Does anyone have sub sonic data?

[Skeet 028]

I had a couple of friends from back east who are doing some fox hunting at night with suppresed 223s. I found them some data.but suppresed data is skimpy...at least so far. I don't think they will find much for actual subsonic...but any help would be appreciated. I used fome 30 cal subsonic in the past but not 223

 

[Yendor357]

Wouldn’t the path of least resistance be to simply shoot 22LR subs?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Hodgdon Reloader Magazines have had 223 subsonic loads, but I don't know which issue.

Some magazine articles have used modified cases (primer pockets), I marked the cases but they ended mixed with regular cases. I recommend not using any modified case data!

Ivan

I found running factory 223's through my MAC-10, 9mm can sounded like the crack of 22 High Velocity. Very close to pleasant. I chased the cats around the back yard with it, and they didn't complain much.

 

[pasound]

I'd look at a good .22LR and suppressor. They can be accurate and effective.

 

[Skeet 028]

Their shooting is generally 50-125 yds. I don't consider the 22 LR as adequate on foxes at that distance. I gave them some. data with 4227 but it was about 1500 FPS which of course isn't subsonic but still much quieter than full bore loads....and still very accurate.. I think they tried one Hodgdon load with Tight Group Killed a fox at about 90 yds...destroyed the pelt...I told them to use FMJ bullets. There are a lot of foxes in the area...an awful lot of chicken ranches there...so the fox crop has really expanded...exponentially

 

[Forrest r]

I'd go with a pc'd lead bullet in the 70gr+ range. It's a lot easier to make subsonic loads with lead bullets.

 

[Skeet 028]

Talked to one of them today...One fellow has a Contender w/suppessor. He tried a load I gave him with 55 gr FMJ 15 gr 4227 SPP . Not really subsonic but close 'nuff for gummit work. He called at 11 his time ( 9 here). Smacked 2 foxes not far from where he lived chasing each other around near a refuse pit on a chicken farm...Small hole in and out on both...Skinning tomorrow.

 

[Tu_S]

...I don't consider the 22 LR as adequate on foxes...

So what would the difference be when it comes to a 55gn 223 and a 60gn 22LR projectile when both are fired at subsonic velocities?

By having the subsonic requirement you're lowering the power of the 223 to 22LR levels.

 

[venomballistics]

Lyman cast bullet manual might have a few candidates

 

[Skeet 028]

Not my horse and saddle. But will say the 55 gr FMJ is probably going to be more accurate and will probably pass through a fox...and the velocity that they are going to be shooting is 1500-1600.. so they still have the crack. Guy told me last night that the first shot didn't scare the 2nd fox...but I wasn't there. I do know I shot a bunch of foxes in Md..mostly with a 22 but ranges were short...all under 40 yards...the 22 Hornet worked well to 150...or more with no wind and enough time. I shot a coyote here with the hornet(40 gr Nosler) at an easy 125 yds...actually rolled right over. Killed another small yote at 35 yds with my M-41. Ran 10 yds or so before he realized he was dead. . Think these fellows are shooting foxes at night and don't want to disturb folks. Taking advantage of an over population of foxes and making a little money...think the key words there was.... a little money. There were so many foxes at one time...trapped one of the farms we rented for hunting geese. trapped 61 foxes in 4 weeks with only 12 sets...3 traps to a set caught 2 foxes in one set twice. Chicken ranch next door

 

[Skeet 028]

BTW these 2 fellows don't reload. They have a fellow do it for them. They wouldn't know a cast bullet from Adam. The fellow loading I taught to reload and he has turned into the local guru. not much rifle pistol loading in that shotgun country. He tried the cast bullet loads but they found the FMJs shot under an inch

 

[Farmer17]

Just get a 300 blackout upper it was designed for suppressor use. Shooting 200 to 220 grain subsonic ammo and you’ll be good with anything up to hogs or deer. With a good suppressor it’s about as loud as a pellet rifle.

 

[Skeet 028]

I had a 300 Whisper in a Contender...with a homemade kinda suppressor. Hard to get one back then. It was without a doubt an awful lot of fun...specially with a real suppresor. I think the newer iteration of suppressors are much better. I don't have one now or anything to put one on

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Subsonic is easy enough to do, but gas-operated semi-auto rifles require gas pressures within a specific range to reliably operate the extraction-ejection-feeding cycle. That is probably going to be the major challenge, and likely to be different from one rifle to the next.

 

[Skeet 028]

Fellow doing the reloading just told me the one fellows rifle shoots the last load I recommended geat...the other one in a couple inches...so they are going to push the powder charge to 17 cause it shot that ok. Neither worries about working the action. The one fellow said he's gonna stick with the Contender...He thinks he'll always get 1st shot

 

[Wyo]

Hodgdon shows 3.1 gr to 3.6 gr of Titegroup with a 55 gr. FMJ bullet for the .223. Velocities are shown at about 1060 fps. Reloading Data Center – Hodgdon Reloading Data Center I've loaded a few with that data. They won't function in an AR, of course, but in a 24" bolt gun with a suppressor they sound about like a BB gun - maybe even less.

 

[Skeet 028]

They already tried 3.4 gr of that. Didn't shoot great out of either but it was quiet