Thread: Subsonic project

Originally Posted by shooternz

Only tried a few loads with AP 70 don't have enough to do serious load development with it but 7.0 grains went well
velocity was in the 900fps range,
For full power loads I use 2400, Some of my customers use 21.0 grains of 2205 in their Freedom arms revolvers for Handgun Silhouette
I have seen some impressive shooting at 200 metres with that load velocity out of a 7.5" barrel is over 1200 fps.

I use old ICI Nobel Shotgun Powder No 78 which I have a qty of. Done a lot of load dev for various calibres based on Red Dot data given Red Dot is very close in burnnrate and composition of powder. And Red Dot being the original famous "The Load" powder. You can Google this for details. Been very successful with No78 across Pistol and Rifle calibres. In Rifle the 6 to 13 gn range provides velocity in the 900 to 1800 fps range. E.g. in 303B around 11 gn gives mid 1500s fps and very accurate with @shooternz 215gn GC projectiles. AP70N is in the same performance range I believe, as are other similar Shotgun powders. But please do your own research and careful load dev..I do not use any fillers or packers. I note also that ADI lists reduced velocity load data for some rifle calibres using AS30N. I believe this is very close to Red Dot and the Nobel Powder I use.

Originally Posted by shooternz

Only tried a few loads with AP 70 don't have enough to do serious load development with it but 7.0 grains went well
velocity was in the 900fps range,
For full power loads I use 2400, Some of my customers use 21.0 grains of 2205 in their Freedom arms revolvers for Handgun Silhouette
I have seen some impressive shooting at 200 metres with that load velocity out of a 7.5" barrel is over 1200 fps.

I have used Elmer Keith's favourite .44 Magnum load for years with great success. 245 grain hard cast and 22 grains of 2400, 40mm groups at 100 metres (with Leupold 4x LER) and 1500 fps from my 8-3/8" S&W M29. Cases easy on extraction, unlike the sticky ones I have encountered with other powders. I use either WST or WSF (depending on case capacity) for subsonic loads in all calibres (9mm 147 gr,300 Blackout 220 gr, .308 220 gr).

Originally Posted by gundoc

I have used Elmer Keith's favourite .44 Magnum load for years with great success. 245 grain hard cast and 22 grains of 2400, 40mm groups at 100 metres (with Leupold 4x LER) and 1500 fps from my 8-3/8" S&W M29. Cases easy on extraction, unlike the sticky ones I have encountered with other powders. I use either WST or WSF (depending on case capacity) for subsonic loads in all calibres (9mm 147 gr,300 Blackout 220 gr, .308 220 gr).

Never had 2400 despite reading lots about it. I do however have some each of WST and WSF but have not used any as yet. Are you using published data for them or loads you have developed yourself?

They are loads I have developed myself over a few years.

Originally Posted by Cordite

How is Hi Scor 700 shotgun powder for subsonics? Accurate?

Ive tried 700X in a few guns. Functioned well, although im only looking for minute-of-steel-plate.
9.6gr with a 200gr plated cycled the desert eagle, shot real mild, and most importantly kept velocity under 1250fps with the plated projectile.
8.4gr with a 240gr cast is a start load, was apparently only clocking 700fps out of a SAA replica. Max load is 9.5@1.620" for 1185fps according to Lee.

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center has 5 loads listed for 700X in 44mag.

700x is fine except it doesn't meter well in small charges. That is why I prefer the WST and WSF ball powder. I just realised that I am now using AR2205 for my 220 grain .300 Blackout subsonic loads (1060 fps) because of the better loading density (less air space).

@gundoc What are your thoughts on porting the barrel of a 44 or similar cal like the Delise carbine. I remember the JW 15's that you did with the ported barrels and full-length overbarrel suppressor (Gun City), great little accurate guns and very quiet

I am currently building one in .44 Magnum for my own use and will be using jacketed Hornady 300 grain XTP's which are fine with ported barrels. Lead bullets are not suitable for ported barrels unless the holes are quite small (1-1.5mm) and even then there could be shaving problems.

Originally Posted by gundoc

I am currently building one in .44 Magnum for my own use and will be using jacketed Hornady 300 grain XTP's which are fine with ported barrels. Lead bullets are not suitable for ported barrels unless the holes are quite small (1-1.5mm) and even then there could be shaving problems.

Two things, the lead bullets do go well in those ported norincos. Hornady 300 grain XTP - tried those, very accurate BUT crap on anything bigger than a hare. Dont get me wrong I have shot game with them but they are too hard. - Funny sort of brittle lead that wont mushroom, they are made for self protection from Bears. The Nosler 300 gr HP is vastly superior on game. With the XTP, it can go through a ram or even a Bisons skull and the animal appears ok. Nosler 'Thwack' skull cracked like a dropped easter egg

Thanks for that. I had read elsewhere that the Hornady's were a bit hard. I will see if I can find some Nosler's (probably on back-order!)

Originally Posted by shooternz

Only tried a few loads with AP 70 don't have enough to do serious load development with it but 7.0 grains went well
velocity was in the 900fps range,
For full power loads I use 2400, Some of my customers use 21.0 grains of 2205 in their Freedom arms revolvers for Handgun Silhouette
I have seen some impressive shooting at 200 metres with that load velocity out of a 7.5" barrel is over 1200 fps.

Thanks will give those a go,will a light crimp hurt?using them in a tube magazine.

Originally Posted by The bomb

Thanks will give those a go,will a light crimp hurt?using them in a tube magazine.

A light crimp is fine just need to roll it in a little so it is flush with the front of the groove so it won't catch when chambering
just run a finger over it you will feel it, don't crimp to much it can damage the bullet,

Rifle back suppressed witha DPT suppressor. Very short and handy, currently have a Bushnell trs-25 mounted but, may swap it out for my propoint or sig sauer, as the dot is alot bigger than the stated 3moa, and the lowest setting is still a bit bright for first and last light. Have all the components here so will load up a few tonight with some trailboss. Hopefully out hunting by the end of the week.

Well she stabilizes factory subsonic 44 special and Robert's 270gr cast lead hollopoints. A couple of 1 and 1.5inch groups with trailboss at 40yds so things are looking good.

Load sorted, 7.5gr trailboss, 270hr cast HP 1000fps. Went for a hunt, lined up on a mature Sika hind at 115yds, looked to be a good hit, good reaction from the hind. Tracked for ages In heavy rain and manuka scrub, even with the dog, we were unable to locate the animal. Bit of a bugger.