01-03-2014, 07:59 AM
I agree with Bjorn's premise...I know what I have seen from hunting game over the years using several calibres. That includes using the Blackout both supersonic and subsonic with the following loads;
Supersonic;
110VMax Hornady
110TSXT Barnes
125TNT Speer
155gn (plinking only)
Subsonic
110TSXT Barnes (non-cycling for super-quiet)
210Hybrid Hunting/Match
220SMK Sierra
220RN Sierra
220RN Hornady
220JSP Outlaw State
225SMK Sierra
The potential energy contained in these loads is a clumsy correlation with the expected effects on the target. This is because they all exit the animal taking all that valuable energy with them. What's left is a crush trail and sometimes a laser beam and sometimes a tumble through.
No blood shock trauma as in other supersonic calibres. No instant 'lights-out'. Consensus on the Blackout forum which I follow is that projectiles across the board are not doing the caliber justice. The only supersonic bullet designed specifically for the Blackout is the Barnes 110gr 'Black Tip'. I have yet to try this so cannot comment.
Le-High subsonic 30cal hunting projectiles are designed to expand on hitting flesh. They have a deep hollow with 3 serrated claws. An expander .17cal rd is recommended. I have never tried these either so cannot comment.
The 220gr Outlaw State has serrations down the side and a thin jacket to aid in deforming. My experience is that might be the case but I have never recovered a round from an animal to know for sure. It exits and keeps going. A number have bounded off on being shot so there's no kinetic shock instant incapacitation happening.
Supersonic Blackout is slow and that translates into over-penetration with projectiles designed to expand acting like monoliths.
Subsonic Blackout is only 3/5 the potential chamber pressure so that means an under-load going even slower than supersonic. 220gr sound impressively big (and it is) but it's really just a handgun round acting like a FMJ hitting a target at 100M...what do you expect? Subsonic is all down to shot placement with the current projectile offerings. I imagine actual handgun rounds causing more damage with their deep hollow points and being specifically design for subsonic use.
Supersonic;
110VMax Hornady
110TSXT Barnes
125TNT Speer
155gn (plinking only)
Subsonic
110TSXT Barnes (non-cycling for super-quiet)
210Hybrid Hunting/Match
220SMK Sierra
220RN Sierra
220RN Hornady
220JSP Outlaw State
225SMK Sierra
The potential energy contained in these loads is a clumsy correlation with the expected effects on the target. This is because they all exit the animal taking all that valuable energy with them. What's left is a crush trail and sometimes a laser beam and sometimes a tumble through.
No blood shock trauma as in other supersonic calibres. No instant 'lights-out'. Consensus on the Blackout forum which I follow is that projectiles across the board are not doing the caliber justice. The only supersonic bullet designed specifically for the Blackout is the Barnes 110gr 'Black Tip'. I have yet to try this so cannot comment.
Le-High subsonic 30cal hunting projectiles are designed to expand on hitting flesh. They have a deep hollow with 3 serrated claws. An expander .17cal rd is recommended. I have never tried these either so cannot comment.
The 220gr Outlaw State has serrations down the side and a thin jacket to aid in deforming. My experience is that might be the case but I have never recovered a round from an animal to know for sure. It exits and keeps going. A number have bounded off on being shot so there's no kinetic shock instant incapacitation happening.
Supersonic Blackout is slow and that translates into over-penetration with projectiles designed to expand acting like monoliths.
Subsonic Blackout is only 3/5 the potential chamber pressure so that means an under-load going even slower than supersonic. 220gr sound impressively big (and it is) but it's really just a handgun round acting like a FMJ hitting a target at 100M...what do you expect? Subsonic is all down to shot placement with the current projectile offerings. I imagine actual handgun rounds causing more damage with their deep hollow points and being specifically design for subsonic use.