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Posted: 8/22/2006 7:50:38 PM EDT
| Guys, there is very littel posted here about subsonic chices for night hunting pigs and pig sized game. Expansion is a problem i'm not informed enough about to make a decision about calibur. EngelsBallsitic reserach has some rounds that are suppossed to expand and the thought of buying a .308 supressor that I could use on other guns is appealing. My question is, for supressed subsonic night huntingwhat to use.? .458 socom or .308? Do they make subsonic .50 beowulf rounds that i can buy and not have to realod. Also, on the .458 socom, what twist barrel woudl you guys recommend. RRA is only offereing a 1 in 14 twist. The ease of ordering a .308 and the available accesories is tempting, but I wonder if the .458 socom would be a better choice for more knockdown, however I've been told expansion is a big issue with it but then again, it punches a bigger hole. Would this big hole have as much knockdown as a .308 that only expanded to .458? or is that not the way that works. Thanks for any help guys. I'm confused adnd am ready to start my rifle project. |
 Here is some info for you.www.quarterbore.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=60 |
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I cannot speak to some of the other calibers but I can add a little... As far as expansion goes with subsonic rounds, both the 300 Whisper and the 458 SOCOM rely on a different aspect of the bullet to do the wounding. Both use long heavy-for-caliber bullets that are just barely stable in air. Once the hit the more dense medium (flesh) they start the tumble and the wound channel is created by the large tumbling mass as opposed to the expansion of the soft point. The 338 Spectre works on this same aspect. Subsonic 308 will NOT reliably expand and if you wish to shoot it suppressed, 300 Whisper is a far better choice. For the SOCOM, because you want to use the subsonic loads, the 14 twist is the only way to go. If you use the slower 18 twist, the 600 gr loads will not be stable enough in air to afford any type of accuracy. Subsonic factory loaded 50 Beowulf is not available to my knowledge. CorBon has some subsonic 600 gr 458 SOCOM left, but I believe they plan to discontinue it as it is not popular enough. Reeds Ammo will be able to fill that gap and supply custom loads including that one. Regarding knockdown, once you have reduced the velocity to 1000 fps, the heavier bullet will carry more energy. As expansion of all bullets at that velocity (except BP bullets perhaps) is next to zero, you have to find another way to use that energy. Tumbling is the only way left. And more energy means more distance traveled in the flesh for a longer wound channel and greater chance of taking the hog down. To date I have not heard of any complaints regarding taking hogs with these heavy loads. Hope that helps |
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