reloading subsonic .308 with 172 GR M72 bullets

DeputyCWORet

Private
Minuteman
Jun 4, 2011
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I have a good hoard of .308 Gold Medal Match once fired brass and a bunch of M72 172GR military match bullets I purchased several years ago and would like to develop a subsonic load and full horse power load. Here is the rub, one rifle that will shoot either accurately out a very long way is the SIG SAUER 3000 but the other is a Springfield Arms SOCOM 16 for more intimate settings both of which have the Surefire flash suppressor and the associated can that will switch between platforms. I am looking of powder and primer suggestions for best performance for each.
 
Re: reloading subsonic .308 with 172 GR M72 bullets

Take a look at Trail Boss powder, they have some loads up for it on their site. I have had good success with 168 SMK with 10.5 grns, winchester primers, chrono's at just under 1100 FPS
 
Re: reloading subsonic .308 with 172 GR M72 bullets

In the older Lyman reloading cast lead handbook, they gave info for reduced powder loads.

Most of the reduced powder loads were worked with Unique powder.

I found that I could shoot sub-MOA with 147gr ball through my old sporterized 1903-A3 at about 1,000 FPS but don't remember the powder charge. I never got better than 2.5 MOA groups with full powder charges with the 147gr ball.

Quite fun squirrel hunting with that old rifle!