I can't thank Dan enough for supplying me with the difficult to obtain at any price 115 Dtac bullets at a reasonable price, I've started loading for super bowl

I shot test loads today for reduced load practice ammunition, had a great time but was unable to find a good consistent load that was sub-sonic. Eight grains of IMR 4759 averaged 1256fps, extreme spread was 41.6,standard deviation 23.4,average deviation was 18.0 fps. Loads lighter than 8 grains were progressively less consistent and accurate. I was hoping to find a load I could shoot without earplugs but the load with 8 grains sounds about like high velocity 22lr, recoil is very similar as well, groups were very nice at around 1.5"@100m. This will be a great way to burn up the Hornady's that didn't group well in the full power loads. If someone is interested in the Berger 105's VLD hunting bullets I have and has some 95 grain Nosler ballistic tips I would like to trade. There's a few more than 50 in the box and I would trade straight across for the Noslers.
Kb

Kevin,

I did a lot of subsonic work with HP rounds years ago, first for off-hand pistol silhouette (30 Whisper) and then for light-recoil ammo for rifle practice. When shooting subsonic, the twist-rate required is much faster then when bullets are kept above about 1,250 fps. Since you have an 8-twist, 6mm barrel I'd need to do some computer simulations to determine what bullets to suggest as far was weight/length. For sure, flat-based bullets will be more stable; and, thus have better accuracy potential when fired subsonic. BT's become very unstable as they go through the speed of sound; and, therefore produce less than stellar accuracy. I'll do some ciphering and get back to you about bullet recommendations.

Kevin,

I'd suggest shooting an 80-gr flat-based bullet for subsonic work. You can probably go up to 90-grs as long as it is a flat-based bullet. The Win or Rem bulk bullets might have a very low price and work just fine. For powder, you need to go with a faster powder me thinks. The pressure has got to be sufficient to seal the chamber, yet not drive the bullet too fast. Only an appropriate speed powder can do that. If I was in your shoes, I'd try a powder like RL 7 or RL 5, or a powder within that burn-rate range.

Hodgdon lists SR 4759 at #66 and RL 7 at #70, they don't show a RL 5 but it's right in the neighborhood of the powders you listed. 4759 is one of my favorite powders and I have a good supply of it, very safe in reduced loads and good loading density.
It's aggravating as hell to not be able to just run over the local sporting goods store and buy a specific box of bullets when there's experimenting and testing to be done with a new toy! I wouldn't even mind if you could buy them from Midway and have them show up on the doorstep in a couple of days. Whoever or whatever is responsible for the current shortages of components and 22 ammunition be damned.
Kb

kevinbear wrote:....Whoever or whatever is responsible for the current shortages of components and 22 ammunition be damned.
Kb

Kevin,

Queue Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." I've seen the effects of hording by customers and market manipulation by suppliers many times before, not just with reloading components. There are guys out there with more powder, brass, primers, bullets, etc. then they could use in multiple lifetimes. Back when Clinton was first elected you couldn't purchase primers anywhere. I have friends that are high-volume shooters still using primers they purchased back then. The manufacturers know what's going on and will not expand production because they know they'll get killed once the panic subsides and demand drops. They would be stuck with profit-killing capital equipment and plant depreciation when the demand drops.

From the Hodgdon's Powder Burn Rate Chart:

The lower the number, the faster the powder.

66 IMR SR 4759
56 Accurate Arms No. 9
50 Accurate Arms No. 7
41 Accurate Arms No. 5
39 IMR SR 4756

Picking the proper powder burn-rate is key to developing low MV accuracy.

Sorry about the confusion, you had originally said RL 7 and RL 5.
I've used both Unique and Universal in reduced loads but given the low loading density had to use a filler{Winchester super grex}, I don't want to go into a long and boring dissertation on fillers but suffice to say that they while they work well it's more hassle than I want to go through for practice loads.

Dan, I agree that the shortage is result of SOME shooters {hoarders} and I know a couple of them, I prefer to have cash capitol to fund my next whim on a moments notice!
Kb