Subsonic loads for 222 ?

I loaded the .222 rem. to subsonic levels, using cast bullets(of course) and AA#9 powder. Cast bullets work great for subsonic and you can save a ton of money...now the cons: The .222 and alot of other varmint cals work well and kill well due to high velocity, which also brings flat shooting for distant shots, you lose all that by going subsonic. I found that it was not as accurate either, close but not the same, so when you come to think of it, you have a .22 cal. bullet going 1100fps, remind you of anything? The .22 RF, so why not use a good .22rimfire and save all the work and expense!!!
 
If you are going to get a 22 mag, why not a wee step up and get a 22 hornet instead. Awesome gopher gun, and the cost many be about same as 22mag if you reload.
 
Use the subsonic data for .223 that Hodgdon lists on their site.

With the slow twist barrel a varmint gun will likely have, you aren't going to be able to go much heavier than 40-50 gr. though, so you're not gaining much, if anything over a .22LR.

And, if you're barrel is longer than 18-20" ish, your velocity will not be consistent unless you introduce some form of lube into the equation.
 
For giggles I worked-up (actually, I worked-down!) a couple subsonic loads for my .221FB. Best accuracy was from 1.9 grains of TrailBoss behind a moly'd Hornady 45 grain "Hornet" bullet, lit with a Federal small rifle match primer for 990-1000fps.
And frankly the accuracy was nothing to write home about, from an almost new 28" Krieger barrel, I was getting 1/2-3/4" groups at 50 yards, which is about what my Cooey 64b will get. And even though the bullets were leaving quite slowly, I found it noticeably louder than the 64 shooting normal hi-vel .22LR.
So, go ahead and play with light loads in your triple-deuce; but from my (very limited ) experience, you'd be better-off using a good .22rf.
 
The only challenge with .222 and sub-sonic is that some of the cast bullets might be a bit too long for the rifling twist in many .222.
However, it is easy to achieve sub-sonic, and if your ranges are shorter (100 yards or so), you should be fine.
But, don't let that get in the way of buying another rifle!
 
I've tried light loads with Titegroup in the 223(I know you said 222, but for comparison probably close). They didn't shoot for ####, for less performance and more cost than a rimfire. I did have good luck with Unique powder though. Louder than a 22 but not enough to need hearing protection. pm if you want to know more.
 
I am a big fan of Trail Boss for quiet loads. Have never used it in a 222, but have in hornet, 17 and 221 FB, 223, all the way up to 375 and 45-70. You can use it with cast or jacketed bullets. Like any other loading, play with the charge till you get the accuracy you are looking for. My 17FB with 20 grain VMaxs and Trail Boss will shoot 1/2" at 100 yards and most of the guns will shoot under an inch.

In the 223 4.5 Grains of Trail Boss with a 50 grain Horn SPSX was giving me .75" groups at 100. I would work up and down a bit in .3s to build a load for the 222. I found bullets that were mid weight for the cartridge to provide better consitency than the light ones.

If all you want is quiet and accurate a 22LR, with subsonic or CCI CBs. If, like me, you like to fool around loading unusual stiuff these are a riot and an interesting challenge to get good at.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf
 
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