.30 subsonic bolt actions?

[Sid Post]

I'm thinking about building a dedicated .30 subsonic bolt action rifle. Are there better wildcats then the 300 Fireball for a bolt action? I was thinking about a 30BR from Norma BR brass but, it looks like it has too much powder capacity. Does a better small capacity .30 cartridge exist? I'm looking for cheap subsonic use so, cheap easy to make brass is a factor (or long life from something like Norma/Lapua benchrest brass). Also, if I get a twist for heavy subsonic bullets, will lighter cheaper .30 bullets still fly straight at subsonic velocities?

TIA,
Sid

[Spook]

300 W works is about as good as it gets if you dont mind making/buying brass.
308 X 39 is looking real good if I can get some load development time.
30 BR works but the brass is expensive and requires a mag modification to feed through a Rem. It feeds better still through a coned breech,same as a 338 W.
...and yes, surprisingly well to answer your last question.

[thehouseproduct]

Is there some reason a long throated 30 carbine wouldn't work? Brass is already done, case capacity seems about right....

[Rikky Lee]

30BR works ok (I use 125 grain to 250 grain bullets quite happily) - see all my threads about it. I have never had any feed problems with it and some shooting buddies who use it also say they have not had any feed issues.

I would prefer a small case - perhaps a 30 PPC? Next time may be.

30 Carbine brass is too weak; it has been experimented with over the years but there is better stuff to choose from.

[kombayotch]

300 W would be the best option for dedicated rifle. But it would be nice if there was something compatible with the 308 bolt face, that had less capacity than 30BR for switch-barrel rigs like the AIAW.

Anyone ever try creating a smaller capacity round by holding a .308 Win. or .30BR reamer short? The tapers may make it too tight for the base of a 308 case with those two, but maybe there is another caliber that would work better when held short. Dies could be created by cutting down existing dies.

[Hoser]

I have a 300 Hush/Fireball/Whisper bolt gun built around a Remington 700 and AICS Stock.

It is very accurate out to 350-400 yards.

It is also a switch barrel gun. The other barrel is a 223 Ackley. Changing barrels takes all of 5 minutes.

[Rikky Lee]

Originally Posted by kombayotch

300 W would be the best option for dedicated rifle. But it would be nice if there was something compatible with the 308 bolt face, that had less capacity than 30BR for switch-barrel rigs like the AIAW.

This is why I think a 30 PPC deserves a closer look. They work fine on a 308 boltface with a Sako extractor and its only a barrel change away.

Anyone up for the challenge?

[kombayotch]

30 PPC has the same bolt face as the 7.62x39 doesn't it?

Still more case capacity than optimal... plus, it would be nice to put all of those retired 308 cases to use.

[Rikky Lee]

Nope. 7.62 x 39 = 0.447 while PPC is 0.445.

[Spook]

Rem bolts with Sako style extractor, PTG's new m-16 Style extractor and Howa 473 Bolts all grab the little commie case with enough authority to extract it without much problem
The issue being the the Rem bolts require the ejector plunger travel to be lengthened to get them to stay on the bf through the ejection process.
The Howa's feed and eject flawlessly... like shit through a goose.

30PPC (30 major) and 30 grendel (300 gorilla) are being used in point blank benchrest with very good result. A 6.8 Rem run through a 30 herret die also produces a decent short 30 cal round.
The 7.62 X 39 unchanged except for a 308 throat is everything a Whisper is and a little extra capacity for high velocity loads as a bonus.