looking for 223 subsonic load
Does anyone have a subsonic load for 223 they use? I know you can buy them loaded but I like to handload my stuff. Thanks Vernon
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This is to respond to the locked thread on subsonic .223s.
First of all, the whole point of the .223 round is that it derives high energy from its super-high velocity, around 3000 fps. Make this round subsonic, and you're basically defeating the whole purpose of having it to begin with.
A subsonic ordinary 55 grain .223 round is going to be ballistically only slightly better than a .22LR round.
If thats the kind of ballistics you are after, you'll save yourself a LOT of trouble/hassle if you simply get a .22LR conversion unit for your gun and fire "ordinary" .22s, instead of trying to cook up some fancy subsonic .223 rounds that aren't going to cycle your gun correctly, and are likely to be highly inaccurate to boot.
While its certainly possible to down-load .223 rounds the problem is that if you reduce the powder charge to the point where the rounds are subsonic, the cases will be too empty to give you reproduceable ignition of the powder inside. At best you'll have really bad accuracy, and at worst, you could get problems with squibs etc. Also, as mentioned, the low pressure from the subsonic rounds won't cycle your gun correctly. While manually cycling the gun after every shot isn't all that bad, having to manually clear stovepipes and/or bad feeds with every single shot is a gigantic PITA.
You could mitigate these problem a little bit by using super-fluffy powders and heavy .223 rounds (like 80+ grains), but then you'd need a special high-twist barrel to stabilize the heavier bullets.
Its a lot of hassle for questionable benefit.
My suggestion is that if you want a "simple" subsonic .223, then switch to .22LR. If you want a more sophisticated approach of subsonic rounds from an AR-15 type platform, only with better terminal ballistics, you can switch to one of the "Whisper" type rounds (which are more or less designed for that exact purpose).0 -
might post this in the reloaders forum, I'd be interested too. 0 -
I am curious, but wouldn't the performance be similar to a sub sonic .22 LR? Other than perhaps a heavier projectile wouldn't you have the same diameter bullet traveling at the same speed? It seems like a waste of a primer? I wonder if a sub sonic .223 round would be limited to something other than a semi automatic firearm. 0 -
SS .223 is very close to .22 ballistics.
As for functioning in a semi auto I have not seen any that will cycle.
Most of the guys I know that really shoot and want to be quiet either just run .22 as the cost and effort of SS .223 is not worth it or go to one of the ultimate SS rounds for the AR in the Whisper series of rounds with .300 Whisper being the most common.
Here is some info on the Whisper rounds, http://www.sskindustries.com/
I assume you want SS to be fired with a suppressor so here is a link to a good site dealing with that kind of stuff, http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/index.php I am under the same screen name there.0 -
If you want a subsonic load, pick any loading combination that
gets you a velocity of 1100 feet per second or less.0 -
Hummm? Wouldn't such a loading bring a big chance of a stuck bullet, and then a blown barrel on the next shot?
The normal velocity of that gun is closer to 2600 fps, right?
If you are trying to shoot feral cats in a city, it would be better to get a pellet gun or use a 22 subsonic.
( Yes... I do see there is a company selling such ammo for $1.80 per shot, and that they expect it to be used with an approved silencer. Their ammo also will apparently not cycle an auto rifle. )0 -
I was told that the 223 in a subsonic round would be a little closer to a 22 magnum round in performance, (still shooting at 22rf. Velocity) given the wide range of bullets that you can use. 0 -
Well if it isn't under 1100 FPS, it isn't subsonic.
That's the fact....pay your nickle and take your chance.0 -
its hard to believe anyone would be dumb enough to load a subsonic 223 with jacketed bullets. first off there is a great chance of a "stuck" bullet as has been mentioned already. Further more if you used lead bullets you might as well get a chamber adapter and use 22LR subsonics. Either way accuracy would be nonexistent. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by XXCross
Well if it isn't under 1100 FPS, it isn't subsonic.
That's the fact....pay your nickle and take your chance.
Yes, we get it! The approximate speed of sound is 1100 FPS. No need to post it once much less twice. Why should someone give you a nickel?0 -
44vernon,
"Does anyone have a subsonic load for 223 they use?"
No.
"I know you can buy them loaded but I like to handload my stuff."
It doesn't matter if you like to load your own or not. One of two conditions is necessary to achieve subsonic .223 Rem. loads:
1) Use a case filling fluffy powder that generates minimal pressure.
2) Use a very heavy bullet to reduce the velocity combined with an appropriate powder. Here the problem is that most rifles won't have the twist rate needed to stabilize the heavier (longer).
It's a simple problem of having too much case capacity and an improper twist rate. Either buy some subsonic factory like Extreme Shock or buy a .22 LR along with some subsonic ammunition and go have fun.
Best.0
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