Thread: subs 308 in a bolt action

Has anyone drilled holes for expansion? Shot game with them or non drilled ? Results?

Originally Posted by ANTSMAN

Has anyone drilled holes for expansion? Shot game with them or non drilled ? Results?

I've played around with subs for a few years now (300whisper, a .38/357 and now a 30Apache). To cut to the chase, when hunting with subs you have to change your mind set to be more like a bowhunter i.e sneak in close and really pick your shot. You will get ''bang-flops'' with head and neck shots most of the time, and you'll sometimes get ''bang-flops'' with heart/lungs...but most of the time you have to take your shot and then give the animal a bit of time to bleed out and go into shock and die.

I've experimented with allsorts, like drilling out 158gr flat nose .358 projectiles (for a .38spl) with a dia 6mm x 6mm deep hole.


Circled bullet was recovered from a deer (opposite shoulder) and is one of my modified .38 subsonic bullets. The others are mostly .223cals recovered from some deer as well.

I did extensive testing shooting mainly goats (couple hundred++++) and to be honest I was pretty disappointed with most of the shoulder shots taken with subs, so about 90% of my shots ended up being head shots to avoid any animal suffering or running too far. The only reason I persevered so long with the subsonic concept was because I loved my little 16'' rossi .38/.357 lever action rifle for all its great features that suited my needs for hunting in shit bush (based in the Coromandel).

My latest is a 30Apache (or 30-223, a necked up .223 case to take a 240grain SMK 308 projectile) see video.

Pic of necked up case beside a .223 case

The 30Apache is basically the same as the 300whisper & I'm having fun with it and love the concept, but for serious hunting in the roar etc..I'll never use a subsonic.


kj