Sub-sonic loads in a .308??

[pertnear]

Probably obvious from this post I know nothing about suppressors except they are expensive & the ATF has to be involved. I started looking at putting together a super-quiet 300 BO upper for shooting hogs around a feeder. Normally I put .222 bullet into a hog's noggin then wait & hope more hogs come back. When I starting thing about converting one of my uppers, I got sticker shot at the cost! My buddy has a .308 bolt gun that is suppressed. Could a heavy bullet reduced load be reloaded to be sub-sonic & suppressed in the 308? TIA

 

[madgrad02]

For sure - I know Discreet Ballistics (and others) have subsonic-308 offerings. But can vouch, sub-300BLK is just fun to shoot. Haven't gotten to shoot any critters with the Discreet Ballistics 300BLK loads I ordered, but the selous loads look wicked how they petal out.

 

[Nine Banger]

Yes.

You need a flat based projectile and a purpose driven powder choice like Unique, Trailboss or N330.

Speer Hot Cor might be lethal at close range on a feeder.

I’ve done this with 223, 6.5cm, 280 Remington and most useful is 450 Marlin. I load these for plinking at steel off the front porch. When im shooting animals I use supersonic loads.

 

[Axlrod]

Yes, there is data on Hodgdon's site. Middle of the page there is a "subsonic" button. It brings up a bunch of cartridges to pick from. The 308 has few powders that work, and Trailboss is the best, but has not been made in many years. The 300 B.O. has many suitable powders.

Couple tips:
Shoot a paper target at 25 yds or so without the can. That way you can see if the bullets are flying straight or not.

In subs you "load down" start at a max subsonic load and decrease powder until you reach the desired fps. This can prevent too low of a charge for your particular rifle. Which may result in a bullet getting stuck in the barrel.

I have shot subs in 300 Blackouts, & 308's- both gas guns and bolt action. The 300 B.O. is the easy button.

Reloading Data Center – Hodgdon Reloading Data Center

hodgdonreloading.com

 

[omicron1792]

168 grain- EXPANDING SubSonic – Custom Reloads of Dallas

dallasreloads.com

 

[northernlandgar]

Yeah for sure, I've had good luck using Trail Boss in .308, 6.5CM, and .30-06. I haven't chronographed any of those loads but wow it's quiet -- even without a suppressor. As an added bonus with Trail Boss, you barely use any powder (10 to 12gr in a 6.5CM with a 140gr Speer Hot Cor for me), so you get really good mileage from a pound of powder, and there's basically no recoil.

 

[waspocrew]

The only problem with Trail Boss is there is none to be found - been that way for a long time. I haven't shot 308 subsonic, but have done plenty of 300 BLK. It's way too much fun.

 

[backstraps01]

Subs in a 308 bolt gun are great

I stock piled Trailboss before the extinction

Rem 700 16.5” Silencerco Harvestor168 or 180gr maker trex bullets puts critters down quick and QUIET

 

[letrbuck]

Hornady's 190 subX in 308 has been working well for me. Since trailboss has been gone forever I've been loading with h322 via hodgdon data.

 

[TradLife406]

Probably obvious from this post I know nothing about suppressors except they are expensive & the ATF has to be involved. I started looking at putting together a super-quiet 300 BO upper for shooting hogs around a feeder. Normally I put .222 bullet into a hog's noggin then wait & hope more hogs come back. When I starting thing about converting one of my uppers, I got sticker shot at the cost! My buddy has a .308 bolt gun that is suppressed. Could a heavy bullet reduced load be reloaded to be sub-sonic & suppressed in the 308? TIA

Just buy a PSA or Aero upper or build one. Everyone knocks PSA and Aero but I haven't had any issues. Haha my little blackout SBR upper was about $200. Shoots great. Obviously being a folding backpack SBR with a 7.5" barrel I'm not trying to compete in a bench rest match. But the bullets go where the dot is.

