300 Blackout - 220gr Nosler Ballistic Tip Subsonic

Published on May 28, 2019
Duration: 57:44

This guide details the process of reloading .300 Blackout subsonic ammunition using 220gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets. It covers brass preparation, OAL determination, powder selection (CFE BLK, W296), bullet seating challenges, and crucial range testing for stability. The expert-level instruction highlights potential issues like keyholing and poor bullet expansion, emphasizing a methodical approach to ammunition development.

Quick Summary

Reloading .300 Blackout subsonic ammunition with 220gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets involves using components like Hodgdon CFE BLK powder and Hornady brass. Key challenges include managing powder compression during seating and ensuring bullet stability, which was found to be problematic (keyholing) in testing, even with OAL adjustments.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Return to 300 Blackout
  2. 01:33Bullet Overview: Nosler 220gr Ballistic Tip Subsonic
  3. 02:30Components & Load Data: CFE BLK, Brass, Primers
  4. 06:03Determining Max OAL to Lands
  5. 09:35Brass Preparation & Resizing
  6. 13:50Bullet Seating & Compression Issues
  7. 16:50Initial Range Testing: Stability Failure (Keyholing)
  8. 21:10OAL & Powder Adjustments for Stability
  9. 26:32Ballistic Gel Test & Conclusion: Poor Performance

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key components for reloading .300 Blackout subsonic ammunition with 220gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets?

The video uses new Hornady .300 Blackout brass, CCI No. 41 primers, and Hodgdon CFE BLK powder (optimized for subsonic loads) or Winchester 296. The projectile is the Nosler 220gr Ballistic Tip Subsonic.

What issues were encountered when reloading and testing the 220gr Nosler Ballistic Tip subsonic .300 Blackout load?

Significant issues included bullet deformation during seating due to compression, and a complete stability failure (keyholing) during range testing, even with adjustments to OAL and powder. Ballistic gel tests showed poor expansion.

What is the recommended Overall Length (OAL) for .300 Blackout subsonic loads with 220gr bullets?

The maximum OAL to the lands was determined to be 2.097 inches. A target OAL of 2.075 inches was chosen, creating a 0.020-inch jump. However, stability issues persisted even with shorter OALs down to 2.000 inches.

How did the Nosler 220gr Ballistic Tip Subsonic perform in ballistic gel testing?

Recovered bullets from ballistic gel showed very poor expansion. This indicates that the bullet may not be designed for optimal performance at subsonic velocities or may not have been adequately stabilized to achieve proper impact dynamics.

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