Subsonic 30.06??

Monkey Spanker

Well-Known Member
Has anyone looked into using their .30 cal in subsonic mode?
I have a 30.06 with a T8 and am curious as to what could be achieved at the lower end. I'm aware of the dangers of partly filled cases and that some kind of packing media would also be required to prevent flashovers or detonation!:eek:
Obviously with a bullet speed of less than 1125 fps, it would reduce the muzzle energy greatly.
But would lets say a 250 grain bullet still be 'deer legal' in UK (1700 ft/lbs)?:confused:
I suspect probably not?
I'm thinking of a 'whisper quiet' close range muntjac stopper that could be used in a densely populated wood right next to an equestrian centre, town, school etc.. without causing too much disturbance.:cool:
Could it be done?:confused:
MS:)
 
Forget it, case capacity is to large for consistant ignition, need a 1 in 8 twist, energy wouldnt be deer legal and the bullets wouldnt expand.
 
120gr cast lead alloy boolit and no gas check - start around 3 1/2 to 4 gr Viht 310 pistol powder.
Not deer legal but would definitely do the job.
 
You'd need a 650 grain bullet at 1100 fps, better to keep the speed to 1050 which would push the weight up 700 grains to remain deer legal.

A much better round therefore for you intended purpose would be the 50 cal thumper or some variant whereof: http://www.bwefirearms.com/50.html.

750 grain A-max for deer to start a row anyone?:D

Ps. According to my American friends Dodgyrog has the right idea, they would suggest a nice heavy bullet with more bearing surface however.
 
Bruce Potts did a lot of experimenting along these lines several years ago, I think he used a .308 win. I saw some impressive groups that he shot with bullets seated backwards! If you are serious about experimenting, I would get in touch with him. I can't believe what I am about to say but..... I think a moderated .222 Rem would be ok for the purpose! JC
 
Apologies MS my post was a bit abrupt. A few years ago i had a similar idea for foxing round the pheasant pens. I ended up going with the .44 mag as some bullets are designed to expand at 1000fps or less. I spent a fair amount of time and money before getting a 1 to 1.5 moa groups at 100yrds in a ruger 77/44. Since then better powders such as trailboss and vihtn32c have appeared. The 240- 265gr slugs killed well but they sometimes skipped off the ground like a .22lr and i came to the conclusion i should of saved my money and used the .22lr.

If your just interested in experimenting there is a lot of stuff on the US forums but as JC said you would be wise to stay legal, using a .22cf if you have one, especially given the premises surrounding your shoot.
 
I was with Potsy and Steve when they developed a 308win sub/supersonic fully moderated rifle it fires a 250grn subsonic round and is very acurate , it can be done in 30-06 , you want to talk to Steve Bowers of Specialist Rifle Services , contact him through his web sight
 
I have shot 210 grain bullets from a 1-8" twist 30 Whisper at 1040 fps. I have shot the same bullet (Lyman #311-284) at 1250fps from a 1-10" twist with great results at 100M.~Muir
 
SSK developed a .300 Whisper for the AR-15/M16 which fired a 240gr Sierra Match King at 1040fps and something like 540ft/lbs for the US military.
 
i have loaded squibe loads for 3006 and 3030 in many years for hunting small games .but they are not subsonic. i use unique powder and cast bullets and H&N copper coated bullets from 115 to 200 grain. i observed that 170 grain in 3030 and 200 gr in 3006 are keyholing at low velocity! the low velocity cause problem with heavy bullets .the best groups in my 3030 with1/12 twist rate was from 100 -130 grain and in 3006 with 1/10 twist was 100-170 grain . twist rate is crucial at low speeds!!
 
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I think the key with the trail boss reduced loads is that it gives info on how to create a load for any cartridge they don't list so in theory you could produce a load for anything, not just your 416. I've never used trail boss but am tempted to work up a plinking load for my 308 though bullets are getting too expensive for any consideration of plinking! Better just to buy a 22lr but then I've to get good reason and go through the year+ process of getting it on an FAC.
 
I can see a boom (no pun intended) in the use of cast boolits for practice and plinking. I see a lot of down loaded centrefire rifles at my club all using cast boolits from the range lead.
 
i have loaded squibe loads for 3006 and 3030 in many years for hunting small games .but they are not subsonic. i use unique powder and cast bullets and H&N copper coated bullets from 115 to 200 grain. i observed that 170 grain in 3030 and 200 gr in 3006 are keyholing at low velocity! the low velocity may cause problem with heavy bullets in low velocity.

The problem isn't the velocity, it's the twist rate. Note that reference to the .300 (or "30") Whisper. 1050 fps with a heavy bullet but with a 1-8 twist. Deadly to 200M in my experience.~Muir
 
I can see a boom (no pun intended) in the use of cast boolits for practice and plinking. I see a lot of down loaded centrefire rifles at my club all using cast boolits from the range lead.

I have noted the same. While cast bullet use has always been popular in the US, it seems to be getting even more so. I live in a rural area and have been long known as a cast bullet shooter, and recently I have been getting a lot of requests for recommendations for deer and varmint loads using cast bullets. I have over 100 molds and several hundred pounds of alloy on hand so I'm set. If I never fired a jacketed bullet again I'd be Ok with it.:smug:~Muir
 
I can own up to being one of those converting to cast bullets. You make them yourself (this for me is a big advantage), they are very cheap, you can drive them as slow as you like. I have trail boss and will try a few plinking loads for the 30-06 i think. It's worked very well in 243. Especially now I'm 'learning' about recoil with the new Husqvarna ;)
 
Forget it, case capacity is to large for consistant ignition, need a 1 in 8 twist, energy wouldnt be deer legal and the bullets wouldnt expand.


one word... balls you do not need 1:8 twist, consistent ignition is not a problem that I have ever had issue with. 250g @ 1030fps =589ft.lbs. so forget deer! But as a low cost 'plinking round' much fun!
 
Joe, I agree with you about ignition, but a 30 cal with even a 1-10" twist is marginal at 1040 fps using 220+ grain bullets; in my experience at least. ~Muir
 
how about a .500 S & W 700g through a TC Encore Pro and a 20inch barrel? According to my calculations at 1100ft/s its pushing 1880ft.lb.
Question is has anyone tried it?
Theoretically it would tick the muzzle velocity box, but that is with a hard bullet not hollow point, so you'd need to "mod" it somewhat.
But then you'd have a fully moderated deer legal rifle.............
 
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