Working down 223 loads to 22 mag power

[Ethan sherman]

Hello I'm entertaining the idea of getting a bolt action 223 and down loading it to 22 mag power probably with powder coated cast bullets I've read and printied out a couple articles on this but was wondering if anyone has tried it I would mostly squirrel hunt with it and would like to shoot one without blowing my ears out thanks

 

[Legionnaire]

Sounds like a fun project. LoadData.com has a load of 4.0 grains of Trail Boss under a 55 grain FMJ at 1074 fps from a 24-inch 12-twist barrel. (ETA: same load is available on Hodgdon's site.) I don't see why you couldn't do something similar with a coated cast bullet. Trail Boss would be my first choice to try.

 

[Anchorite]

FWIW, I used to load 10-11grs Bluedot in a 223 with a 50gr pill. It clocked 2500fps or so in a Douglas barreled Remington. No idea if this is 22Mag territory or not.

 

[Ethan sherman]

I've got a couple of loads to try when my reloading equipment gets here some thing I don't know about is reducing loads below minimum I have alot of experience with black powder and that's easily to reduce loads with just put less power but I don't know if it's that simple with smokeless tho

 

[Legionnaire]

22 WMR generally pushes a 40 grain bullet 1900-2000 fps. Federal's Game-Shok load drives a 50 grain bullet to just over 1500 fps.

Take a look at Trail Boss. It was designed for reduced/cowboy loads, and it will work with almost everything. I run it for reduced revolver rounds in .357 and .44 mag cases, and have used it in .375 Ruger rifle cases under 235 grain bullets. It's the cat's meow for safely running reduced loads.

 

[Ethan sherman]

FWIW, I used to load 10-11grs Bluedot in a 223 with a 50gr pill. It clocked 2500fps or so in a Douglas barreled Remington. No idea if this is 22Mag territory or not.

Pretty close I think 22 mag is about 2200

 

[2ndtimer]

I also used Blue Dot in a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special 22” barrel. If I recall correctly, 8.0 gr with. Sierra 40 gr HP clocked around 2100 FPS and was very quiet compared to full loads. You might try a google search of blue dot .223 loads, as I have read numerous posts on message boards with lots more info.

 

[Legionnaire]

You might get more response on this over in the Reloading forum; I'm sure a moderator would move it for you if you want.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Sounds like a fun project. LoadData.com has a load of 4.0 grains of Trail Boss under a 55 grain FMJ at 1074 fps from a 24-inch 12-twist barrel.

I loaded up a small batch like this using 40 gr. bullets for the Hornet over TB, but I haven't had the opportunity to properly wring out useful data from the combo yet.

I was hoping to try this load at the indoor range, but the owners prohibit the use of .223 Rem in any flavor, lest it encourages someone to shoot loads their backstop isn't rated against.

 

[PapaG]

I have an issue of Handloader that has just those loads plus Hornet level, long rifle level, and with jacketed and cast bullets. If I can find it, I'll try to photo and attach later. I duplicated several of the loads and had so much fun I bought a Lee six cavity "Bator" 22 gas check mould and had, in an hour, as many bullets as I could shoot in six months. Beware, putting gas checks on 22 bullets requires more dexterity than my arthritic hands can do for more than fifteen minutes at a time. Sized to .245, IIRC.

 

[Anchorite]

I’d be interested in low-level Hornet loads. Thanks guys.

 

[bdb242]

I've tried 4 gr's of Trail Boss with 50 gr. Speer SX .224 bullets. Little more omph than a 22 Mag but accurate. POI was about 6" lower than a 3000 fps load at 40 odd yards.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I’d be interested in low-level Hornet loads. Thanks guys.

Search James Calhoon bee 223 loads. Also 223 bluedot Seafire
Both of these guys did extensive testing with reduced velocity loads.
I've done it. But prefer my 22 lr.

 

[DMW1116]

I also see Hodgdon has Titegroup and Clays data for reduced 223 loads. They are subsonic though and not comparable to a 22 mag.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’ve been shooting 50gr Lyman #225415 over 7.2gr of Unique for 3 decades. Gets 2,060fps and at 50yds shoots to same POI as 55gr load at 3,100fps from 18.5” Rem M7. It won’t however cycle an AR15.
19.5gr of 4198 (either) is required to cycle an AR. May not give acceptable accuracy.

 

[bdb242]

I’d be interested in low-level Hornet loads. Thanks guys.

40 gr Hornady V-Max IMR Trail Boss 3.5 gr. 1635 fps
30 gr Barnes Var Grenade IMR-4227 10.0 gr 2204 fps
50 gr Hornady SX Alliant XMP-5744 9.0 gr 1951 fps All loads listed in "Load Data" program as starting loads except the Trail Boss load which came from Quick Load Data

 

[Legionnaire]

From Reduced Rifle Loads in the Feb/Mar 2017 edition of Handloader.

 

[DMW1116]

Other than being able to reload, is there a reason not to just use 22 mag?

 

[bdb242]

Other than being able to reload, is there a reason not to just use 22 mag?

Sort of depends on if a suppressor is involved, OR if somebody is just bored.

 

[DMW1116]

No doubt boredom is a powerful motivator. I'm often surprised by how versatile a cartridge can be with some experimentation and a reloading press. It also might be less expensive than buying new 22 mag, depending on how pricing is near by.

 

[Ethan sherman]

Other than being able to reload, is there a reason not to just use 22 mag?

Mainly for reloading and also experimental and kind of a shtf skill im also going to try black powder for fun 1880s meets the 1950s

 

[Ethan sherman]

No doubt boredom is a powerful motivator. I'm often surprised by how versatile a cartridge can be with some experimentation and a reloading press. It also might be less expensive than buying new 22 mag, depending on how pricing is near by.

If you can find any ammo around me you pay a premium 22mag is 30$ for a 40 pack and I haven't seen 22lr in months I'm down to 10 rounds of 30-06 there's one pawn shop that has some "Magnum" rounds for fixed breech only for 55$ for a 20 Rd box don't even know what that's about to I'm getting back into reloading I do a lot of black powder so I'm a bit of a mad scientist at loading

 

[jmorris]

Sounds like a good reason to buy a chamber adapter.

Actually a good reason to buy a .22 unless you really enjoy sighting in every time you switch.

If you really want a cheap to shoot squirrel getter a .22 pellet gun is a fine choice.

 

[DMW1116]

I understand why you'd want to. When I started reloading and found a recipe for subsonic 223 and 308 I was very intrigued. Then I realized in the case of 308, it wouldn't cycle my rifle and 300 BO is a thing. In the case of the 223, it was just a 55 grain load, so not a big advantage over 22lr. I still want to try some 30-30 125 gr hollow points at 1,500 fps or so, but I also think that's just a good excuse for a 357 magnum lever gun.

If you only have the one gun, you can make it do some neat stuff. Saving the cost of a Henry X in 357 buys a lot of reloading supplies for 30-30.

 

[denton]

7.5 grains AA5, magnum primer, 55 grain bullet, 1815 FPS. POI quite a bit different from a regular load.