Loading down 223 to 22LR, 22Mag, and Hornet levels?

[myarmor]

Just recently on a topic here....
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,99518.0.html
... curiousity has struck me. I guess loading down a 223 to 22LR, 22Mag, and 22Hornet levels has been done for some time, though this is the first I have ever heard of it
I guess I -likie many-  have always been cought up in trying to hot rod my 223's to reach top accuracy at top speeds, that I never thought about loading it down. It makes sense to me though as to adding to the versitility of one of my old favorites. And perhaps using it for smaller game, with less meat damage. A full load will explode a rabbit or squirrel, but a reduced load should prove to be a lot of fun on these little critters. I have a brand new box of 52gr SP ready to test out and I'm off next week to pick up a can of BlueDot and give it a try

Have any of you here experimented with reduced 223 loads?
If so with what results? What powders, bullet gr and type, etc...?
How loud are they?

-Aaron

[dw06]

I just worked up a reduced load in 223 with 9grs green dot powder with 50gr v-max,shoots good but hits about three inches lower at 100 yards than standard load.I will use it for short range pest and blue jays out to 50 yards.Not real load,about like a 22 mag.I have downloaded my 22-250 for years with 18 grs sr4759,and it hits same point of impact at 100 yards as my best load so works out great.

[dw06]

myarmor,sent so info by pm

[PA-Joe]

Look up James Calhoon and his gopher loads. Lots of data there.

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/

[kid_couteau]

Hi

I have used 6 grains of Unique with a 55 grain FMJ bullet and it feels like it is in between a 22LR and 22 Mag

Wont cycle an action but shoots in my Handi rifle, my AR and my Mini 14 pretty good

Kid Couteau

[Flash]

Do yall have a problem keeping the powder down near the flash hole? I tried it in my 222 mag and always had better accuracy by tilting the muzzle up before shooting. I felt it to be a pain in the arse so I quit doing it.

[kid_couteau]

No, no problems

[AZ223]

I've loaded 35gr V-Max bullets with 7.5-9.0 grains of Blue Dot, with good accuracy. No filler, and no problems detonating. You can load it up to 14 or so grains for 3,000+ with that bullet; I haven't gone that high yet. Calhoon's site talks about it, and I may try it. I like to stay in the 1,800 - 2,600 fps velocity for downloading -- Below that I can just use a 22lr, and above that I'm back into standard .223 velocities. In any case, it's a refreshing alternative to squeezing every ounce of velocity from it. That's why I got a  22-250 

[myarmor]

Well, I picked up some BlueDot to try out for some reduced loads.
I loaded a few with 7gr under the 52gr SP's. Even though I wasn't able to group them..I just wanted to test a couple out, so I was impatient and shot them off handed.. I have to say I had a ball, just shooting off what little I did. The 7gr load was loud, but not ear ringing loud. Slightly louder than a 17HMR. I wish I could have Crony'd them, but all in time.
I am guessing, and only a guess, that these were moving at slightly under Hornet speeds.
 I can't wait to load up some more in varing weights to see how they do.
I post back when I have something to report