Reduced 223 loads

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B-78

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I have a bunch of Blue dot powder and Speer 52gr HP bullets laying around so I thought instead of selling them I should load and shoot them. Took them out to the gopher pasture yesterday and after a slight adjustment to the scope I was whacking gophers consistently out to 75yds with my H+R . Not the red mist blow ups that I get with other loads but they were dead gophers anyhow.
I have an old reloading manel that list IMR 4831 as a low pressure/velocity load with 55gr bullets. I shot these at home to see how they group and will take them out and try them on gophers hopefully next week. I also have a reduced load of 4895 with 40 or 50gr Vmax that works very good out to 150yds in my Tikka WT hunter. Would love to find some Trail Boss to try some loads but have given up on finding any at a reasonable price.
Anybody have any other reduced loads for 223 or 22-250 they have good results with?
I shoot a max load of CFE 223 with 53gr Vmax out of my Sako but it does not take long for the barrel to start heating up. That's why I like to have reduced loads around. Shot 30 rounds of the Blue Dot load yesterday and the barrel just started to get warm, not anywhere close to having to cool it off.
 
I have loads using VV N350 for my 223 and 6BR.
Fill 60% of the case and SD less than 12.
Usually very accurate.
Non published load data. I built it slowly with the help of GRT.
 
I haven't owned a 223 rifle in years, but I had great luck with BlueDot loads way back. Someone somewhere named Seafire had info.

My old data shows 12.5 grains BlueDot with a 53 grain bullet. Not telling you to try it, just what I did.
 
22-250 I've used 13 grains of sr4759 with 55gr Hornady spsx as a low recoil/noise plinking load, that load has grouped excellent in every 22-250 I've tried it in, around 1900-2000fps, similar report as a 22wmr with more energy, better accuracy than I've had from any 22wmr and takes a while to warm the barrel up, great for spending quality time with a 22-250 without burning out the barrel. Sadly it's been discontinued.
223 currently shooting Trailboss 8.3 & 55gr spsx with similar results around 1800fps for an accurate but mild plinking load.
 
223 with 55 gr - 3.6gr of Titegroup as per Hodgdon. Hitting the dinner plate sized gong at 100yards with peep sights..
Good enough for some entertainment
 
I like H4895 for reduced loads in my .223 with a 40gr Nosler flat base tipped bullet. 18.9 grains of powder gave me a velocity around 2030 FPS from a 22" barrel. A little more velocity than a 22 magnum rimfire. Very accurate load in my rifle. Trail Boss has become unobtanium. I've heard different stories as to why and I wish it makes a comeback sometime soon.
 
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9 grains TrailBoss under a 50gr Hornady SP SX is my 223 lynx load. 1950 fps from my 16" Ruger m77, hits 1.5" low at 100m when I'm sighted in at 200y zero with a full power load. Case is almost full, zero chance of double charging a case and nuking myself

Glad I bought a big jug of TBoss back in the day!
 
I did some reduced loads with 55gr Hornady trying to get them to group better out of a 1-7" twist barrel. Tightgroup @ 3.6gr gave me avg 1334 fps, but didn't grouip well at 50y. I had better groups (still not great) with 16.8gr of 5744.
IMG_7637.JPG

I may try some reduced loads with Bluedot (9gr, 10gr, 11gr) just for fun. The 1-7" twist barrel really prefers my 77gr reloads, but I want to use up the flat of 55gr bullets I have lol
 
9.0 Bluedot with 36gr varmint grenades is incredibly accurate in my truck 223. 2223 fps and only an inch low of my full house 55 gr load at 100 yards.
 
Thanks for all the info guys.
I would love to find some trail boss or 4759, seen trail boss advertised for $100/lb plus shipping. Couldn't see myself doing it when I have a bunch of blue dot and 4895 to use up. I do have one pasture that has buildings on 3 sides of it. Thinking a nice quiet load with varmint grenades would be useful. Might have to break out the 22 WMR for this spot but I can reload way cheaper then what rimfire ammo sells for these days. Especially since I have had a couple very good friends give me their Dad's estate reloading supplies the last few years. Anything I couldn't use I sold off. They never want any money but will always accept a gift card to the liquor mart with the proceeds of the sale.
 
Of course if you shoot reduced loads in a semi-automatic, many reduced loads won't cycle the action. You need a certain amount of gas and a minimum pressure.

I spent a lot of time trying to produce a subsonic (greatly reduced) load that would do that to no avail. Heavy bullets, as much of a slower powder as possible, even lighter recoil springs - no luck.
 
Did some testing of reduced 223 - 55gr Hornady loads in my BCL Bison with 1-7" twist and my Ruger American with 1-8" twist. Decent results with Bluedot. These rifles really prefer 69gr & 77gr loads, but can do up some fun 50y plinking loads. Will do up some more and try at 100y for kicks lol.

223 - Bluedot Workups.jpeg

50y targets. Bison on the left, Ruger American in the middle. Bison on the right with 69gr workups.
IMG_7888.jpg
 
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