30-06 experiments

[ToxicSports]

Well gang,

I thought I would start a thread with my other testing platform.

Anyone ever play with their 30-06 at subsonic velocities?

I just started tinkering with subs for this rifle/caliber and it's been really fun. Since I really couldn't find any data I decided I would just experiment and be prepared for stuck bullets.

I have loaded several reduced loads for recoil sensitive family members in the past so I wanted to know if it was possible to go even lower without too much trouble. I think this is going to be another fun experiment.

I haven't shot these over the chrony since my first tests are to see if the bullets will actually exit the barrel.

My rifle is a Sporterized M1917 US Enfield with a 25" heavy bull bbl.

Here's what I have tested so far and all exited the barrel.

11gr Trailboss with Hornady 225gr Match bullet
10gr Trailboss with Lapua "subsonic" .308 bullet
7gr Trailboss with filler with Russian 168gr soft point .308 bullet
7gr no filler with Hornady 220gr round nose<----This was as low as I will go! The bullet exited the barrel and hit the ground 6 feet in front of me. I have it for a reminder on my work bench.

I will also test both 5744 and 4759 powders as well.

So, has anyone else been foolish enough to take on the challenge of subsonic 30-06? If so, what were your results?

Scott

[sten668]

30-06 with ten grains of Unique with a 110 plinker will give me 1250 fps with a 22in
98 Mauser.
This is the only jacketed bullet I have fired in it with reduced loads. I used it for fox/coyote calling.
I played around with a Lyman 311284 220gn cast from WW and think I got down to about 6 grains of Unique before it started to keyhole at 75yds.
Then I got into the 300wtf and I use 6.3gn of Unique with the same 311284 for SS loads out of a 17 inch barrel.
When I started with jacketed bullets I stuck more than one in the barrel. I stuck one so that more than half had exited. Be careful, chech the bore after real quiet shots, then pore some oil down the bore go watch an old John Wayne movie and then try the cleaning rod and a mallet to get it out.
Good luck, have fun and be careful.

[ToxicSports]

Hi Sten,

sounds like you had some interesting results. Your plan for stuck bullet removal is a good one and I like a good JW movie. I've become addicted to Netflix so if I can't find the Duke I'll have plenty of Direct to DVD options to choose from.

[sten668]

Here is a post on another site for Trail Boss,
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=8574