Reduced Load for 223

[Zeak]

Anyone have a reduced load for a 223 using 55gr psp or fmj bullets. I will be using this in a NEF 24" with 1in12 twist. Would like the fps to be in the range of what the 22 Hornet is. I can also use a lighter if these will not stabilize. Zeak

[bigvarmnt]

I downloaded from Hodgdon.com in 2007 and then they had
55 gr. HDY FMJ -Titegroup-col 2.200"- .224"-gr.3.1-1064fps. 4,000 CUP

55 gr. HDY FMJ-Clays-col 2.200"-.224"-gr.3.2-1060fps. 3,700 CUP

Load at your own risk. Last year I played with clays and 30 gr. Varmint Grenades at around 2000 fps and got an excellent group at 100yds.  Shot a couple water filled half gallon milk jugs and they looked the same as a full 223 round hit them. They were only at about 30 feet for my first try.  No recoil and just a pop. I'm getting ready to load some more and work up to Hornet velocities, hopefully tonight.

Look on their website they have added one for Trail Boss lately. Got some of that to try now. Mine is Superlite 1:12. I just turned it into an air rifle that uses a little powder Just put on a little Burris Timberline 4.5 -14. Thought it would be good for chipmunks and other back yard Varmints.
Good Luck  It's Fun with that little pop

[Zeak]

bigv I wanted to go a little faster than the 1000-1100fps. I did find a load using XMP5744 using 11-12 grs of powder for 45gr and 55gr fmj and spt bullets. My next ? do you have to use a filler ahead of the powder and what do you use for the filler? I have read that some reloaders have used a filler to keep the powder next to the primer for consistant accuracy,but can't remember what they used.  Zeak

[PowPow]

Don't use a filler on a bottleneck casing; bad outcome.

Use a "bulk" powder, like IMR SR-4759 or Trailboss.
I use SR-4759 on all my reduced loads.

Fill the case up, measure how many grains is a full case.
Work loads up starting with 50% of full case weight, up to 90%.
You should find that hornet velocity in there somewhere.
I think I was shooting 40 grains bullets at about 2500 fps out of my NEF 223.
But I sold it.

Now I am shooting 125 gr SPs out of my 30-06 with SR-2749 at 30-30 velocities.

[bigvarmnt]

I've never used a filler but read of others doing so. Heard there was some downsides to it. I have an IMR book from 95 and they have 4350 going 2605 and 4831 going 2415 with a 55 gr spire pt. sx, also 4759 at 2745 fps. These appear to be max as they rec. reducing 10% to start. There is a youth section on H4895 on their website of 60% rule. Think they only show down to 243. Check their site there is a Trail Boss section also. Are you looking for 24-2600fps.? What you want to shoot them at?

There you go Pow Pow beat me to it.

[james]

I loaded some up with a small charge of greendot shotgun powder that were accurate up to 20 yards.  I used them in a  mini-14 I kept on a tractor when cutting hay.  The charge wouldn't work the action but I shot skunks, rats and snakes in the hay field and didn't worry about ricochets. It was a load I found in an old Hercules book.

[LanceR]

Zeak, There is a world of info on reduced recoil loads at hodgdon.com

Hodgdon's H4895 has been tested as a reduced power powder for everything from .223 to .458 Win. Mag.  No other Hodgdon power has been tested for this although many folks have used them. I'd advise staying with published data.

Here's how Hodgdon says to build a reduced load.  Find a load that uses H4895, multiply the maximum powder charge by 0.6 and the result is the lowest charge of H4895 that will reliably ignite and give uniform pressure and velocity.  Hodgdon shows 26 grains as the maximum load for a 55 grain Speer SP.  Multiply 26x0.6=15.6 grains, the lowest charge allowed.  Looking at the velocity drop from 3315 to 3176 FPS at 25 grains, I suspect that about 20 grains will get you down to around 2475 FPS.

Hodgdon has an awful lot of data that is not on the site so if you don't find what you want call them at 913-362-9455.  They are very helpful.

