Advice needed for .308 subsonic loads

[Morrey]

Wanting to hand load some subsonic .308 ammo for feral hog control before spring planting. Realizing I have limited range with sub ammo, I setup 2 stands with feeders at 75 and 85 yards. I have a Ruger SR 762 with a suppressor. Twist is 1:10. I realize there may be a cycling issue so I can always manually cycle if all else fails.

I just picked up some Trail Boss powder for load development. Next I need a decent projectile that offers at least "some" expansion at low velocities. Will a 180 grain round nose, flat base bullet be suitable? Hoping for the best bullet and load suggestion if you can help....

Should I use lube on the bullet as I load? I saw a video where the loader was using Crisco. Yeow

A light crimp or no crimp?

Enlarge primer flash hole or leave alone? Magnum or Standard primer?

Sorry for all the questions. This is pretty serious business and I am very exacting with my reloading. Many Thanks!!

 

[dgod]

I have 2 loads, 1st is 13.0gr Trailboss, 220gr SWC, MRP, in my 308 Savage Hog Hunter, with Suppressor resulted in 1050fps. The other load is 150gr Nosler BT, 10.0gr Trailboss, LRP resulted in 1176fps. Depending no your location, and Altitude, these should work. The second may be a little too fast. Also, with the 10.0gr you may have to add a quarter sheet of TP for packing to prevent powder moving away from the primer.

Of course, these are loads I have developed, work your way up for your own use and safety.

Good Luck
dg

 

[farmerboy78]

Unless you buy some of the new bullets designed to fragment at low speeds, a cast 200+ gr bullet is your best friend... start around 12gr of trailboss and slowly work down. Don't change your flash hole and a standard primer will work just fine... I used a slight slight crimp to hold the cast bullet and uniform the powder burn.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hodgdon has load data for reduced hunting loads using H4895 and they are safe and proven to perform.
http://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf

As for bullets, even though the reduced loads are supposed to facilitate bullet expansion if you go very light I suggest using a bullet designed for the 30-30. Those bullets will reliably expand at the lower velocities associated with the 30-30.

Good luck, please keep us updated on your progress.

 

[Morrey]

Great info....gathering data thanks to your inputs.

Is there any need to lube the projectile...or is this old school thinking from outdated material I read?

 

[jmorris]

What are you intending to hunt?

I use 11gn of trailboss with my cast and coated 150’s right at the edge of sub/super. For hunting I’d rather use a 45 ACP though, more mass and bullets designed for the speed.

Then again that’s why I built a suppressed 458 socom, the only way to gain energy once you set a speed limit is with more mass.

If you are shooting A deer he won’t hear the crack of a super sonic round until it’s too late.

 

[Demi-human]

If the projectile is lead, yes. It keeps the barrel from leading.

 

[BigBore44]

Unless you are hunting at night, a suppressed 308 won’t really offer you much. Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean the hogs won’t scatter after the shot. If hunting during the day, I’d load that 308 up with a good bonded165-180gr bullet and try to get two or three with one shot. However, if you are hunting at night the suppressor is the way to go for feral hogs. At 75-80 yards you should be able to get, at least, a 2 for 1. But make sure they are head/neck shots.

 

[JO JO]

I have loaded trail boss in 308 but for a bolt action Savage 308 Hog Hunter, Very light recoil and report not suppressed almost like a 22 magnum , 12.2 gr with 150gr SP , Iron sights 50 yards . would they work for you hunting I have no idea but they did shoot well

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