Sub-Sonic 223 Loads

[wild_weasel]

[the86d]

FPS?

Charge weight, and of what?

[rsrocket1]

He said insufficient pressure to cycle the action. That means not enough. It's fun to experiment. Typically what you do with subsonic load is use a very heavy bullet going at a lower velocity such as a 200g bullet out of a 30 caliber gun.

[milotrain]

I was doing a bit of research on this a while back. Apparently there are some subsonic factory loads that should cycle a suppressed AR. They use 100gr pills. My guess is that a 16" + barrel with a carbine length gas system and 100gr pills may make enough pressure long enough to cycle the action on a home brew 82gr berger subsonic load (you can get the 82s to mag length if you don't mind a little ogive gap). You might also be able to make these with 90gr bergers with the tip milled off enough to fit into a mag.

note: Don't try any of these ideas, you will kill yourself.

[mif_slim]

I've done plenty of sub-sonic loads back when and it doesnt cycle the action. Some will kick the fired round out but doesnt pick up the next round. If adjusted to pick the next round then it is well over sub-sonic speed.

The 5.56/.223 has this problem and Im sure the reason for the 300aac was to get it to be reliable at subsonic.

[shooterbill]

I saw the same article in the Hodgdon manual. I have been thinking of some of these loads for a bolt gun.

[joefreas]

You could try loading a heavier bullet to build sufficient pressure to cycle the action. You also want to be sure you have a high enough twist rate to stabilize the slower moving projectile.

[3006mv]

heavier is better for subsonic loads. but of course best in a bolt action.

[CGT80]

I thought about trying trail boss in my AR, but it seems pointless. TB works great in 30-06 for reduced loads with any bullet. It makes a 150 jacketed from a 30-06 (aprox. 1200 fps) feel like you are firing a 223.

TB also works well for 45lc and 460 mag, also for light loads. It is a good powder for a newbie to reloading, since you can safely fill the case with it.

I have been using Red Dot for reduced loads in 30-06 (13.0 grains RD and 150 jacketed = aprox. 1450 fps) and 30-30. It works with lead or jacketed, but it gives higher velocities than trail boss.

[wild_weasel]

I have been wanting to try Trail Boss in my 45 Colt and 45 Auto Rim anyway. Loading the sub-sonic loads in 223 was an interesting experiment, more than likely not to be repeated. Recently I experimented with +P 38 Special loads using a pound of Power Pistol. While I was impressed with the loads I'll more than likely stick with Unique and Bullseye for 38's.

[Annex138]

Trail boss works great in 45 colt. I load 300gr cast over a full case of trail boss and shoot them in my rossi 92 and its like shooting a .22. Low noise and no kick.
I also shoot them in my ruger 454 srh.

Trail boss loads would be fun in .223 but won't cycle a Ar.

[steveOsteezy]

Why not just get a .22 conversion bolt? Same power but semi auto function as well. When I was working with subsonic loads for my 300 blk I found that sub sonic rounds that didn't fully cycle would leave a bunch of carbon in the chamber which would cause FTF's.