Thread: 223 sub sonic loads

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Ive seen a .22 air rifle pellet fired out of .223 with just a primer as propellant....drilled out to fit shotgun primer if I remember correctly.
other than a possum up a tree I cant see a use for it!!!
can you get adapter case???? solid brass reamed out to fit rimfire????

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MOZpy55U-jY

That 1/2mvsquared wasn't kidding with the v^2 part eh? Fast = fuck yeah

Lots of fun above subsonic but still way reduced powder charge....using trailboss to sort of duplicate 22 magnum and about same noise lol.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Lots of fun above subsonic but still way reduced powder charge....using trailboss to sort of duplicate 22 magnum and about same noise lol.

10 year old post revived @micky%Duck?

Though timing is funny, I was just playing around with some the other day.

Was out with the 222 with subs and super (1700 fps) load on the weekend to shoot some hares, but they were all very wary, maybe someone else has been chasing them. My max. range for the subs is around 100m, and happy out to 150m with 1700 fps load, but no luck getting close enough (bugger all concealment) so loaded up with the full noise 3000 fps and head shot at 170m so I didn't go home empty handed. Bloody loud in comparison though!

This one linked from another new one. I have made a few up and used them.just because I could.

my 222 fires a 55gn projectile at 1050 fps with AS50n. Tried 3.0gn of same powder with same projectile in 223, was doing 950 fps. Accuracy better than the 22LR at 100m, I think 2 reasons - heavier projectile less wind drift? And velocities were more consistent from the handloaded centrefire subs than with the 22LR (old aussie Winchester, which groups very well at 50m). Fun to shoot, and a useful tool in the box I reckon.

Originally Posted by bjp

my 222 fires a 55gn projectile at 1050 fps with AS50n. Tried 3.0gn of same powder with same projectile in 223, was doing 950 fps. Accuracy better than the 22LR at 100m, I think 2 reasons - heavier projectile less wind drift? And velocities were more consistent from the handloaded centrefire subs than with the 22LR (old aussie Winchester, which groups very well at 50m). Fun to shoot, and a useful tool in the box I reckon.

I'm glad someone could explain the benefit. In my mind, a .223 Sub and .22LR are the same thing

Originally Posted by will.i.em

I'm glad someone could explain the benefit. In my mind, a .223 Sub and .22LR are the same thing

out to 50m-odd make bugger all difference on small game or paper, but at further distances the heavier projectile can do better. But I wasn't doing it for performance, really initally it was just (to quote) "because I could"! But have found with my single shot 222 it has actually become useful, I can carry 3 different loads, I know the holdover at a fixed power for the 2 low power loads, but still have the range of a full noise load if I want.

So @bjp you are saying 3.0 grns of as50n under a 55grn(jacketed?) for 222&223 is sitting right on and below speed of sound and is going accurate in your single shot? (Bakail?). Added to the 5grns trailboss under 55grn in 223 and starting to get some useful real world,has been used loads here.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

So @bjp you are saying 3.0 grns of as50n under a 55grn(jacketed?) for 222&223 is sitting right on and below speed of sound and is going accurate in your single shot? (Bakail?). Added to the 5grns trailboss under 55grn in 223 and starting to get some useful real world,has been used loads here.

Rifle is Bergara 222, 20" barrel.

Not jacketed, its a copper plated, plastic coated projectile - this: https://www.hn-sport.de/en/reloading/rn-224-55-gr-hs

The local range now has a Garmin chrono in all 4 bays, which makes this kind of activity a whole lot easier!

Just checked my notes, 222 loads tried with AS50n, 55gn plastic coated bullet:
2.6gn, 950 fps
3.0gn, 1120 fps
2.9gn 1050 fps
6.0gn, 1750fps

Also I was wrong re 223 (20" Savage BA rifle). Load was 2.6gn AP50, 900 fps. So only slightly slower than the 222 for same powder. 3.0gn would probably be just right. I have maybe 1/4 cup of AP50n I got from a kind forum member, so might get around 50 loads from it for the 223. Seems to match the AS50n near enough.

My supply of AS50n is just about gone, will keep the last little bit for the 222. So I've been forced to open the bottle of Unique I had stashed away to use with other sub loads.

243 with 90gn cast and powder coated projectile, 22" barrel:
5.0gn AS50n, 1140fps
4.0gn AS50n, 1000fps
4.3gn AS50n, 1040 fps
have now switched to Unique for this, needs slightly less - 4.0gn Unique for 1040 fps.

p.s. when loading such small loads of powder, I either put a projectile (upside down) in the case straight after powder, or check them all with a headtorch (and my extra strong reading glasses!) before seating, just to double check. Before that I made one mistake, but that was skipping a case, not a double charge. Bullets were lightly crimped, so at least it did not end up partway up the bore, just stayed in the case.

Awesomeness. I used both ap30 and ap50 in 44magnum subs. Interesting I can use in wee cases as well.

Back in the day Belmont sold 223 subsonic ,i pulled one apart it had 4.10 grain of Trail Boss x 55 grain projectile
as T B is hard to find i have used WSF, AS50N , APS 350 , BA 10 .note this is used in a very short barrel .. 1: 8 twist
Having the heavier projectile works better , in the pipe line i wish to try some Maker .224 62 grain T-REX

Lyman 3rd edition handbook...

222:


223:


helps to get an idea of pressures and powders. I find so far I can roughly half the powder that gives a velocity of around 1700-1800fps to give a subsonic load - has worked for the 308 and 243 as well. There are some 30cal jacketed pistol bullets that go great in the 308 at subsonic and 1600-1800 fps to make useful loads. Pity nothing smaller around though...