Clays for .223?

[Forrest r]

All good info. I thought I might also mention that this Clays load isn't one that someone just came up with yesterday. The pressure is listed as 37,000 CUP - so I'm thinking it was developed before piezio sensors and rating ammo pressure in PSI became the standard. This isn't a load that was developed during the 22 ammo shortage a few years ago, or during this ammo & reloading components shortage either.
As others have said, I'm thinking bolt gun plinking load.

37,000cup for 3.2gr of clays???? Too many zero's

I shoot a lot of reduced loads in a 14" contender chambered in 223rem. clays, bullseye, unique, am select for powders just to name a few. I swage and pc 70gr fn's and they do pretty good out to 50yds and putt a good thump on whatever they hit.

 

[BC38]

37,000cup for 3.2gr of clays???? Too many zero's

I shoot a lot of reduced loads in a 14" contender chambered in 223rem. clays, bullseye, unique, am select for powders just to name a few. I swage and pc 70gr fn's and they do pretty good out to 50yds and putt a good thump on whatever they hit.

You're right. I mistyped that. It should be 3,700 CUP...

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I've loaded scads of reduced 223 loads for years. Great fun and they seem to kill cans at 100 yards just as well as 3,200 fps loads. They make good vermin loads too as well as being easy on the barrel. When I was an AC advisor to an NG unit, the armory had an indoor rifle range, but it was only rated for pistol ammo. The reduced loads were a perfect match and didn't harm the armor plate and they made for enjoyable lunch hour target practice sessions. The reduce recoil also helped ID any errors in shooting technique too while using your service or match rifles.

The various 50 or 55 grain varmint bullets (Bliz, SX, Etc.) do very well at reduce velocities.

 

[dla]

That's a good thought.
Any ideas why Clays specifically? Why not something similar with Titegroup or HP38 (their next slower and next faster) powders? Why is Clays the only reduced load like this?
The whole thing just seems odd...

Clays is an excellent plinker powder. Position insensitive. Big green fluffy flakes are easy to spot in the case (unlike evil Titegroup). Meters well. Burns clean. Clays is my goto powder for making plinker loads.

 

[2152hq]

Maybe the reduced load in the .223 would do for tree rats and be a bit safer when taking those elevated shots. More like using a .22lr.
You still have to be extra careful but the down range travel would be much less than a full load .223.

Young shooters would probably appreciate the lesser loads for their quieter report when getting used to using a big boy CF.

I use reduced loads in a great number of CF rifle reloads. Everything from 30-06 to 9.3x74R. Usually RedDot, Unique and sometimes Bullseye.
The 9.3x74R I use 9mm Makarov 95gr jacketed bullets and RedDot. They print to the POA in my DR at 50m with the 200m rear sight blade up.

 

[SW Gun Guy]

I think from the indicated velocity it was intended as a subsonic load. Use?? At least they furnished and published some data for that powder for a subsonic load.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'm not reducing any .223 loads but I shoot lots of 357 reduced loads. Alliant calls them Cowboy loads and they work great. Instead of 2400 I use American Select and about 1/3 the powder.

 

[gregintenn]

I'm not reducing any .223 loads but I shoot lots of 357 reduced loads. Alliant calls them Cowboy loads and they work great. Instead of 2400 I use American Select and about 1/3 the powder.

We call these loads 38 Special.

 

[Twoboxer]

3 1/2gr per load yields 7 times the number of 223 loads from a pound of powder. That is useful to some.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Since I reload...................

I load factory Dup. loads for hunting and drop these loads down for light target loads, that are easy on the weapon and my body
and teeth, fillings.........

with all my shotgun, rifle , revolver and pistol loads.

In my .22 and .30 cal. with X-Lite loads, the rifles barely move when they are fired........
and I don't even need ear protection from the muzzle noise.

Fun for the kids for short range learning and plinking, out to 50 yards.

Even though I have developed "Reduced loads" with fast pistol powders up to Unique powder, I prefer a 66% case fill with a rifle powder, that does a little better on ES and accuracy, in my rifles.

I have a X-Lite 12 Ga. 7/8 oz load that does 1130fps for Skeet that does not move the barrel or POA, when fired in my heavy O/U shotgun.

I have posted several times about my "Slow" pistol & revolver loads, while testing out loads........
like my latest with the 2" snub nose J frame with the 130gr JHP HST "Micro load" by Federal........ (823 fps )
where one test load averaged 573 fps !!