There's an article on reduced loads with H4895 at: http://www.chuckhawks.com/reduced_recoil_H4895.htm

Lance

[murphdog]

Zeak,
Lots of good suggestions above.  I've played around with Trailboss, and a full case (7.7 gr) under a 40 grain bullet gives me 1920 fps.  I could get higher velocities with Unique, but the accuracy wasn't there.  I like this Trailboss load as its accurate and quiet, but I don't think Trailboss will give you the velocity you want.  But how much velocity do you really need?  You didn't say what you want to do with this load.  I developed my load because I love to squirrel hunt and wanted to do so with my handirifle.  This load is accurate enough for head shots on squirrels without damaging too much meat.  It will also take backyard skunks, possums, and feral cats.  Haven't tried it on coons yet, but I suspect it will work there too.  If I'm after a coyote or something larger, I'm going to use a standard 223 load (and have to adjust my scope down 7 minutes). 
Duane

[Zeak]

I'm planning using them for small varmints and turkey when I go to and out of state hunt this fall. That is why I thought a reduced load with fmj wouldn't blow the turkey up so bad. If used on coon or coyote it wouldn't damage the hide as bad. Zeak

[Savage]

Don't know about the 1-12 twist Handi, but with the 1-9 ARs, 20grs of  H 4198 gets me 2650fps with a 55gr fmj bullet out of an 16" AR, and 1" groups. That's manufacturer publishing data---------------but still approach it carefully. All load data should be verified by a reliable source. Use at your own risk.
Savage

[LanceR]

Zeak,
...I've played around with Trailboss, and a full case (7.7 gr) under a 40 grain bullet gives me 1920 fps.....
Duane

Hodgdon will tell you that the max load with Trailboss is whatever you can fit in the case without compressing it.  They told me the goal was to have a low density powder that would fill cases without getting folks into trouble with pressures when shooting older or lightly constructed firearms for Cowboy Action shooting.

I normally zero hunting rifles for a 6" mean point blank range which is the distance that the bullet stays within 3" above or below the crosshair placement.  Since your looking at smaller targets I'll use a 4" MPBR.

A Hornady 55 grain .223 FMJ BT at 1960 FPS zeroed to stay within 2" above or below the crosshair placement will get out to around 156 yards before it drops more than 2" from the line of sight.  It will have 232 pounds of energy and be traveling 1235 FPS at 150 yards.  That's all you'd need for a turkey but is maybe  little light for a big 'yote.

At 2400 FPS the same setup would get you to 192 yards with the same zero.  It would get to 200 yards at 1576 FPS with 378 pounds of energy, more than enough for coyotes and it is plenty enough range for most purposes.

Lance

[Larry Gibson]

I use 16 gr of H4895 under the Speer blunt nosed 55 gr fmj.  It runs 2100 fps, is quite accurate and does a great job on grouse with little damage to the meat.  That would be my choice for a rifle turkey load.

Larry Gibson

[2ndtimer]

I recently loaded some .223 cases with 8.1 gr of Blue Dot and the Sierra 40 gr HP bullet for around 2100 fps.  I was trying for a .22 Mag performance/noise level for rockchucks in a semi populated area.  You might do a google search for .223 Remington Blue Dot loads.  There has been quite a bit on various forums regarding the use of Blue Dot in reduced loads.  Some of it positive, some of it pretty negative.  I have only loaded about 80 rounds in my experiment, and tried from 7.0 gr to 11.0 gr with the 40 gr bullets, both Sierra and Hornady V-Max.  The 11.0 gr loads chronoed around 2650 fps and were still a bit less noisy than conventional .223 loads.  These were fired in a Weatherby Varmint Special with 22" barrel.
If you do elect to experiment with reduced loads, use the utmost caution.  It is very easy to double charge a case, and can easily ruin your rifle and possibly injure yourself.  I weigh every charge, then immediately charge the case and seat the bullet.  It is slow, but the best way I could figure to make certain that the case had powder in it, and not more than a single charge.