Subsonic but deadly

[P1ZombieKiller]

I built a 300/221 subsonic gun last year, and now that Texas has passed the approval to hunt game with supressors, I have decided to work on a good load that I could hunt deer with. My gun shoots consistant 1.5" groups at 100 yards, and occasionally will shoot some .50 - .75 groups. While this is not benchrest quality, it's pretty darn good for a bullet only traveling 1050 fps. Since I shoot 200 SMK and 210 VLD's like that, these are not the ideal hunting bullet (not really at all going that slow).

I have done some research on a few other sites, and there are few companies (individuals) making .308 bullets exclusively for subsonic use. I ordered a few, but think I have found the one I want after a few tests this weekend.

Lehigh Defense is the bullet I have choosen to use. I have choosen the 200 grain Maximum Expansion .308 projectile. I just did my first test this weekend, and MAN was I impressed. The bullet weighed 199.9 grains on my scale right out of the box. After shooting this bullet into a 5 gallon bucket full of sand, it weighed 199.6 grains and was .845" after full expansion. Thats 99.9% weight retention and 274% expansion all at subsonic speeds.

Pretty impressive if you ask me. This is their promo pic.

http://lehighdefense.com/ME-Bullets.html


Below is my actual pic from the shot described above.

 

[TheSnake]

How far was the Bucket of sand when you shot it Wes? With the groves that far down, I'm curious to see if that affects accuracy at longer ranges. That looks like one heck of a bullet though.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

This bullet was shot at the bucket at only 25 yards. I was going to shoot for accuracy as well as speed at 100 yards, but the chronograph failed. Since these little babies are $1.85 each, I choose to hold off until I can figure out what is wrong with the chronograph.

 

[TheSnake]

$1.85, ouch! Looking forward to your test results.

 

[selphb8347]

What length barrel and platform are you using?

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

I am shooting a Remmy 700 with a douglas 16.5" barrel.

In fact, this past weekend was my son's first attempt at a deer with this rifle/bullet combo. The doe was at 30 yards in the feeder pen, and it was a 1 shot kill with the doe dropping right in her tracks.

 

[Preacher]

Give Zach a pat on the back for me Wes.... He did good...

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Thanks Bruce. He was a real trooper. Being only 9, he was really REALLY good. He got up every monring at 5:00, Never compained (he did get hungry one morning and wanted to head back early) and always thought he heard something.

We got a late start on Friday since the dirt road we go down to get to deer camp crosses a railroad track and there was a train stopped on the track for about an hour. We spent approx 14 hours in the stand, and managed to see 7 deer, a few of the biggest jack rabbits known to man, heard the turkeys coming in from behind us (even though we never saw them, they were clucking like it was feeding time) and more dove than you can ever believe.

Sunday morning rolls around, and right after daylight, 2 does appear and give him an opportunity. He delivered a shot that was perfect. All that practice paid off.

 

[ChrisNZ]

Too cool, good on him.

I shoot std (supersonic) suppressed guns all the time but can only imagine how quiet that must be.
"Pooff....... THUMP"

Chris-NZ

 

[Roe]

Nice to see. Those bullets are expensive, but they also require some tooling. Going sub is fun but it requires a little extra money and effort.