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Posted: 10/8/2008 4:37:19 PM EDT
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I'm sure this question gets asked from time to time, but as my form 4 gets nearer and nearer to being completed, I'm thinking about trying to load up a subsonic round to put downrange through my AR. I'm sure someone will chime in with "get a 22lr conversion kit" but I think that a sharp tipped 62 gr. SS109 round will be much more effective at penetrating something at somewhere around 1000-1100 FPS than a 32 gr. softpoint 22lr round will be. So, anybody got any load info for subsonic rounds for 223? I know that developing such an underpowered load is dangerous. Squib loads are not your friend. I have an idea on how I would develop this load, but I would really like a good starting point on the type of powder (I believe at one time I read about someone developing one of these loads using pistol powder) and how much of it. Any input would be great! |
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Blue Dot works for reduced loads but it is best with 1500 FPS and higher, up to about 2300. Some have been using Trail Boss as it ignites easily and is BULKY. You will have to experiment and BE VERY CAREFUL with reduced loads, checking the bore VISUALLY after each shot to make sure it is clear. That includes unburnt powder. I would start at 3 grains and work up until it reliably exits, you may not be able to make it subsonic and reliably clear the bore. My reduced load uses 30 grain HPs and 5 grains of Blue Dot. Any less and they hang in the bore. |
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When they hang in the bore, how do you get them out? Wooden dowel? There's got to be a way to get them to reliably clear the bore at subsonic speeds because I've found a company that sells them. http://www.srtarms.com/ebr.htm I'm just not sure what powder they're using. They are using molly rounds. I wonder if that would help? |
All of the bullets I got stuck were removed with a LIGHT TAP of a cleaning rod. Moly WILL help. They stop shortly after the gas port. Heavy bullets will probably keep momentum better. There isn't much of a need for a silencer with these loads. Be careful working these up as anything more than about 12 grains of BD will be over pressure, about 2500 FPS with a 55 grain bullet. |
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Go to the Hodgdon Powder sight and you will see they list two subsonic loads for .223 Rem. data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp Here is the data they list for .223 Rem: 55 GR. HDY FMJ Hodgdon Titegroup 3.1 grs 1064 fps 4,000 CUP 2.200" OAL 55 GR. HDY FMJ Hodgdon Clays 3.2 grs 1060 fps 3,700 CUP 2.200" OAL I have loaded and shot both charge weights using a 55gr SP and had good results. They also have data for .308 Win using the same powders. I am just starting to play with it. |
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I'm another bluedot shooter. I load 11grs in a .223 with 40 gr Vmax. On the chrono it went 2670 fps and sounds like a 22 mag. I first tried this load on p-dogs this year. I also used it for woodchucks the summer on shots out to 200 yards. Once you start loading it you can't stop.  www.reloadingroom.com/index_files/Blue%20Dot.htm |
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Quoted:
Blue Dot works for reduced loads but it is best with 1500 FPS and higher, up to about 2300. Some have been using Trail Boss as it ignites easily and is BULKY. You will have to experiment and BE VERY CAREFUL with reduced loads, checking the bore VISUALLY after each shot to make sure it is clear. That includes unburnt powder. I would start at 3 grains and work up until it reliably exits, you may not be able to make it subsonic and reliably clear the bore. My reduced load uses 30 grain HPs and 5 grains of Blue Dot. Any less and they hang in the bore. I would start high (at a safe level) and reduce so that you do not have to clear as many bullets. When they stop exiting or when you reduce the sound level to you liking, you can stop. |
| I started @ 6 gr. of Trailboss and went down to 5.4 gr. without sticking a single bullet and I am pretty sure I could go lower if I wanted to. Now I need to find a softer spring to use to allow the action to cycle. I think that the heaviest round that can be used while still being able to load into a magazine is 70 gr. HPBT....I could be wrong. |
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