Expanding sub sonic .308 thoughts

[SSG_Reloader]

Yeah those were what I was referring to in my first post. I have one from Dave but prefer BT's notch die mainly cause it's clear to see the work being done. I havent done any real testing with the serration die though. Have you?

[Sasquatch-1]

I have the Saber Tooth punch but rarely use it. I don't hunt so I really don't need the extreme expansion.

[kweidner]

I made a serration die for my sub 308 stuff years ago. I used a lee push through I drilled and threaded, used hardened sharpened bolts to serrate and BT Sniper ejection on my RCBS to get it out once in the sizer. Worked like a charm. Just don't score the whole jacket.

[SSG_Reloader]

Can you explain what you mean by hardened sharpened bolts?

[Reload3006]

Dave Corbin’s saber tooth works ok on pistols but I’m dubious in rifle. I have a couple “saber tooth” punches that I have been very disappointed in. A common hollow point in pistol preforms better than the saber tooth design I don’t see how it would fare any better in a 30 caliber rifle. Richard made me one that had a hollow pointing node in it but still not very good. I think if I were looking to swage a reliably expanding boolet at subsonic speeds I would use pure lead as my core and leave the open tip larger than I normally would. Guilding metal jackets like Sierra or Berger J4 will reliably expand even at subsonic speeds

[BadgerShooter]

I have had no luck with J-4 or Sierra jackets and pure lead cores, even with large amounts of exposed lead in 250 grain bullets subsonic in the blackout. Also did pre-fragmented cores with little success - certainly not worth the time and effort. I have shot some of the 190 grain Hornady Blackout ammo - Its the best expanding I have worked with. I have not tried Lehigh and some of the other fragmenting style bullets so I don't have an opinion there. About the best I've come up with is swaging a 250 grain flatnose with exposed lead. Still not great expansion but at least a flat tip to supply some shock. I haven't tried them for expansion yet, but I cast some pure lead bullets for 30 cal paper patch. I'm thinking that will work but it obviously doesn't help for semi-autos etc. They shoot pretty well in my single shot blackout.

[steve urquell]

I have had no luck with J-4 or Sierra jackets

Same. Below is a thin jacket Sierra fired into water bottles at subsonic velocity out of my .300blk. Zero expansion.

[MIBULLETS]

Maybe try annealing your jackets to soften them? Just heat them with a torch until the mouth just starts to get red. My .358 tubing jacket are quite soft after annealing.