308 Subsonic load using some 220 grain bullets

[BarnDweller]

Anyone have a good Subsonic load for 308 using some 220 grain bullets? I know its nuts but I would like to shoot my Ruger Precision in 308 but I have a back problem right now (hopefully will be better in a year) I would like to shoot the Rifle. Wondering if someone has a load not using Trail Boss? I have a big jug of Trail Boss but I am saving it. (For what I do not know, I am an old fart).

Thank you

Del McCord

 

[Davidb187]

Look for reduced loads with h4895

 

[WV Hitman]

I've used subsonic loads in my .300 Whisper, aka Blackout, for over 40 years. I tested bullets for JD Jones, the inventor & Lehigh Defense in it during that time. The round was made to use 240 gr. Sierra HPBT Match bullets. They kill by tumbling, not expansion.
I tested 220 gr. HPBT Match bullets. They were a little TOO SHORT to tumble & did not work on deer.
Further testing showed Sierra 220 gr. ROUND NOSE bullets are excellent! They kill by tumbling & expansion. I've taken over 100 deer with this bullet out to 240 yds (a very large 8 pt), all with one shot. This has been my #1 bullet for many years. The only other bullet that comes close to this in performance is the Lehigh Defense (now owned by Wilson Combat) is the 186 gr. Controlled Fracturing Choas. I've only used WW296 for these bullets. If you look in the Hodgdon 2025 Loading Manual you'll see recommended powders for .308 subsonic loads. They have loads for the 220 Sierra, but I would NOT recommend it due to poor performance.
Also, I have not tested any of the newer subsonic bullets due to the 220 Sierra RN performing so well (98% der drop at the shot). They are cheaper than the newer bullets by far.

 

[243winxb]

Hodgdon has sub data & reduced loads.

 

[BarnDweller]

Thank you all for your help! I don't remember who made the bullets I purchased, they were on sale for cheap and I got 1000 of them. I have a good NOE mold but these ended up being something like 16 cents each. I have 2 of the 2 powders listed on that chart. I want to get some H4895 (How come no matter how many different powders I have I always want one I do not have........

Thanks again this gives me a place to start. I went to hodgens site and I even saved the pdf they had but they did not have 220 grain listed for 308. I will go look again.

 

[Tacoma]

I forget my exact recipie but I had built some reduced loads for the clubs 100 yd vintage rifle matches to run in my Ishapore ( 308) Enfield rifle. I used H4895 which is one of the few powders that can be safely downloaded to 60% max loading if needed. Mine were in the 70-75% range and I used 165 gr cast/coated bullets. Not quite sumsonic but 100 yd accuracy was good and recoil was greatly reduced.

 

[Dave in WI]

Your twist rate may come into play also with those long heavy bullets. Make sure they are printing clean round holes on paper if you plan to put a suppressor on it. I didn’t see you mention a suppressor, just a heads up!

 

[BarnDweller]

Your twist rate may come into play also with those long heavy bullets. Make sure they are printing clean round holes on paper if you plan to put a suppressor on it. I didn’t see you mention a suppressor, just a heads up!

thanks for the heads up I always shoot through a cardboard box with a new subsonic load before i put my suppressors on

 

[Sandbagger1]

10-11 grains of trail boss and have fun

 

[BarnDweller]

Look what I found using H-110
HE worked up a load for 308 using H-110 powder

 

[BarnDweller]

10-11 grains of trail boss and have fun

I will use Trail Boss if I have to, I only have 1 1/2 5 lb jugs left and I do not think its available anymore.

Thanks for the reply
Del McCord

 

[charlie b]

Try going over to the Cast Boolit forum. Tons of advice on all kinds of reduced loads. And yes, most cases they work fine for jacketed. People usually don't use them due to stability issues at lower velocities.

I've put many thousand rounds of cast through my .308 barrel, mostly the Accurate 31-210E mold and powder coated. It liked velocities in the 1800-2000fps. It started to scatter shots if the vel got over 2300fps due to the 1:10 twist. FWIW, that bullet did NOT like the transonic region. One that did was the NOE 310-165-FN-H3 (XCB). It did well at subsonic muzzle velocities as well. For those I used Blue Dot, usually 8gn or less.

My favorite powders were IMR4198 and IMR3031, but, they were position sensitive since the fill was usually in the 55-60% range. Varget also did well, but, I didn't want to 'waste' it on cast bullets There is a huge list of powders that work at reduced velocities. If you want published data look at the Lyman manuals, especially their cast bullet load manual.

 

[BarnDweller]

I have the cast bullet manual I can look it up. I can not run cast through a 308. Its not that it will not work its I promised my Wife I would not do it haha.

 

[450BM]

Anyone have a good Subsonic load for 308 using some 220 grain bullets? I know its nuts but I would like to shoot my Ruger Precision in 308 but I have a back problem right now (hopefully will be better in a year) I would like to shoot the Rifle. Wondering if someone has a load not using Trail Boss? I have a big jug of Trail Boss but I am saving it. (For what I do not know, I am an old fart).

Thank you

Del McCord

It’s not subsonic but it’s a mild load I can shoot all day as I don’t like reloil.

18gr 4227 with a 225gr gas checked and powder coated cast bullet gives me about 1550 fps. 17gr of lilgun is about 1675. I’m not using any fillers and no ignition problems. I have Blue Dot and BE-86 that I haven’t gotten around to try yet but I’m sure I can easily get a subsonic load from them.

 

[charlie b]

I have the cast bullet manual I can look it up. I can not run cast through a 308. Its not that it will not work its I promised my Wife I would not do it haha.

LOL, yep, been there too A friend and I got into muzzleloaders when we were young. Cast bullets on the dining room table. Didn't make a mess, but, we were banned for life

 

[jsn]

There are published subsonic loads for jacketed bullets in Hodgdon's reloading data.

 

[ScottMcc]

I started a thread on exactly this almost two years ago. My conclusions are titegroup and Red Dot are the best non-trail boss powders..

Thread 'Subsonic 308 without trail boss'

Sep 14, 2023

Looks like Trail Boss is history, but then I also heard tb is not very accurate in subsonic 308 anyway. I found a load of 150's with Titegroup, but it's so compact I doubt it will ignite reliably. So that leaves bulky flake powders like Clays and Blue Dot. Does anyone have advice for 168 Eldms? (R700, 24 inch 5R barrel, no can)

• ScottMcc
• Replies: 111
• Forum: Big Stuff--7mm, 30 Cal, .338+

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