Is bullet still stable/accurate after it goes subsonic?

MMH

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Minuteman
Mar 17, 2013
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Is a bullet still stable/accurate after it goes subsonic?

I know that my precision AR is a tack driver out to 800 yards, but falls off the face of a cliff at 900. Thinking that is because at 800 yards bullet is going transonic. So thinking about various cartridges, what is the max range? I ran through the following calcs:
CartridgeMVBulletYardsFPSmach
5.56285075 BTHP80011731.07
6.5CM2789147 ELD-m150012311.10
30882550178 ELD-M100012271.12
300WM2850225 ELD-M170012031.10
338 Lapua2900285 ELD-M190011731.07
Seems like many are shooting those cartridges past the above distances I have. Also, what would the advantage (other than energy) be for a 338 over a 300WM at a mile and wouldn't you be able to take a 300WM as far as a 338 accurately?

I want to take my 6.5 CM and try shooting at a mile (the bullet will be at 1050 fps or m=.94) - will this be possible? My 300WM is only a 2 minute rifle so no point in trying to take it that far & I do not have a 338.
 
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Guys shoot 6.5CM at the mile all the time around the country. I’ve witnessed guys do it myself. I shot it with 300WM no problem, but the bigger cartridge/caliber you go helps with maintained velocity down range and less resistance to wind gusts.

The type/quality of bullet will allow it to stay stable through the transition zones and beyond. Check out “Mark & Sam After Work” he shoots insane distances you can’t believe possible.
 
Thanks for the replies. Asked because only direct experience I had was with my 5.56. And I can get to 800 but anything else it falls off the cliff. Maybe its just bad through the transonic range. Don't know as I never tried shooting it at 1100 or 1200 yards.
 
Thanks for the replies. Asked because only direct experience I had was with my 5.56. And I can get to 800 but anything else it falls off the cliff. Maybe its just bad through the transonic range. Don't know as I never tried shooting it at 1100 or 1200 yards.
Some bullets do go through trans better than others.
What do you mean by falls off a cliff? as mentioned wind will have a larger impact the slower the bullet is going.
 
Some bullets do go through trans better than others.
What do you mean by falls off a cliff? as mentioned wind will have a larger impact the slower the bullet is going.
What I mean is that I can make fairly reliable hits at 800 but at 900 or 1000 all over the place and way off the target. I shoot a Hornady 75 BTHP as the gun is magazine fed.
 
I find some are. My 75 Amax, 77SMK, Berger 140 VLD's, 215 hybrids, 105 hybrids pass the barrier well and predictably in my set ups. 168 and 175 SMk's do not. 168's do fall off a cliff as in don't see them anywhere on the berm past supersonic from my 16" .308