Reduced load/Subsonic .223 with D060

[hcm1]

Just a collection of observations from my latest tinkering.

I am looking to load some subsonic .223 rounds, for no other reason than, I don't have a .22LR but suddenly do have a lot of rabbits.

Now i know the easiest thing to do would be just get a .22LR but thought this could be some fun as well.

I have some Lovex D060 which is designed for reduced loads so thought I would start with this. Lovex do not list a reduced load for the .223 but seemingly Lovex D060 is the same as Accurate 5744 and Speer do list a load for the 5744 with a 55gn Sierra SP.

So I started at the lowest load specified and worked down in 0.5gn steps.
Using Federal 205 primers all rounds fired and stabilised down to 7grains (which was as low as I went) but all loads below 10-11 grains leave a good few unburnt kernels of powder in the case and throat of the chamber. This is unaffected by using Magnum primers so suspect it is simply too low a load density.

This would tally with the fact that the bulk density of D060 is 860g/l which waaay above other powders which have been used for Sub loads in the .223 (usually around 320g/l-420g/l) so the case fill is really really low. Now ordinarily this is warned against as theoretically detonation is a possibility but D060 is seemingly designed to be position insensitive to ignition and even making an effort to shake the powder horizontal allowed safe ignition.

Now I think I am going to explore this powder a bit higher, between the 11 and 14 grain range to try to find a functional reduced velocity load but as far as subsonic goes, its a no go (which is not really a surprise)

Next stop is to try to find some RS14 or possibly some Clays which should work better as a subsonic option.

If anyone has a proven subsonic recipes please do feel free to share.

 

[DavyG]

I “messed” around with this a long time ago. I don’t think you’re going to get it with Lovex.
You didn’t mention your twist rate. Unless you’re using a 1:9 or faster, bullet stabilisation will be a real pain once you slow it down to sub speeds.
Get a .22lr. Life is complicated enough.
Regards,
DG

 

[hcm1]

DG

You are correct, its certainly not going to work with Lovex. The barrel is indeed a 1 in 9 so should stabilise reasonably well, even if I have to step down to 40gn bullets, but I agree I suspect it will be a dead end but I guess, it's an interesting project, even if it is fruitless.

I agree, a .22LR would certainly be simpler, possibly cheaper in the long run but I like experimenting with the out of the ordinary.

I'll keep updating with progress anyway!

 

[DavyG]

Going down in bullet weight is the wrong way to go. A heavier bullet will stabilise at a slower speed. The nearest I got to a decent load was with a 63/69 gr bullet with Trail Boss pushing in out the end.
Sorry for being vague…was a long time ago.
Regards,
DG

 

[Smellydog]

For reliable sub sonic loads in 223 you want cast bullets and a shotgun powder like Alliant Herco. Don't worry about case volume unless you are using spherical slow powders and obvious powders that have specific warnings about case volumes. Like h110 etc
Oh, and stop using this word detonation, it doesn't happen with correct powders and charges appropriate to the application.

 

[hcm1]

Trail Boss seems to have been the go to when it was available but looks like its going to be RS 14, Clays (or Herco) I may have a line on a Tub of Tin Star but that is now discontinued.
My concern with the case volume was that it was the reason for incomplete combustion (obviously D060 is not appropriate anyway).
Also, apologies for the term detonation, I understand that it isn't really correct, rather it is a case of the powder burning too fast if too much ignites in one go, rather than a progressive burn.
I am not going to bother with cast bullets, though I understand it is likely the best option, as I don't have the equipment for it and this is just a dabble rather than a serious project. Did you have a recipe using Herco?

Cheers!

 

[Smellydog]

Did you have a recipe using Herco

Not for 223 brother. I'd be very surprised if 4gn didn't get you started.

Plenty info on the Web.

Gallery Load for the .223 Rem?

This may have already been asked - but here goes? I am looking for a load recomendation for the .223 Rem. I want to use a cast 54/55grn RNFP GC (Lyman Mold) sized at 0.225" NEF Single shot rifle w/ 24" bbl. I want to create a light load for eliminating vermin and squirrels (aka sage...

castboolits.gunloads.com

 

[salukiwhippet]

Cast bullets ( I have a mould for a 44gn HP that would be ideal) and pistol/shotgun powder would be the best way to go, though jackets will work if youre not bothered about expansion.

