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by The Annoyed Man
Wed Oct 02, 2019 7:40 pm
Forum: General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion
Topic: 300 blackout for subsonic suppressed rounds
Replies: 10
Views: 7918

Re: 300 blackout for subsonic suppressed rounds

I have the dies, cases, primers, powder, and bullets to reload for myself too, but still haven’t setup my reloading equipment since I last moved. Even so, you can buy commercial .300 Blk ammo for a LOT cheaper than $1.99/round. The price for most loads isn’t the issue, it’s the ineffectiveness of heavy .308 caliber bullets at subsonic velocities. Most heavy-for-caliber .308" diameter hunting bullets are designed to function best at velocities well above 2000 FPS. A subsonic is moving at half or less of that velocity, so expanding bullets don’t expand. They’re not even going fast enough for FMJs to yaw and upset, producing greater damage that way. Instead, they just poke a hole. The Lehigh Defense bullets are designed to expand at subsonic velocities, but they’re very expensive for the commercially loaded cartridge. The bullets alone are $63/box of 50 for the same 194 grainer that’s in their subsonic cartridge. By way of comparison, Cabelas sells the 200 grain Nosler® AccuBond® Bullets for $39.99 for a box of 50 ... still more expensive than Sierra Gamekings, but considerably less than the Lehighs. Unfortunately, they won’t expand at subsonic velocities.
by The Annoyed Man
Wed Oct 02, 2019 11:20 am
Forum: General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion
Topic: 300 blackout for subsonic suppressed rounds
Replies: 10
Views: 7918

Re: 300 blackout for subsonic suppressed rounds

troglodyte wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2019 6:13 pm
The Annoyed Man wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:52 pm
der Teufel wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:27 pm I have a Radical Firearms upper in 300 Blackout. I use it for hog hunting with a suppressor, but I don't shoot subsonic loads.
It was working pretty well for me for a couple of years, but the last two hogs I shot made it into the brush and weren't recovered. I'm hunting at night with a thermal sight. If the hogs get much more than 50 yards into the brush they're hard to find at night, even with a thermal monocular!

Previously I was using an AR-10 shooting .308 bullets and if I lose another hog I'll probably switch back to it.

I rate the 300 BLK as roughly equal to the 7.62X39 (AK-47) round. It's sufficient for hogs but shot placement may be slightly more critical than with a 6.5 Grendel or a 6.8SPC. My shots are typically around 100 yards or less, never over 150 yards. Remember, I'm not shooting subsonic loads.

My original intention was to use subsonic rounds when shooting at a feeder (generally 60-70 yards max range) but even there I've concluded that it's too underpowered.

Your Mileage May Vary. I'm just an average marksman. Someone who shoots better will obviously get better results.
But if the next hog I shoot runs off, the AR-10 is coming back out …

Back to the original question — I have had no problems with the Radical Firearms upper in 300 BLK.
I was initially big on the heavy subsonics too. I figured that the velocity/energy on target at close ranges would be on par with a +P .45 ACP. The problem is getting the bullet to do more than just poke a hole into something. I stopped relying on it for a subsonic HD rifle after I dug one of my own 208 grain A-Max out of the dirt berm at ETTS, which I had fired from about 25 yards away. All it did was knock the polymer tip off the bullet. Other than that and the rifling marks, it could probably be refired. After that, I’ve focused on supersonics ever since, and kind of given up on subsonics for now. When I can find commercially available heavy for caliber hollowpoints that will perform at subsonic velocities, I’ll revisit subsonics.

Mine has a 10.5” barrel, with a 1:8.5 twist. The length is close to or right in line with original specifications for the cartridge. You don’t really need 16" to get all the performance you can out of it. OTH, it means either a pistol build, or a registered SBR.
You may want to check out Lehigh Defense if you haven't already. It seems they have figured out subsonic expansion.

https://www.lehighdefense.com/index.php ... -expansion

I haven't used their Maximum Expansion ammo but I have done some water jug testing on their Close Quarters. Seems to work as advertised.

From what little I think I know, hollowpoints generally need to impact a water-based medium to properly expand.
I've seen those before, bit it’s also $1.99/round, or $80 to top off two 20-round magazines—which is absurdly expensive for a cartridge based on 5.56 case. I switched to a suppressed 11.5" SBR in 5.56, stoked with 55 grain soft points. Louder, yes; but affordable and effective. I’ll keep using .300 Blk supers for general purpose use, but I’m not going to bother with heavy subs until someone produces a more affordable and effective load.
by The Annoyed Man
Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:52 pm
Forum: General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion
Topic: 300 blackout for subsonic suppressed rounds
Replies: 10
Views: 7918

Re: 300 blackout for subsonic suppressed rounds

der Teufel wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:27 pm I have a Radical Firearms upper in 300 Blackout. I use it for hog hunting with a suppressor, but I don't shoot subsonic loads.
It was working pretty well for me for a couple of years, but the last two hogs I shot made it into the brush and weren't recovered. I'm hunting at night with a thermal sight. If the hogs get much more than 50 yards into the brush they're hard to find at night, even with a thermal monocular!

Previously I was using an AR-10 shooting .308 bullets and if I lose another hog I'll probably switch back to it.

I rate the 300 BLK as roughly equal to the 7.62X39 (AK-47) round. It's sufficient for hogs but shot placement may be slightly more critical than with a 6.5 Grendel or a 6.8SPC. My shots are typically around 100 yards or less, never over 150 yards. Remember, I'm not shooting subsonic loads.

My original intention was to use subsonic rounds when shooting at a feeder (generally 60-70 yards max range) but even there I've concluded that it's too underpowered.

Your Mileage May Vary. I'm just an average marksman. Someone who shoots better will obviously get better results.
But if the next hog I shoot runs off, the AR-10 is coming back out …

Back to the original question — I have had no problems with the Radical Firearms upper in 300 BLK.
I was initially big on the heavy subsonics too. I figured that the velocity/energy on target at close ranges would be on par with a +P .45 ACP. The problem is getting the bullet to do more than just poke a hole into something. I stopped relying on it for a subsonic HD rifle after I dug one of my own 208 grain A-Max out of the dirt berm at ETTS, which I had fired from about 25 yards away. All it did was knock the polymer tip off the bullet. Other than that and the rifling marks, it could probably be refired. After that, I’ve focused on supersonics ever since, and kind of given up on subsonics for now. When I can find commercially available heavy for caliber hollowpoints that will perform at subsonic velocities, I’ll revisit subsonics.

Mine has a 10.5” barrel, with a 1:8.5 twist. The length is close to or right in line with original specifications for the cartridge. You don’t really need 16" to get all the performance you can out of it. OTH, it means either a pistol build, or a registered SBR.

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