons on the lambing beat and the odd goat/pest while i was hunting. As they are easy to get, not the wait times compared to other options.

Originally Posted by Tom d

hi vietnamcam. what kind of twist rate were you using with the xtp? were you not overly happy with the killing power of them? i was wanting them for a few muttons on the lambing beat and the odd goat/pest while i was hunting. As they are easy to get, not the wait times compared to other options.

Originally Posted by Tom d

hi vietnamcam. what kind of twist rate were you using with the xtp? were you not overly happy with the killing power of them? i was wanting them for a few muttons on the lambing beat and the odd goat/pest while i was hunting. As they are easy to get, not the wait times compared to other options.

They would be ideal for that.IE close range semi controled environment.....there is not a lot of energy there as 90 gr....if you remember it is only twice as grunty as a subsonic 22lr you will be fine.
I was really only useing them as an experiment and for shooting a mates homekill who has since passed away and I changed caliber.
From an 11 twist but being such a short bullet I would think they would be fine out of any factory twist rate offered in 30 caliber.

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I Have a tikka 308 with a truflite 1-8 twist barrel on it, i run the 151g subs for coons etc and the 168 lehighs for big game, 9g trail boss for 980fps out of a 18" barrel
Awesome setup also have the 165sst going 2650fps for high power load
leupold vx3i 3-10x40 with boon n crocket reticle, and leupold S1 Turret for dialing. Zeroedat 100 for supersonics and then 7moa up and zeroed at 60 for subsonic then use the reticle from there.
first line down is 75m 2nd 90m and so on

Thanks for that. Yeah mite just go for those cast 150 grainers mite give me a bit more versatility just in case.

Originally Posted by burtonator

I Have a tikka 308 with a truflite 1-8 twist barrel on it, i run the 151g subs for coons etc and the 168 lehighs for big game, 9g trail boss for 980fps out of a 18" barrel
Awesome setup also have the 165sst going 2650fps for high power load
leupold vx3i 3-10x40 with boon n crocket reticle, and leupold S1 Turret for dialing. Zeroedat 100 for supersonics and then 7moa up and zeroed at 60 for subsonic then use the reticle from there.
first line down is 75m 2nd 90m and so on

Do you find your self using both subsonics set ups on a regular basis or just one etc. Shot many deer with those cast bullets

because of the setup I can switch between the subs and SuperSonics easy as. I usually have 2 mags, 1 with subs and one with supers
Shot a couple of goats with the cast projectiles and wasn’t that impressed with how they killed so just stick with the Lehigh now

Originally Posted by aetchell

I use 7.5gr trailboss with the 308 casts. Pretty quiet. I sight in at 50 and generally only shoot out to that with them. Pretty good on goats. They drop pretty quick though. On my 18" barrel tikka they drop 3.5" at 50 yards. We clocked them at just below sound barrier with that load.

I could shoot out to 75yards with the 7mm(08) projectiles accurately in my old rifle using 7gr trailboss.

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Been asked to load a 308 for pigs. The dude has been using his normal deer cartridges but now thinks his dogs will get deaf. Have you tried it on pigs? Cast bullets do the trick?

Originally Posted by TeRei

Been asked to load a 308 for pigs. The dude has been using his normal deer cartridges but now thinks his dogs will get deaf. Have you tried it on pigs? Cast bullets do the trick?

yes they will BUT you will get pass through just the same AND dont miss and hit something hard because they WILL bounce.....Robs 151 hps ideal for this.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

yes they will BUT you will get pass through just the same AND dont miss and hit something hard because they WILL bounce.....Robs 151 hps ideal for this.

Here’s a hind I shot at 20m the other day with the 308win 151gr cast combo, it was pissing down with rain and low visibility so swapped the scope at camp for the red dot. Body shots work well on goats not so much on reds unless head or neck shots.