300 AAC Subsonic in a bolt gun

[4xforfun]

Any of you load for a bolt gun.... Doing some research on subsonic loading and everyone is talking about getting the bolt to cycle. Won't be a problem with a bolt gun. I have bought about 300 rounds of various brands (5 so far) of subsonic factory ammo.....all 190 gr and up NON FMJ subsonic ammo to test. BUT....I just KNOW that I won't be able to help myself and dive into loading for this cartridge.

I allways thought that the ONLY powder suitable for subsonic loads was Tightwad. Maybe not true. Besides I have been looking EVERYWHERE for it...it's like H1000, H4350, and Varget all rolled into one. It IS "unobtainium"!!

Any input would be helpfull as far as components. Pretty sure I have the basics of the whole handloading thing figured out...unless it is TOTALLY different than BR loading.

Thanks,
Tod

 

[6milphil]

I've been using H110 with 220gr berrys bullets. Accurate 1680 is supposed to be the go to powder for subs.

 

[Oso]

Once you stuff a +190gr bullet into 300BO case there isn't much case capacity left (call it 10gr at most). I use H110 or CFE Black. There are several other popular powders that have been proven reliable and accurate for subsonics. Since you are loading for a bolt rifle then you have a much greater selection of bullets ... as a matter of fact you can make any bullet (95gr - 230gr) subsonic. You just have to decide what you want to do with it and pick the right bullet weight & design to meet your needs,

If you just want to plink paper quietly then load 147gr FMJ or 125gr TNT. If you want to hunt with Subsonics then use a bullet designed for this, such as Lehigh Defense Maximum Expansion (not cheap) or other similar specialty bullets.

 

[nakneker]

I’ve been using AA1680 & CFE black with a 190 grain SUB-X from Hornady. I may even build a bolt gun just for fun in 300 blackout, let us know what you find. Those Bullets can be hard to find at times, here’s a link with some in stock in case your curious.

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[NZ_Fclass]

Go look at "Johnny's Reloading Bench on You Tube. There's heaps of good info on those loads.

 

[anon]

This url is for a Sierra pdf that has subsonic load data for all listed bullet weights.

https://sierrabullets.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/300-aac-blackout-03052018.pdf

I mostly shoot 150gr plated 30-30 bullets with Trailboss in my Ruger Ranch. It does what I want it to just fine.

 

[dellet]

It’s not totally different, just different.

With a hand fed action there is probably no less than 40 suitable powders and bullet weights from about 80-265 grains. You can use 30 Lugar or Mauser bullets, to 250 grain Atips if your twist is fast enough.

In a bolt action I would not even consider powders like 1680, CFE BLK, probably nothing slower than H110/296. The fast rifle powders are just too loud and dirty. Many pistol powder will work, but published data is sparse, older 300 Whisper data is very helpful.

The faster the powder, the quieter it will be for the most part, but you can get into pressure problems, as in exceeding maximum, so Quickload is a good reference. Most data out there will give max load at 1050 fps, for subs vs pressure, so it can be confusing.

Barrel length will make a difference, in powder choice, it’s a lot tougher keeping things subsonic in a 24” barrel than an 8”. Some powder/bullet combinations will need more powder for the longer barrel, some less.

For a bolt gun set up with AI bottom metal or single shot you are no longer limited to 2.260” for magazine length. Here’s a 250 Atip and 2.260” and touching the lands at 2.580”. I can load to 2.560” in the new MDT steel cased AI mag or longer in the old AI polymer mags. Then you can turn around and load 86 grain round nose and hit the lands at less than a 2.0” COL.

It’s a huge rabbit hole.

 

[Alabama]

Dellet is spot on. The faster the powder the quieter. You have to be careful.

I have a bolt action Remington 700 with an 8 inch Douglas barrel. AA #5 and AA#7 are super quiet for subsonics.

I get sd’s in the single digits and 1/2 groups at 100 yards on a good day. Used to shoot 208 hornadys but now shoot 225 ELD-X.

I shoot 220 grain outlaw state when culling does.

You have to be very careful with these powders. If you double charge a case you will have bad problems. Ask me how I know.

 

[swimster]

I loaded some sub loads for a bolt 300 whisper years ago w vv110 and 200g Sierra Hpbt.
It shot really well at 100 yds. I would have to look up the charge weight.

 

[jcm800]

My best 700 aac sub load was 175 smk's and Universal. 1 moa @ 200 yds in good conditions.

 

[Chaotik]

I have a Savage Axis in 300AAC.
Loaded 9.1g of H110 behind a 220g Sierra MK.
Fun to shoot but the scope on my bolt gun ran out of elevation at 50 yards.

 

[JerryD4570]

Pretty much been covered, but I won't let that keep me from babbling on, as this has been a fun cartridge to work with...

Besides pistol, I load for around ten or so other cartridges, yet I've probably spent about half my time at the bench working with the 300 BO, actually 'playing' would be more descriptive.

1680 (and later CFE Black) may be the darling powder(s) for those running gas guns. But bolt-actions and single-shots open up a whole nother world, the pistol powders. And in "These Times (of component shortages) this is a very good thing, as there are many powders that will work for this cartridge, sub-sonic and super-sonic.

Are you paper punching, hunting or both? Hunting subsonic bullets the aforementioned Lehigh Defense, Nosler 220 BT, and Hornady's 190 grain Sub-X. Supersonic; besides the Barnes Tac-TX 110 and 125 Nos BT's, now Speer has a 150 grain Blackout Gold Dot bullet. They are all hard to get right now, so get on sellers 'notify' lists.

Paper punching/plinking, pretty much any 30 caliber bullet. The heavies for Sub's (180 plus) and everything else for supersonic. Prior to the component shortages I would pick up whatever bullets I could find on sale, now it's what I can find (in the weight range that I am looking for). If you're not running a suppressor I probably wouldn't even bother with Sub's.

My present challenge is to find a "Small Game Load" with ragged one-hole accuracy (at 50 yards), presently trying 150 grainers running in the 1,600 to 1,800 fps range<==Not there yet. 150 grainers as I am looking for a load that hits very close to my Speer 150 grain Gold Dot supersonic hunting load.

Jerry

 

[EOD Rob]

I'm running a Rem 700 SPS 16.5" and have had the best luck with Hornady 208gr over 11.0gr of AA1680. H110 has worked well too.

 

[drop_point]

H110 has been the powder for me.