Subsonic loads .308 / lyman reload book

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mercuryv8

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Hi, I'm looking for some subsonic loads for .308 The lyman reloading book was recomended to me. I was thinking about ordering it online, does it have what i'm looking for in it?

I would like a load that would be appropriate for shooting grouse with my .308. If I don't find a deer I still need to bring something home.

Thanks

Nic
 
If all you want to do is shoot grouse than why not use a chamber adapter, that is .308 to 32 acp for example.(there are others)

Carry this adapter and a pocket of pistol bullets and you're good to go.

There are problems associated with subsonic and low velocity loading. Be careful.
 
There is nothing magic about light loads in a 308. Get a cast bullet - probably150gr or lighter preferably round nose or pointed - and load it with an approriate load of fast powder. I've had decent results with 8 to 11gr of Unique. Just be very careful not to double a charge.
 
grouch said:
There is nothing magic about light loads in a 308. Get a cast bullet - probably150gr or lighter preferably round nose or pointed - and load it with an approriate load of fast powder. I've had decent results with 8 to 11gr of Unique. Just be very careful not to double a charge.
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He is looking for a subsonic load, not a light load. The loads you are suggesting would likely be supersonic. I would recommend looking for the heaviest bullet your rifle will stabilize. Then try a slow pistol powder or fast rifle powder. There are some interior ballistic programs that should help with this selection.
 
Re: Lyman Manuals

I have 5 lyman manuals , amongst others, and it doesn't contain any subsonic specific data for the .308..Lyman manuals deal 80% or more data for lead alloy cast bullets and generally in velocities from 1300 fps to 2200 fps. for rifle loads.

these loads generally call for the use of small amounts of fast pistol, shotgun, or
rifle powders which usually fill less than 30% of your cases. As previously stated, there are inherent dangers/problems if you aren't an experienced reloader using this data when you are trying to get a "jacketed" bullet under the speed of sound. If you go to low in velocity there is a possibility of sticking a jacketed round in your barrel and in not knowing that it didn t clear the barrel you fire off another round which then strikes the barrel obstruction which results in possible injury to the shooter and definately to your gunbarrel.

On a pleasanter note, if your carefull,you can do 12-1400 fps with jacketed bullet with good accuracy for grouse. Have developed grouse loads for .222,223, 45 gr bullet 1200 fps (22lr vel.) and at 1900 fps(22 mag vel,) ,,for 243 using 60 to 100 gr at 1400 to 2000 fps. ,,308/30-06 with 110 speer at 1800 and 150 gr speer at 1530 fps --- all under i inch up to 75 yds...,haven't ever seen a grouse at 100 yd so never tested that distance.

hs4570
 
I thought I would require a powder that had a lot of volume, 30% of the case sounds like the S.E.E. problems I was reading about?

Should I use a cast or jacketed bullet then?

Can anyone sugest a weight? 150gr sounds good if I could get it nice and slow.

How about a powder?

Thanks again

Nic
 
I have not used lead bullets only jacketed.

For a jacketed bullet in .30 cal between 110 and 180 grains in weight I have used 13 grains Red Dot powder. Very little recoil but still fairly loud.

Be careful going lower in powder charge because as mentioned, you could stick one in the bore. Not fun to remove and dangerous.

I don't know the exact velocity, but I suspect around 1500-1600 fps.

I have read that moly coating jacketed bullets will help when trying to go slower but have not tried it myself..

You will find that as important as accuracy is bullet drop.

To me there is no point in shooting a bullet to 100 yards (with my hunting rifle) that is going to drop 2feet, unless you have a scope reticle or a method of aiming, that will enable you to aim and hit your point of aim.

So you may find lighter bullet weights more usable because they drops less.

I try to develop a combination that allows me to use the lower heavy section of my duplex reticle as a crosshair.

It really depends on what you are trying to do.
 
merc 48
If you want to pursue subsonic or reduced load velocities in your .308 I would suggest you purchase the Lyman reloading manual you were mentioning, read it a few times to decide if you want to approach your velocity goal useing cast and/ or jacketed bullets. When you get to the load data for cast for 308 win. it will list data from about 110 gr cast to 200 gr cast and it will list over 8 different powders _"you "__will have to choose from. IIRCorrectly most will be pistol and shotgun powders but none of the loads listed are under the speed of sound.

You will have to decide which bullet weight you want to use, buy them or cast them yourself. and then go to the load data chart and find a powder that gives a minimum velocity of around 1200 fps or so and go even lower in powder weight to get your 900 to about 1050 fps.

There is no guarantee that once you arive at subsonic that you achieve acceptable accuracy as that usually involves lots of load workup trying different bullet weights and diferent powders until you arrive at what is good for your purposes. If you pursue subsonic with jacketed bullets it has been suggested to me that the 110gr round nose (made for m1 carbines) and the 150gr R.N. (your regular 30-30 bullet) are your best bets. This proceedure carries with it the requirement that jacketed bullets carry some type of lubricant and/ or the bore is conditioned with a lube to avoid sticking a jacketed bulet in the bore...this is a sure trip to the gunsmiths to get it unstuck and pounding the bullet with a cleaning rod or wooden dowel will merely increase your costs.

None of the cast bullet loads in the Lyman cast load section for the velocities you are seeking will fill your case more than 30% and probably much less.

You have read about S.E.Explosions and i would suggest you do an internet search on same and you should find articles from " reputable" and knowledgeable persons on that subject that will clarify what causes it and that " everything else" does not cause it.

........your mileage may very and good luck
 
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