Anyone reloading .308 jacketed subsonic?

Hush07

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Curious about how those heavy jacketed projectiles, like the Hornady 220g, work in a subsonic load. Lapua's 200 gr Subsonic FMJBT looks interesting to try. My question is, do these or other heavies require bullet lube?
 
You won't need lube for a jacketed bullet and they should shoot just fine, but don't expect any expansion for a non-300 Blackout bullet. You'd probably want a 1:9 or tighter twist barrel for stability. Blackout barrels are usually made in 1:7 for that reason.

The Lapua and even the Campro bullets might give some expansion due to their thin jackets. Otherwise, at subsonic speeds standard hunting bullets (and FMJ's) will sail straight through most stuff without expanding.
 
You want to be careful with 308 Win subsonic loads. It is pretty easy to stick a bullet down the bore and if you are not paying attention, fire a second round behind it. Either use lube on the bullet or regular (read OFTEN) run a lubed patch down the bore will help prevent sticking a bullet in the bore.

Powder like Trailboss revolutionized large case subsonics but Trailboss is pretty hard to find these days.

Lapua makes a 308 bullet specifically for subsonics. It is 200gr with a rebated boat-tail and a thin gilded jacket. They do not need lube.

Shorter, lighter subsonics will wildly overpenetrate pretty much anything. Longer projectiles, like the 208 AMAX will become unstable on impact and tumble in flesh.
 
Not that fmj won't work for you but I'm a hard cast fan. 25+ BNH, the lack of deformedation ever into hardwood blocks at a1000 fps is amazing.
 
Okay, thanks for the advice. I've been using the Lee TL309-230-5R, but wanted to try a comparable jacketed load. I think I'll stick with cast and not take any chances.
 
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