2 Insanely Powerful Subsonic Bullets

Published on May 16, 2025
Duration: 13:18

This video compares the terminal ballistics of two powerful subsonic heavy bullets: the Steinel 700gr .50 Beowulf and the Steinel 730gr .45-70 Government. Testing in ballistic gel and plywood reveals that while both rounds possess significant momentum, the .45-70 demonstrated deeper penetration in sand and a near-plywood penetration after gel, suggesting 'skinny' bullets can outperform 'wide' ones at subsonic speeds. Recoil was comparable, with the .45-70 slightly higher.

Quick Summary

Heavy subsonic bullets like the 700gr .50 Beowulf and 730gr .45-70 Government were tested. The .45-70 demonstrated superior penetration through intermediate barriers after ballistic gel, suggesting 'skinny' bullets can outperform 'wide' ones at subsonic speeds.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Powerful Subsonic Heavyweights
  2. 00:35Supersonic Baseline Test
  3. 01:22Suppressor Setup: Banish 50
  4. 02:07.50 Beowulf Subsonic Testing
  5. 05:47Steel Target Impact Test
  6. 08:24.45-70 Subsonic & Banish 46 V2
  7. 09:10.45-70 Performance Testing
  8. 11:49Recoil & Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences in performance between subsonic .50 Beowulf and .45-70 Government rounds?

The 730gr .45-70 subsonic round showed deeper penetration in sand and nearly penetrated plywood after ballistic gel, suggesting better penetration than the 700gr .50 Beowulf subsonic, which failed to penetrate plywood after gel. Recoil was slightly higher for the .45-70.

How do heavy subsonic bullets perform against steel targets?

Both the 280gr supersonic and 700gr subsonic .50 Beowulf rounds showed minimal damage to AR550 steel targets at 25 yards, indicating the targets are robust enough to handle these calibers without significant wear.

What is the advantage of using a user-serviceable suppressor like the Banish 46 V2?

The Banish 46 V2 features 12 removable baffles, making it user-serviceable. This is particularly beneficial for cleaning lead deposits that can accumulate when shooting lead-heavy subsonic ammunition.

Does bullet shape affect subsonic penetration?

Yes, the video suggests 'skinny' bullets like the .45-70 may penetrate deeper than 'wide' bullets like the .50 Beowulf, even at subsonic speeds, due to differences in how they interact with the medium.

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