Thread: Subsonic action

Yes I use a Nikon 2-8x32 with BDC reticle with Strelok. Though I note the drops using a sharpie marker pen on my wrist(s). At 8x the steps are 50m is 0 then circles (drops in the reticle) are 64/80/94/117/138.

For supers at 8x steps are 100m is 0, then circles are 150/199/243/305/360.

Originally Posted by Boar Freak

I have used Robs casts in 308 and 30-30 both subs and at 1600 fps for 3 years now. Shot reds with the faster load out out to 150yds, worked just as well as a jacketed projectile. Try pushing them a bit faster, gives more margin for error. Should still work with the opens.

What powder and weight are you using for 1600fps in the .308?

I am not sure of the velocity but I get good accuracy with 25.00 grains of 2206H start to get lead fouling at 35.00 grains around 2100fps in my rifles 30" barrel.

Bit of a hijack here but......what is the fouling/cleaning of the bore like when using cast projectiles at subsonic velocities? Does it foul? What do you clean it with?

Just clean it like normal @Shearer. At the end of a week or 10 days hunting, I’ll give it a light scrub with bore cleaner, patch put, pull through, light oil, in the safe. Pull through again before next firing, fouler into the hill at the homestead before hunting. Off I go. Repeat.

I also have two positions marked on the elevation dial @vulcannz, 5 MOA up and I’m good for 50m on subsonics, zero for full power 165gr. But that’s on my other 308.

I haven’t yet fully worked out the open sights adjustment for subsonic, so was limiting my shots to what I’d proven in the paddock at home, with milk bottles, about 30m. A mission at some point in the next couple of days will be to do proper drop tests with the subs in the Browning. I expect I will limit myself to shooting goats and small deer within 50m with the open sights, we’ll see. With a good rest I’ve been shooting rabbits at 80 to 90 m but that’s with a scope. Big difference.

[QUOTE=Flyblown;1050558]Just clean it like normal @Shearer. At the end of a week or 10 days hunting, I’ll give it a light scrub with bore cleaner, patch put, pull through, light oil, in the safe. Pull through again before next firing, fouler into the hill at the homestead before hunting. Off I go. Repeat.

Ok. You say bore cleaner. I use a carbon remover (obviously removes carbon) and when required a copper solvent. Does copper solvent remove lead deposits?

[QUOTE=Flyblown;1050558]Just clean it like normal @Shearer. At the end of a week or 10 days hunting, I’ll give it a light scrub with bore cleaner, patch put, pull through, light oil, in the safe. Pull through again before next firing, fouler into the hill at the homestead before hunting. Off I go. Repeat.

Ok. You say bore cleaner. I use a carbon remover (obviously removes carbon) and when required a copper solvent. Does copper solvent remove lead deposits? Is there lead fouling?

Dunno. Barrel shoots straight, that’s pretty much the sum of it.

Right. Maybe I am over thinking it.
I shoot "normal" velocity 308 as well and figure if there is a build up of anything (like lead) in the bore then the diameter of the bore decreases and subsequently the pressure will increase. Not something I want to happen that's why I am asking is there a build up of lead in the bore and if so how do you get rid of it?

Originally Posted by Cigar

Nope, double the weight at the same speed is double the force. The same weight at double the speed is four times the force.

Kinetic energy(J)= 0.5 x m(kg) x V^2(Velocity in m/s)

So energy is proportional to weight or velocity squared.

Originally Posted by Josan

Kinetic energy(J)= 0.5 x m(kg) x V^2(Velocity in m/s)

So energy is proportional to weight or velocity squared.

thats what I thought too, a quadruple. But iv been wrong before

Originally Posted by Shearer

Bit of a hijack here but......what is the fouling/cleaning of the bore like when using cast projectiles at subsonic velocities? Does it foul? What do you clean it with?

At subsonic it should never foul just clean with solvent and a few patches it is like a big .22RF, The lube is mostly wax a bit like car wax,
all that is in the bore is powder residue no scrubbing required, If you do get lead fouling then the scrubbing starts lots of it.

Originally Posted by Josan

Kinetic energy(J)= 0.5 x m(kg) x V^2(Velocity in m/s)

So energy is proportional to weight or velocity squared.

Correct (well almost, m = mass, not weight, and our high school science teachers told us there is a difference).

If you throw some numbers in the equation you will see that doubling the mass doubles the energy, and doubling the velocity increases the energy fourfold.

Originally Posted by shooternz

At subsonic it should never foul just clean with solvent and a few patches it is like a big .22RF, The lube is mostly wax a bit like car wax,
all that is in the bore is powder residue no scrubbing required, If you do get lead fouling then the scrubbing starts lots of it.

Thanks @shooternz.
Ok. So to get this straight in my own head.....If I buy cast lead projectiles they will be coated in wax? If I shoot them subsonic, I can clean out powder residue (with a carbon remover) and there should be no lead fouling. If there is lead fouling it must be scrubbed out mechanically (perhaps with a neutral lubricant) as opposed to using a chemical solvent? (like you would with copper).

Most of shooternzs cast bullets are gas checked little copper cups on the arse that let you push them a bit faster than plain based ones before they lead.
Leading occurs when 1/ you forget to lube your bullets or 2/ when you push them too fast and friction softens the lead leaving streaks in the bore and sending accuracy to buggery. It comes out easily but needs a bronze brush and light oil to get it out.
Hope that helps.