Editor’s Choice: Hornady Subsonic Ammunition

by
posted on May 6, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
hornsubson.jpg

Hornady launched its Subsonic Ammunition line (and the Sub-X projectile utilized therein) back in 2018 with a single .300 Blackout load, a cartridge already well-known for its subsonic suitability.

For 2020, the Nebraska-based company is taking the opposite tack, expanding the Subsonic family to include ammunition options for .30-30 Win., .450 Bushmaster and .45-70 Gov’t—greatly increasing the versatility of three rifle chamberings not traditionally loaded for use at speeds below the sound barrier.

The three new offerings include a 175-gr. .30-30 Win. load, a 395-gr. .450 Bushmaster load and a 410-gr. .45-70 Gov’t load, all using powders optimized for a minimal flash signature and tipped with the Sub-X bullet designed to initiate immediate expansion upon impact at velocities as low as 900 f.p.s.

In addition to the new rifle options, the Subsonic line is also growing to accommodate three new pistol cartridges, all employing heavy-for-caliber XTP bullets: a 147-gr. 9 mm Luger load; a 180-gr. .40 S&W load; and a 230-gr. .45 ACP load. For more information on this load and other new loads for 2020, visit
hornady.com.

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.