Subsonic projectiles, where are we at these days?

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

That's right. It's hard to get enough kinetic energy with any real subsonic round.
Looking at the biggest, shortest rifle round I know of, the 50 Beowulf: a standard load is 400gr at 1800f fps and 2800 ft.lb. Downloading to 1000 fps might give about 900 ft.lb which could be enough. Even if the bullet didn't expand much, .50" might dissapate energy quickly enough and so some damage.

It seems to be a real engineering challenge to make a bullet that will expand at 1000 fps.

I guess we're into pistol cartridges and pistol bullets ? Don't know anything about them, myself.

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I'm having a play with a similar idea at the moment - 500 Smith and Wesson shooting 500gr cast lead projectileshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e7e13434bd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...017e5f9563.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f416c9ec64.jpg

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

still got large void with trail boss???? being same case as .308 I wouldve thought somewhere around the same 8.5grns would be order of day and pretty much more than 60% full.

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I have a .359" mould now casts 220 gr HP or 240 gr FP have them listed on TM.

I've been in contact with Balckwatch they said the Honday 190gr Sub-X are on the way with the next shipment $78 per 100

I've used suppressed .22 rimfire subsonics for the odd pig and goat when hunting in areas where shots might upset people, but I am always mindful of hitting the right spot. A clear brain shot works well, but I've found that lung/heart shot is a better choice if I'm not certain of hitting the brain. However I don't take long shots.

Knowing that the .22 isn't ideal for larger animals, I got a .357 magnum and cast my own flat-nosed bullets for it. Using both Trail Boss and AP70N powders (not in the same cartridge!) I've made up some loads that shoot at around 1000 feet per second. I've only shot a few things with these loads, but so far I'm pretty happy with them. I still don't have the small group sizes like I can get with my .22 or .223, but the typical two inch group at fifty yards (or sometimes better) is fine for sensible hunting ranges (say up to 75 yards).

The first .357 I got was a stainless Rossi Puma with a 16 inch barrel. Lovely little rifle. I cut the buckhorns off the rear sight and I find I shoot much better with the flat top. I will probably never fit a suppressor on the Puma. When I was having accuracy problems as I was experimenting with loads, I got a Bergara BA13 .357 magnum with a short barrel. The Bergara has a faster rifling twist than the Rossi, and it groups pretty well with the 158 grain cast bullets.... wheras the Rossi has been shooting best with 125 grain projectiles. I think the Rossi might shoot heavier projectiles more accurately if I loaded for maximum speed, but I prefer a quieter option.

Now I would like to fit a suppressor to the Bergara. It has a 5/8" x 24 tpi thread. If anybody has any suggestions as to where I might get a good deal on a sturdy suppressor for this rifle I'd be interested to hear them.

I really don't need any more gear or guns given that I don't need much meat, and with the rifles I have (including a suppressed .223) I am well-equipped. But subsonic hunting is something I'm interested in so I may as well pursue it.

If I eventually find that I'm not satisfied with what the .357 can do, I'm tempted to get a Bergara 45-70 for my subsonic project. I haven't had a lot of experience with suppressors, and I'm wondering if I shouldn't buy a .45 calibre suppressor to fit to the Bergara .357 so that it could be used on the bigger rifle. I wonder if the oversized suppressor holes would make the .357 shot significantly louder, or whether it would still work well enough with subsonic loads. Has anyone had any experience with this kind of thing?

Best wishes from Nelson...

it would be better if you stuck to the size of the bullet you aee shooting, if not it will be louder yes
its a big jump 35 to 41 cal
dpt can sell additional baffle stacks if you get a 44 later on if you went with one of these

Thanks Bill. From the research I've done it seems that DPT make a pretty good product.

Iv got quite a few of them and they do work well

the ability to add baffles is cool as when doing subsonic stuff
I often share baffles between supps when i want things even quieter

@Coote, I have a 44 with an over-barrel Gunworks Maximus. If you are coming down near to ChCh ( I am near Oxford ) you are welcome to come to my place and try a few shots with your 357 and my suppressor on my range, assuming the thread is the same.

Thanks for the comments.

The ability to 'mix and match' with those DPT moderators is certainly an advantage. Geez Moa Hunter, that is a friendly offer that I will certainly keep in mind. My wife has been invited to be a guest artist at an art exhibition at Waikawa in the Catlins in late February and I'm driving down with her. We have a busy schedule, but maybe something could work out. Is your 44 a Bergara?