Subsonic Load?

S

Shadowhunter

New member
I don't reload as of now, but I was wondering if it is possible to load a .223 to subsonic velocity's (under 1100 FPS) I don't see any reasons you couldn't do this, but maybe I'm wrong as I know nothing on the subject.
 
Why would you want such a slow moveing bullet?(Just Currious)Wouldn't you be better off useing a 22 LR or a 22 caliber pellet gun?
 
I suppose one could justify loading cast bullets at subsonic velocities but as yotecaller asks, why? A good 22 LR is still cheaper to shoot than handloaded 223's.
 
I was thinking you could achieve a load without the sonic boom to use around semi-rural areas with using a V-Max or the like to have better terminal performances than a .22. But now that I look it over, it was kinda a stupid question because loading down a 223 is basically like shooting a .22 for more money. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
You would do much better with a round designed for sub-sonic performance. The 30 Whisper is the most used.

Jack

PS. Very few 22LR loads are sub-sonic.
 
A 55 grain bullet at 1100 fps give you a whole 148 ft/lbs if energy at the muzzle. A 230 grain .45 ACP at 850 fps gives you 369 ft/lbs of energy from the muzzle. Even a 147 grain 9mm at 950 fps has 295 ft/lbs, still twice that of the subsonic 55 grain from a .223. While you didn't specify weight for the .223, I used the 55 since it is a common weight. But even a 75 grain at 1100 fps still has almost 100 ft/lbs less than the 9mm would.

The larger problem you run into is that the .223 bullet is going too slow to ensure proper terminal performance. You'll break skin, but that's about the only guarantee.

If you want to play with a supressed rifle, the .30 Whisper would be the route to persue.
 
shadowhunter, good question. Forget the 22. LR you can do much better with subsonic loads in the 223rem. I help out with predator controll and some of the places we shoot are down town in the center of town. I use silencers on all centerfire guns, they are truly silent when used with subsonic loads. A good choice is 45gr or 50gr bullets. Serria, nosler, hornady all wok great. The powders I would use are Allirnt bullseye,allient red dot, hodgdon clays or hodgon tightwad. For 40gr bullets use 4grs as a starting load and go down from there untill you are subsonic. For 50 gr bullets use start with 5gr and go down from ther untill youe are subsonic. My killing load is 4.5gr of hodgdon tightwad, and a speer 50gr tnt bullet. Plenty of power it will shoot through a 4x4 poast at 25 yards so be sure of your back stop. Make sure your gun is 100% cleen and you lube the bore with a good lube prior to shooting, breake free works for me.
 


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