Reduced load for 223 Rem

surfclod

surfclod

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I'm considering going down the road of some reduced 223 Rem loads (would aim for 22 Hornet to 22 WMR levels) since selling my 218 Bee and seeing the current price of 17HMR ammo.

Wondering what powder I should consider, a coworker recommended Trail Boss, but never used it myself.

Wondering what weight to use, some lightweight ones like (Barnes Varmint Grenade) or standard 50-55 grain projectiles, or heavier? How about cast bullets? Is this a practical way to save money or is it best to just buy a decent varmint bullet?

I have a decent load for typical 223 varmint shooting and would like a low power option to use the same rifle to cover long AND mid range shots, (with a decent 22lr for close range). If POI is known for each round, I could theoretically use each round as the shot dictates.
 
Here's a reduced load I use in my Ruger 223 (16.1" m77 Scout)

50gr Hornady SX SP
9.0grs Trail Boss
W-W brass / CCI 400 primer
~
1950 fps

It hits about 2.5moa lower at 100m than a full load. I use it for Lynx hunting as I do not want to blow up the pelt if I can help it. This is about as fast as you can push Trail Boss, the load density is almost 100% and Hodgdon doesn't recommend compressing it

Years ago I used Bluedot, 12 grains under a 40gr hollow point which did just under 3000 fps from the 22" barrel. Also used 12 grains under a 50gr HP which did 2700 fps, that's just a tad quicker than a Hornet will do. Got to be careful with Bluedot as you can double charge the case and pressures will be in the KABOOM range....I much prefer Trail Boss and have gone to it for all my light load needs
 
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Not directly addressing your long and medium range comment, instead of 22LR for short range, Hodgdon's reloading site features three subsonic loads using either Titegroup, TrailBoss or Clays. Each is about 1060 - 1075 ft/s (55gr projectile).
 
wasa said:
Not directly addressing your long and medium range comment, instead of 22LR for short range, Hodgdon's reloading site features three subsonic loads using either Titegroup, TrailBoss or Clays. Each is about 1060 - 1075 ft/s (55gr projectile).
Click to expand...

Subsonic 223 is a waste of time and components. It produces glorified 22rf ballistics with the potential to stick a projectile in the bore. If you want subsonic 22 then just use a 22rf.
 
I use 8gr Trailboss with 55gr Hornady spsx, accuracy was good and poi 2-3" low at 100y vs 55gr full power loads. I also use Trailboss with Speer 70gr roundnose bullets & get great accuracy out to 100y. About the speed of a 22wmr but with heavier, better bc bullets. (I get better accuracy from those loads than i do in 2 different wmr rifles, imo not a waste of time at all, superior ballistics and accuracy, same noise level & not much difference in price from 22wmr ammo)
 
I will preface by saying I know next to nothing about 22WMR.

Keep in mind the published BC for a bullet is only relevant to a specific velocity range. Running a .224 bullet designed for 223 Rem velocities, at WMR velocities invalidates the published BC. Also, at WMR ranges inside 200 yds, any BC difference is gonna be effectively moot because the projectiles just don't travel through the air long enough to make any significant difference.

If you get better accuracy with .224 bullets, that's good. Just depends on how much more accurate they are.

The terminal ballistics of a .224 bullet at WMR velocities is gonna be crap as the bullet is just not designed to expand at such a low velocity. IF you are using them on varmints, the WMR would be a better choice because the bullets are designed to perform at slower impact velocities.


All the above is kind of a red herring though, as the point was specifically about 223 subsonic and typical WMR velocities are not subsonic.
 
Spsx expand fine at 1800fps, they have thin jackets, & are super splosive at high velocities.
At subsonic velocity there is no advantage over 22lr but it still can be useful & fun. If I'm carrying a 22lr and see a coyote at 300yards I can't just put a different round in the chamber and get the coyote, but if I'm carrying a 223 or whatever centerfire while deer hunting and I see a rabbit or grouse or red herring I can pop in a reduced load and get the rabbit with not much more sound than a pellet rifle.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Subsonic 223 is a waste of time and components. It produces glorified 22rf ballistics with the potential to stick a projectile in the bore. If you want subsonic 22 then just use a 22rf.
Click to expand...

exactly what 22lr rounds available at reasonable cost, today, are subsonic?


I am getting into subsonic rounds for numerous caliber/cartridge combos, they have their place

But it is impossible where i live to find ANY 22lr that is subsonic
 
On the site 24 Hour Campfire a contributor called Seafire has pretty much perfected the technique for reduced loads in .22 Centerfire cartridges. Also John Barsness, one of the main authors on that site had an article published about loads that can substitute for .22 WMR a while back.
 
nanuk said:
exactly what 22lr rounds available at reasonable cost, today, are subsonic?


I am getting into subsonic rounds for numerous caliber/cartridge combos, they have their place

But it is impossible where i live to find ANY 22lr that is subsonic
Click to expand...

ALL standard velocity 22rf is inherently subsonic. Most target 22rf is also subsonic.

I bought a brick of Eley Subsonic at the last gunshot. Its not cheap but it was available.
 
I've reduced many of my centerfire loads over the last few years but only briefly messed with .223.
As was mentioned earlier, basically a .22lr and I'm pretty particular about burning 10 cent primers made of unobtanium in my Tikka T3X when I have thousands of CCI SV's to shoot out of the same footprint rifle in a rimfire config. {T1X}
 
https://www.americanoutdoor.guide/survival-skills/reducing-centerfire-loads-small-game/#:~:text=As%20for%20my%20needs%2C%20reduced%20loads%20for%20the.223,Alliant%20Unique%20have%20been%20tested%20in%20those%20loads.


Most reduced loads would be employed to take small game and pests. It is pointless to produce such loads for the .30-caliber cartridges using strongly constructed 150- to 180-grain bullets for large game, because they will not expand.

As for my needs, reduced loads for the .223 Remington involve two velocity ranges. First are the loads that run 1,200 to 1,800 feet per second (similar to .22 LR and .22 WMR loads), and both Hodgdon Titegroup and Alliant Unique have been tested in those loads. For loads in the 2,000 to 2,500 feet-per-second range (similar to 22 Hornet loads), powders tested include Alliant 2400, IMR 4759 and 4198, and Accurate 5744.

ASG-1602-REDUCED-09.jpg
 
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I Dont Care About You said:
Subsonic 223 is a waste of time and components. It produces glorified 22rf ballistics with the potential to stick a projectile in the bore. If you want subsonic 22 then just use a 22rf.
Click to expand...

Unless you want to use a bullet heavier than 40 grs and with a profile that's sleeker than a pencil eraser, or like the optics on your rifle or......
 
Picked up a couple cans of Trail Boss and have a full box of 40 grain Sierra Blitz King's. Gonna try & develop a load in the 2000-2500 fps range. See how it goes.
 
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