Best Bullet Weight

[BerrysMFG]

I was contacted today about us making a dedicated bullet for the 300 Whisper from one of your members. We make plated bullets, making a sub-sonic rifle bullet a viable product for us. I need to look at our exsisting tooling and see what weight we can make. We currently make a 150gr FP, but was asked for a 200gr+ bullet. Pricing would be somewhere around the $150 per 1,00 range for a 200gr bullet. I need to know what profile and weight would be the best starting point. We swage a lead core and copper plate the core. The bullet is then put back into a die and re-strike it for the final dimension.

[A62Rambler]

I'll play. Since it is for subsonic I'd like a 240 or 250 gr round nose or flat point or even hollow point. At subsonic velocities the shape of the bullet nose is irrelevant but a boat tail base would be nice. If it would expand at 800-1000 fps I'd even give it a try on small deer. A 200 gr is okay but since velocity is not a factor heavier is better in my book because they tend to cycle better in a broader range of weapons. Of course my response is worth little to nothing more than what you gave for it.

[redtazdog]

I'm in for a 220, 240 and 250 grn bullets made any way you can to get some
expansion at sub speeds for hunting.
If you decide to start making heavy 30 cal bullets let us know so
we can spread the news and build up the sales for you.
I would be in for 3000 to start with

[nwcid]

+1 to the above.

[Colohunter]

I use your bullets in my 40 cal pistol and the 150gr FP you mentioned in a 30-30. I have tried the 150gr FP, but the flat area is too large and will not feed in an AR15 platform.

I agree that a heavier bullet in the 220gr-250gr range would be nice. I would like to see something with a fairly high BC. If it would expand at the subsonic velocities that would be even better.

I already like your bullets, so if I could get them for the Whisper I would definitely be ordering more.

[Rikky Lee]

I'd vote for 250 grains (+/- 10 grains) that will either start tumbling within an inch or so of hitting something heavier than air OR has a large hollow point. The need to cycle in a AR-15 makes it more of a design challenge!

[Scoop]

Originally Posted by BerrysMFG

I was contacted today about us making a dedicated bullet for the 300 Whisper from one of your members. We make plated bullets, making a sub-sonic rifle bullet a viable product for us. I need to look at our exsisting tooling and see what weight we can make. We currently make a 150gr FP, but was asked for a 200gr+ bullet. Pricing would be somewhere around the $150 per 1,00 range for a 200gr bullet. I need to know what profile and weight would be the best starting point. We swage a lead core and copper plate the core. The bullet is then put back into a die and re-strike it for the final dimension.

Jay,

Thanks for taking time to talk with me about this project. I am impressed that you came here to solicit input! The goal I had in mind was getting a bullet that would expand reliably at subsonic velocities. Nose profile should be no more blunt (for lack of a better word) than the 220 gr round nose bullets from Sierra or Hornady. Both of these bullets have fed well in my whisper AR's and bolt actions. As I mentioned in my e-mail, a small hollowpoint might aid in expansion (but I'll certainly defer to the experts as far as design goes). 220 - 240 grain weight would be ideal. Depending on length, they might even stabilize in some 10-twist barrels. If you folks can come up with a bullet that will expand well and hold together in a 875 to 1040 fps window, you WILL sell a boatload of them! Thanks again for your interest!

Ed

[strycnine]

I'm in for some 220's. How thick is the copper plate?

[MIKEONE]

How bout something like this in the 220-250gr range. Flat base, truncated ogive, wide meplat, HP .308-.309

Your .429 240

[Rikky Lee]

Jay

Looking forward to your comments on what is practical from a manufacturing point of view. I think, to summarize comments so far, we want everything:

a. a very heavy bullet (220 to 250 grains)

b. with a hollow point that expands at low velocity

c. that feeds in a semi auto

For me, the reason I like the Whisper concept, is that tumbling factor. Noting that a 1/8 twist barrel in theory causes the 240 grain Sierra MKs to tumble after hitting something, would a rear heavy subsonic bullet at 250 grains do the same thing? And would a long, small diameter hollow point assist in making that projectile unstable at subsonic velocities?