Bullets, bullets, bullets!

[Fudmottin]

The story so far is that bullets are expensive suckers. I would love to shoot the 300-221 with 240gr SMKs all the time. That would break my bank fairly quickly I think. Or I would have to shoot very little.

So here's a plan. I don't want to get too complicated because I don't want to be twiddling the turrets on my scope or memorizing too many holdovers / unders for different ranges. So I figure two loads should be enough.

At the light end I'm thinking 125gr TNTs. Not super cheap from Midway. I ordered 500 and the cost works out to 22 cents a bullet. But that is less than half the cost of the 240gr SMK. I guess I've mentioned the heavy end.

If I can learn to hold the rifle vertical instead of at a cant, I should be able to just set the scope for the 240s or the 125s and then record the offsets for the other. At 100 meters I doubt there will be much difference.

I guess powder, primers, and brass will work out about the same either way. It depends on how hot I can load the 125s and if I go for short range power or an accuracy load. The latter depends largely on whether or not a 125gr from a whisper can knock down a ram on the 500 meter line.

Anyone have an answer on that one?

I had the 223 upper built first. I built it as a long range bench gun. As a consequence, the barrel is long and heavy. The whisper is a 16" barrel that is only 3/4" in front of the gas block (one inch from there to breach). The whisper upper is much, much lighter. I think once I get a can for it I will probably enjoy shooting it more than the 223.

I also learned something about selecting hand guards, but that's another story. The end would be KISS.

It seems to me that the 300 Whisper is a very flexible cartridge. I am completely mystified why it isn't more popular. I mean bullet weights from 110 to 240 in jacketed spitzer profiles for the AR and even more choices if you go with a bolt action. Why isn't this the big thing?

[Rikky Lee]

Two things (and yes I agree with what you are saying about these little 30s being very flexible).

I killed a goat at 600 plus metres with two 125 grain BTs -- so they hit well and hard to distances well beyond normally needed.

You may find that the subsonic loads have a windage component to their zero different to the supersonic loads.

[d-mon]

Hi,
I confirm what you are saying, when zero at 100m with 240smk subsonic, my supersonic load (balistic tip 125gr) shoot 2mil above and 3/4 of a mil right.

So depending on the season or what I am shooting , I tend to stick to one zero or the other.

ND

[Fudmottin]

Interesting. I wonder what causes the windage component. Torque on the barrel from spinning up the bullet? Or is it just impossible to maintain a vertical hold?

In direct contradiction to what I originally posted, I also decided to try some Speer Hot-Cor 130gr flat nose. I've read an interesting article here:

http://www.silencerresearch.com/sound_suppressors_on_high_powered_rifles.htm

Which gets into the interesting topic of terminal ballistics for subsonic loads. The big issue is that spitzers act like ice picks and that the ideal profile would be a wadcutter. The argument makes complete sense to me. Also frontal surface area was brought up as a major factor. Sounds like pistol more than rifle.

Anyway, I don't know if an AR type rifle will reliably feed flat points. Can't hurt too much to try though. I don't think I can get 130s subsonic and still cycle. Another thing to try is the 240s loaded in backwards.

In addition to feeding issues, there is also the question of properly stacking in the magazine.

As far as the zero issues go, I would be willing to record on the turrets the zero for each load. The turrets are supposed to offer repeatable settings. I'll put that to the test over the course of the next few months.

One thing I have to work on is my marksmanship. I'm ashamed to say my shooting is not what it should be. My barrels are way beyond my ability at present. But hey, that's what practice is for, right?

I did get a membership at a decent range. In my area, decent means having a 500 meter line. Actually, that's more than just decent. When you can get into center city philadelphia in about twenty minutes when there is no traffic, having such a range available is priceless.

[Colohunter]

I worked up a load with Hornady 150 FMJs, that gave me a subsonic round for plinking with, but at a much lower cost than the heavy bullets. That gives me a similar feel in shooting the subsonics, but I can afford to do more of it.

[Fudmottin]

That weight should allow my AR to cycle without issues and be subsonic. I tried getting some 147s, but ended up canceling the order because they were in backorder limbo. I'll see if I can find some ball ammo. For low cost plinking, they don't have to be super duper accurate.

The 240s I've got cost me about 45 cents each. Something that's 1/3 - 1/2 that price is quite desirable.

[nwcid]

I have not loaded any yet but I bought a couple boxes of the Hornady RN 220 gr bullets to try. The ballistics seem very close but the price was about half what the 240 SMKs were.

I am only planning on running my Whisper SS with a suppressor. I have other guns for the other jobs.

[Colohunter]

I'm in a similar backorder limbo, but don't want to cancel it unless I can find something that is actually in stock. I ended up using AA1680 with the 150gr bullets and got them to cycle with a standard gas block in the carbine position.

[Pnutz]

I'm in a similar backorder limbo, but don't want to cancel it unless I can find something that is actually in stock. I ended up using AA1680 with the 150gr bullets and got them to cycle with a standard gas block in the carbine position.

How Many Grains of AA1680 did you use to get the 150s subsonic? I have ton of surplus 152's laying around.

[Colohunter]

Here was the load that I worked up:

10.5gr of AA #1680, 150gr Hornady FMJ, 1095fps-avg
All rounds ejected and cycled, but the bolt did not lock back after last round.

I had some hotter loads, but decided to stop at the above to keep the load below 1100fps.

[JimM44]

I stopped in at Sierra last tuesday and bought some of the blemished 240SMK they are still high but with sales tax a little under 39.5 cents each.

Still high but much cheaper than ordering them at retail.

I did also get some other stuff.

[Flewis]

Here was the load that I worked up:

10.5gr of AA #1680, 150gr Hornady FMJ, 1095fps-avg
All rounds ejected and cycled, but the bolt did not lock back after last round.

I had some hotter loads, but decided to stop at the above to keep the load below 1100fps.

How was your accuracy? I've got a subsonic load for 168 grain match king type bullets and they're keyholing a little at 100 yards. They're grouping about 2.5".

[m21black]

Last time I bought 240 grain SMK's I paid 100.00 shipped/500. Between my brother and I we bought 7 boxes... No none are for sale... bought them on ebay...

[Colohunter]

I was getting around 2-3" for the most part. I don't have a lot of rounds through my M1S upper. I'm hopping to shrink group sizes, but I have to wait to get more bullets, they currently on backorder and I am out.

[Fudmottin]

Note to self: Check the usual sources every week to see if bullets are in stock and buy them. Same for primers and powder.

Backorders suck.

[Colohunter]

I've gotten tired of backordering from Midway. They push back every date that they give. I have been checking Wideners a couple times a week trying to get some bullets for my new 6.8. It's just a matter of being willing to wait I guess.