.308 - 168Gr & 8 Gr of Titegroup

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lineofsight

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Saw this load on the Higginson site, anyone try it?

Looks like very little case volume, little disconcerting, but a nice reduced power load judging by velocity and pressure.

168 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon Titegroup .308" 2.800" 8 1080 25,000 CUP
 
Its low velocity... I have tried it in the .223 with 3ish grains of titegroup, Its fine for bolt guns but you won't cycle the action on anything semi auto.

If you check out the Hodgon or IMR website specific calibers have these reduced loads and data.
 
I shoot a lot of subsonics. I've loaded 8 gr. Titegroup with a 180 gr. Hornady RN. Its heavier, but a flat base bullet. So the velocity is about the same. Gives me around 1040fps. COAL is 2.650".

Contrary to what they claim, it is position sensitive as far as velocity goes because it only takes up about 30% of the case. I prefer using 10.2 gr of Trailboss. Same velocity, not as position sensitive.

If you're going to play with subsonic loads here are some tips:

-You work a subsonic load down, not up. If its too slow, you risk it getting stuck in you barrel. I started 2 gr. above on each of those loads and worked down slowly.

-Clean your barrel often. A dirty barrel increases the risk of a bullet stuck in the barrel. Also, subsonic loads are very finicky in terms of velocity. 100 fps less and they drop 5-6".

-Run an oil soaked patch through your barrel after cleaning and prior to the first shot. Also, put a good coating of oil on each bullet. This will keep velocities more consistent. You don't have to do this, but you'll find that your velocities are all over the place, your groups are huge and you consistently get a 100-200fps velocity drop on the first shot (and a 5-6" drop at 100 yards).

-Round nose bullets fly better than pointed bullets at subsonic velocities. A tear drop shap is optimum. Some people actually load the pointed bullets backwards for this reason.
 
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You can get some stuff I dont know the proper technical term but its like cotton wad... you put the power in then stuff this stuff in the case like a cotton ball and it kept the powder in place so it works properly.
 
Position sensitive just means that the velocity can change depending on where the powder sits in the case. This is why its beneficial to use a powder that takes up more case volume (i.e. Trailboss).

The Titegroups load is safe, it just won't give you as nice of groups unless your careful to try and keep the powder always in the same position.
 
lineofsight said:
Saw this load on the Higginson site, anyone try it? Looks like very little case volume, little disconcerting, but a nice reduced power load judging by velocity and pressure.
168 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon Titegroup .308" 2.800" 8 1080 25,000 CUP
Click to expand...

went through 50 rounds of this at the range yesterday...lot of fun :D
nice & easy on the ol' shoulder too ;)
 
Wow, what we don't read on these threads. Sub sonic loads for quietness!
Most pistols shoot their bullets at sub sonic speeds, but I wouldn't exactly say pistols are quiet. Even 22 pistols are much noisier than 22 rifles.
Of course, someone will say. That's because of the short barrels. Exactly, short barrel, noisey. Less powder in the charge, quieter. Speed of sound has nothing to do with it.
Look at it this way. The sonic boom is from an object passing through the speed of sound. With a full charged center fire rifle, the bullet reaches the speed of sound by the time it has travelled 1½ to 2 inches down the barrel. I hope you don't think going through the sound barrier at that point makes the boom! If that rifle bullet doesn't hit something, it may be over a mile away before it drops through the sound barrier. Is that the noise I hear when I shoot a big rifle?
A bullet that travels out the barrel somewhat above the speed of sound will fall back through the sound barrier, maybe before it gets to a hundred yards. Is anyone telling me they can hear that boom as the bullet approaches the target.
Man, have I ever got a good bridge to sell you.
Longer barrels=quieter than short barrels.
Less powder=quieter than more powder.
Simple.
 
H4831 said:
no way!
Click to expand...

Way!

If you've ever stood downrange and had a supersonic round go by a few feet away, you hear the boom. Sounds like a loud "crack" and can damage hearing.

There are trans-sonic effects that mess with the projectile (or airplane), but the "boom" is from travelling above the speed of sound, not the transition from sub- to super-sonic.
 
rgv said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_boom

how are the bridge sales going?
Click to expand...

I checked your article. The whole thing is about the "boom," created when object breaks the sound barrier. If you have been around such things much, you will have noted that fighter planes flying faster than mach 1, just generate the engine noise. The big boom comes when they fall back through the barrier.
Yes, I have heard supersonic bullets. I have several times marked targets a few feet below where the bullets hit. There is virtually no sound from the bullet, just a little "whisp" until the click of it hitting the target.
However, you just have fun, making your silent, sub sonic bullets.
 
H4831 said:
The whole thing is about the "boom," created when object breaks the sound barrier.
[...]
There is virtually no sound from the bullet, just a little "whisp" until the click of it hitting the target.
Click to expand...
1) You're wrong - you didn't understand the article. The very first line is "A sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves created by the supersonic flight of an aircraft" - nothing about breaking aka passing through the sound barrier.

2) Also wrong. If you're far enough down range and the bullet has gone sub-sonic, it might be described as sounding like that. Supersonic, it's a loud, sharp crack.

Basically, you're flat-out wrong and unwilling to poke around - or even read and understand what someone has graciously put in front of you - to confirm and educate yourself. I only speak up to keep other people from the darkness.

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1971/jul-aug/roberds.html
http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/index.php?topic=457
http://www.sky-flash.com/boom.htm
http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae53.cfm
 
2) Also wrong. If you're far enough down range and the bullet has gone sub-sonic, it might be described as sounding like that. Supersonic, it's a loud, sharp crack.


Oh, I see! 303 British, 30-06, etc, go sub sonic before they get to the hundred yard range. That is why the bullets were quiet. Thanks so much for giving me such great information.
 
H4831 said:
I checked your article. The whole thing is about the "boom," created when object breaks the sound barrier. If you have been around such things much, you will have noted that fighter planes flying faster than mach 1, just generate the engine noise. The big boom comes when they fall back through the barrier.
Yes, I have heard supersonic bullets. I have several times marked targets a few feet below where the bullets hit. There is virtually no sound from the bullet, just a little "whisp" until the click of it hitting the target.
However, you just have fun, making your silent, sub sonic bullets.
Click to expand...

you are trolling right?

nobody who has taken grade eight science and owns a computer could possibly think that sonic boom, crack or whatever is only caused during sub-sonic to supersonic transition or vice versa.
 
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