223 reduced loads

[gs50401]

 I have a 14" contender barrel coming soon  and would like to find a reduced load using unique or 2400.    My goal from a 14 " barrel is sort of a super 22 wmr with 40 to 45 grain bullets at 2100-2200 fps.

I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

[flipajig]

The only infor that i was able to find (quick search) was in the contnder loading manual. (VOLUME-1 ) it was also useing cast pills.

[woodchukhntr]

I've been using Blue Dot with Hornady 40 gr. V-Max bullets in a Savage 24V, and just tried that load in my new 16" Contender carbine barrel.  It shot about 1-1/2" @100 yd. and is more like a .22 Hornet equivalent.  I have some old Winchester .22 mag. bullets that I hope to develop a .22 mag. equavelent load for, so I'll be following your thread.

The latest Predator Hunter magazine has an article on the .223 with Trail Boss powder for subsonic loads.  They were using 5.0 grains with a 68 gr. bullet.  I'll try that with a 45 to 55 gr. bullet and see how it shoots.

Here are some sites to try:
http://www.reloadingroom.com/index_files/Blue%20Dot.htm
http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/Cast%20in%20the%20.223.htm
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/tobee2.php

[cableguy]

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/small_charges.htm  This site has a lot of good info also.

[casper_zip]

Hey there:

I use this in: 22 Hornet, 222 Rem, 223 Rem. My reduced load I have used for years is:

55 Gr.FMJ read cheapest  you can get
4.5 Gr. of Red Dot powder

This is about the same velocity of a 40 grain 22 rimfire

One year alone, I killed 22 big fox squirrels, one shot only with this in my 223 14" barrel with Leupold 2X scope

I also have chronographed this many times, my goal was to duplicate the 22 rimfire.

This load does not leave you with a two piece squirrel. They drop dead instantly, and you don't have to head shoot them, either. A chest shot leaves a small hole in, small hole out. No problem skinning the squirrels for the skillet.


I've also used Unique, Blue Dot, lots of other powders. I just happened to have a good supply of Red Dot, and I shoot often and a lot.


Best to you,

casper_zip

P.S. Forgot to mention, shooting from a rest, these will all go into a small hole you can cover with your thumbnail. The accuracy is amazing, and the noise is not bad, either.

[gs50401]

I found a neat book at a gunshop. It is a contender loading manual for everthing from 17 Bumblebee to 45-70.

It has a range of 223 loads.

[Rustyinfla]

  castboolit.com had a rather extensive thread with a couple of articles thrown in for good measure on loading the .223. there was even some information there on loading cast bullets. I bought a Lee "Bator" bullet from Mid South to work up some loads for mine. I haven't had a chance to yet but it is an option. Using cast bullets with a .223 you will naturally have something in the .22 mag class.

[WayneS]

It is open until the end of the month.... here is the link:

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/TLC22550RF/GroupBuy/

Following the 45/45/10 LLA recipe this should be good for any reduced load you want to try

[Elwood]

I have loaded up 50 grain bullets with 15.5 grains of 2400 and liked the results. This charge is reduced some but maybe not as much as you want.
Elwood

[gs50401]

Thanks, Any idea on the velocity of that load?

[7-30 Waters]

Accurate Powder has sub-sonic loads for the 223 Rem in their #2 reloading manual.