Subsonic hunting & cartridges

[Huntman777]

All I can say is a 500gr Maker Rex hits a deer like a baseball bat.

 

[Pilsner]

Well handgunhtr, I thought I'd gain more impact energy / penetration with a 45-70 compared to the 300aac. Going from 190 to 500gr of lead. 1 cannot just add more gas, cause speed of sound is a hard line. Doing a little research, the marlin might have issue cycling the 500gr pill... likely I'll keep using the 300aac

Can't you get an idea of penetration by comparing the Sectional Density (SD) of each bullet at the same velocity?

 

[nm.otter]

Can't you get an idea of penetration by comparing the Sectional Density (SD) of each bullet at the same velocity?

For a given projectile family, probably.

 

[Bluefish]

Well handgunhtr, I thought I'd gain more impact energy / penetration with a 45-70 compared to the 300aac. Going from 190 to 500gr of lead. 1 cannot just add more gas, cause speed of sound is a hard line. Doing a little research, the marlin might have issue cycling the 500gr pill... likely I'll keep using the 300aac

The 500g maker 45-70 bullets have lots of penetration, it’s around 1.5” long and 500g. If you listen to the Hornady podcast on the sub-X one of the guys says the 410 had the most penetration of anything they had tested, although I think that was at sonic speeds.

The 500g cycles in a 1895 no problem. Also as a sub, the recoil of a 500g isn’t bad. More than a 300 bo for sure, but a lot less than most 45-70 loads. I have shot the 400g subs in a pistol. Even dropped down to the 400’s as I felt the 500 had too much penetration.