Also check for blem parts. I got an Aero blem lower on my 12.5" and saved a few bucks.

Problem with building AR's though is you start with one then end up with a few.


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[rfroese]

Just buy a PSA or Aero upper or build one. Everyone knocks PSA and Aero but I haven't had any issues. Haha my little blackout SBR upper was about $200. Shoots great. Obviously being a folding backpack SBR with a 7.5" barrel I'm not trying to compete in a bench rest match. But the bullets go where the dot is.

Also check for blem parts. I got an Aero blem lower on my 12.5" and saved a few bucks.

Problem with building AR's though is you start with one then end up with a few.


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I have actually done exactly this. Bought a PSA 8.5" 300 blk upper years ago.

Is it fun? Sure, but even with subs its too dang loud. Suppressed gas guns are just loud in general. Now, my single shot 300 blk H&R handi-rifle, that thing was stupid quiet with my suppressor.

 

[peaches]

Titegroup and 170g RN 30-30 bullets. Start with Hogdens subsonic data.

 

[Mike D Texas]

If you are planning to hunt with subsonic, use a subsonic specific bullet and or/stay with as heavy weight as possible. Even with a 220 grain bullet you are going to have slightly higher energy than a 45ACP has at the muzzle. Or stick strictly to head shots.

I know energy is irrelevant, blah, blah,blah……..

I personally have had very very poor terminal performance with .308 subsonic ammo. I have killed 1 deer with them, using a 220 grain round nose Nosler bullet.. he was shot at 25 yards and I shot him low and tight to the shoulder like a bow shot. It killed him but it took longer than I would have liked.


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[Titanium700]

My load of .308 subsonic with trailboss and 190 grain SubX goes 1,026 fps avg.
haven’t killed anything with it yet but it’s stupid quiet with a suppressor.

 

[MO-CHSPKE]

I picked up a box of 190 SubX and some Acc No. 2 to try. According to the Hodgdon data, 9.8 gr should push it 1066 fps. I'm going to try and talk my FIL out of some of his Trailboss for a handful of loads to compare.

 

[FredH]

Subsonic is nice but you can use some pretty low noise rounds also. 10 grains of Unique and a cast bullet weighing 150 grains or so, the 100 gr. Speer Plinker are a fun shooting low noise and penetrate pretty good. Imr 4227 is another great reduced load powder. 20-24 grains in 308-30-06 sized cases and just about any weight bullet , my favorite being the 311284 cast bullet will provide plenty of penetration and accuracy.

 

[RagnCajn]

I just did this last fall. I suggest getting a box of 200gr Berry's plated bullets to help develop the load. It saved me a chunk of change finding what worked. As suggested, make sure you shoot first without the suppressor to make sure bullets aren't tumbling.

I shot the 190 gr Hornady Sub-X. Got the best consistency with Clays powder and large pistol magnum primers. Lots of velocity variation with rifle primers. It settled down good with the pistol primers. Got a nice buck with it during season. Through and through quartering towards me. Ran and piled up after about 80yds.

Be particular loading pistol powders in a 308. A double charge might not be obvious by just looking in the case.

 

[KY_coop]

300 blackout uppers can be had pretty cheap. I've loaded 308 subs and while it's cool, I probably won't do it again. It's so much easier to just buy factory subsonic ammo in 300blk and go shoot.

 

[omicron1792]

300 blackout uppers can be had pretty cheap. I've loaded 308 subs and while it's cool, I probably won't do it again. It's so much easier to just buy factory subsonic ammo in 300blk and go shoot.

You can buy 308 sub loaded ammo at several places.

That said, for dedicated sub gun I would get a 338arc.

 

[jbwright]

Is anyone shooting suppressed subsonic with a 308 1:10"? I have a 1:8" 16.5" Proof but a buddy is trying to figure out if the 1:10" will stabilize them enough...and obviously not have baffle strikes with a can