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About 15 years ago I experimented with a subsonic load in my Remmington .223 (1:12? twist). After much faffing around I gave up as I just couldn't get a load that grouped well enough to be worth persisting with.
Anyone out there using a subsonic .223rem? What's your secret?
Use some loaded with Trailboss but tend to save that for 308 subs as it’s hard to find. Have also played round with AS50N, works fine with good accuracy, just hasn’t got the bulk density of TB. Vectan AS is another one I’ve used as I had some on hand, can’t find any more. Red Dot is another I’d use if I could find any. Using with 22wmr projectiles when I can get them, otherwise Hornady V max or Sierra blitz kings. Work ok on goats, rabbits, etc.
Ok. I was using Trail Boss (which I use for my 308 subs) and from memory 55gn V Max and 55gn BTs. Just couldn't get them grouping any better than an inch at 50m.
Try flat base bullets as the different pressure curve and lower peak pressure of a sub load may not obturate boat tails so they're concentric
why would you need them better than an inch at 50 yards??? you shouldnt be using them past 50 yards and thats minute of brain every day of the week....Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
Call me fussy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
My 308win subs will shoot 1/4" at 50m so I guess I am after similar accuracy.
OK Fussy...... but i stand by comment,subs suck if you miss by tiny bit and a 50-55grn sub will suck even more so...very little shock so into brainstem or chest of small game it is... PERSONALLY there is no way I would use them past 50 yards.
Agree with the Mr Duck and Mr Shearer here even a varmint bullet won't expand at those speeds you will only get a hole so placement is pretty important. If on the other hand you emulate a 22 sub and use a cast bullet either flat nosed or with a cavity you up the odds in your favor.
But who casts 22? Hell sometimes even 30 cal can end up being fiddly on an all thumbs day
I am only planning on using them on rabbits, possums etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
I had best explain better. At the moment I am doing a bit of pest control on local properties. Mostly rabbits etc but do come across the occasional pig and deer.
If I take the .22lr deer and pigs are generally out. If I take the 308, I end up shooting heaps of rabbits with overkill 190gn subs. I would like to take the .223rem with the option of either subs for rabbits of 73gn ELD-Ms for bigger critters. Hence I would like the subs to have better accuracy than 1"@50m.
perfect...but if shooting rabbits your 1" at 50 yards will still be good enough for rabbit out to 100 and MOST times I will not even shoot that far using a .22lr so a .223 subsonic as accurate as that would be ideal..... for really cheap up close a primer pocket drilled out to hold a shotgun primer and a light crimp to hold in an air rifle pellet has merit.... dead cheap too if can get it to work for you.possums will be under 30 yards so no problem at all there.
with luck you will find accuracy you want..what Im trying to say is it may not really be needed...
7gr trailboss. Super quiet. A mate is using this with 55gr HP Sierra. Lotsa dead deer. Use a small piece of cotton as a filler.
Might go a lot better just by virtue of having a faster twist. I imagine 1:12 would have been borderline on stability at <mach1.
Hi Guys bought some Belmont subsonic .223 [55 grain x 4.10 grain T/Boss
these worked well in the Howa mini 1:8 twist .Also reloaded my own to play around with
last rabbit i shot was@ 80 m slightly down hill with my load . It was very quiet [a lot better than the supp. 22lr ] as i have fitted a very good can on the end of the barrel
I think the flat base fly better for me .But i really need to get busy and start reloading these againAttachment 225722
Thanks guys. Sounds like a flat base in the faster twist may be worth a crack.
Use @ your own risk i used Trail Boss
H&N RN 55 grain x 4.5 T/B fast with an echo so was doing just above sub speed
Varmit SP 70 grain x 5.5 grain subsonic poi=poa
it really depends on your barrel and what it likes but in mine using more than 6 grain of powder it starts to get louder
was interested in learning how a subsonic .223 works compared to a 2lr /22 magnum /22 Hornet and so on
just add more powder or use a different type to get the result you seek
Safe loading Cheers
55g projectile and 4g trail boss works for me in the 223
But mostly I carry a .22rf with subs and dial to 200 yrds (70mm group @200)
And a .223, 60g nbt@3100
While one rifles in my hands the others on my back
Perfect and cost effective in a target rich environment
At times I have used the 22 with subs in the morning, then the .223 all afternoon
Then there’s times when the rimfire subs need to do a bit more work…….
Sink one in where the spine meets the skull at the back of the head
Attachment 225748
the round nose thing will help with slower twist and slow speeds... much easier to stabalise...had possum go up tree in front of us while deer stalking today,then hua had cheek to preach at us..... a subby load might have been handy.....
My load is not subsonic but sounds like a 22lr.
8.0gn of blue dot under a 55gn Rusa CMJ projectile.
Gives 1900fps out of a 16" barrel.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...-dot-223-loads
Take a look at these for shooting subsonic. Don't see any .224 projectiles for sale but they are shown in the intro.
https://owloptics.nz/collections/maker-bullets
They look deadly but at $5 each not for me. My .22cal subs will just be used on rabbits and other small game so cheap flat base bullets should do the trick.Quote:
Originally Posted by zeropak
I might be a bit cynical but an axis/atlas shot can be a tough shot at longer range at the best of times but a 200m shot to back of head with 22 sub is next level considering a deer generally keeps its head still for about 4 seconds at any time apart from when bedded down. Good on ya.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmsaum
Drop the bullet weight to 35 or 40 grains the heavier bullets are too long to stabilise at sub velocity, The only .22 centre fire cartridge that is viable for subsonic is the .22 HornetQuote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
the case capacity of the .223 is too big and the powder charge would so small making it difficult to be consistent, With Red Dot 700x Trail Boss it is about 3.5 grains or less
When you are talking about still effective killing you would need at least 7gr's otherwise it would dribble out of the barrel. My mate has 9 baffles on his DPT can. It is very quiet.Quote:
Originally Posted by shooternz
Still use and experiment with subs but have settled on mostly using TB @ 7.3grs for about 1911 fps ( Pro Chrony @ 3 m ). Effective killing and still quiet enough that nearby residents don't know I've fired any shots and animals aren't disturbed too much. Without altering 200yd zero this load is near bang on at 50yds. Good enough for what I need. Local range is in yards so that's what I sight in at.
With a 45 grain cast bullet and 5.2 grains of Red dot the velocity is 1795fps hardly subsonic it would be slower with a jacketed bullet but not by muchQuote:
Originally Posted by TeRei
i take it you do make some of these 45grn cast jobbies??? some photos would be good/nice PLEASE.
Lee now do a 224/55gr casting blocks.
Black widow do 224/50gr cast powder coated.
They will send you samples (50) for the cost of postage.
Suggest you email them.
Or to buy 500 for $57au + postage.
https://blackwidowprojectiles.com.au...int-sized-224/
https://leeprecision.com/bullet-cast...e-bullet-molds