Here's the data from the Lyman CBH to get the juices flowing, all way too fast but it's a starting point. I got down to 2.5gn of Red Dot in my .22 Jet with no ignition issues, will revisit when it comes back with its shiny new barrel.

 

[samdk]

Give Viht N32C a go, I have a 308 subsonic load worked up with 10.5 grains of this and a 180gr round nose bullet.
Even 10.5 grains fills a 308 case round half way, it is 420 g/l.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Titegroup is another very stable powder with small/reduced charges. Excellent in subsonics for my .308 and 7.62x54R but I struggled to get consistency with the much slower twist .222.
Good luck.

 

[mcbridjo]

Another vote for VV N32C (the new name for tinstar), I use it for subsonic 308 and you get a great case fill while still getting low velocity, I have been tempted to make some 556 down loads for gallery but yet to get around to it.

 

[Andy RV]

Just buy a 22.

 

[hcm1]

Soo a small update.

I part exchanged a kidney and a little bit of my soul for some RS14. A painful experience! However it does look like it may work reasonably well.

Working down from 6gn, with a 55gn Sierra it looks like subsonic is between 4 and 4.5gn. all bullets stabilised fine and there was no unburnt powder at all.

Next step is to load a selection between 3.8gn ish and 4.5gn and see how we go!

Yes, likely a pointless endeavour but quite fun none the less!

 

[Bowland blades]

I shoot more rabbits with full power 223 loadsand 22 hornet full power than i do my RF rifles this last decade or so - just head shoot them they are still fine for eating and if your not eating does it matter if you shoot them with a lot higher energy tools . Down loading has its own risks . Add a 22 hornet if your keen on rabbiting . 12ftlb class Airguns are also handy in some areas shooting to 30-40 yards say

 

[Laurie]

Lovex D060 (originally marketed as Accurate Arms 5744BR until 2003) wasn't specifically designed for reduced or subsonic loads. Its primary role is to duplicate black powder MVs in large 19th Century BPCR cartridges like 45-70, but more specifically the 38s, 40s and 50s where there are few smokeless powder loads around. It therefore works well at late 19th century BP pressures and was designed to burn consistently even where the fill-ratio was low in these large capacity cases. The current US Accurate-5744 is not the same thing and its load data shouldn't be used for D060. (The US Shooters World 'Buffalo Rifle' grade is D060 however, but I don't think the company lists many if any loads for higher pressure modern cartridges.)

It was also found to work well in reduced loads in later era bottlenecked cartridges, and the old (pre-2003) Accurate Arms Company had a booklet of reduced loads tables - but they were never for subsonic MVs in such cartridges as that's not what the powder was designed for. I imagine that when you got down to the 11gn charge level in 223 the combination simply didn't generate enough pressure for the powder to burn efficiently, hence the unburned kernels left in the barrel.

It's a pressure issue, not fill-ratio. Trail Boss is another special purpose propellant, but was designed for a quite different role. Firstly, it's a pistol/revolver cartridge powder, not a rifle powder like D060/5744, and like other pistol grades will burn cleanly with extremely light charges / low pressures and low fill-ratios. Secondly, it was introduced specifically for US Cowboy Action shooting which has tight and low limits on 38 Spcl / 357 Mag / .44-40 WCF etc MVs for safety reasons. Such loads are widely available using traditional pistol powders such as Bullseye, Red Dot and Unique but they produce very low fill-ratios that allow double or even triple weight charges to sit easily and unnoticed in the case. There were too many instances of such occurrences and the powder suppliers were asked if a super-bulky 'fluffy' grade could be supplied where a double-charge overfills the case during the loading process. Hence Trail Boss. Like D060, it was then found that Trail Boss can be used in modern rifle cartridge reduced loads. It probably almost certainly works in 223 subsonic as it can cope with the very low pressures involved. I used Trail Boss occasionally in a 444 Marlin levergun with 240gn Berry electroplated soft-lead bullets and my starting loads were about half the speed of sound with consistent MVs. The powder has such a low bulk density that it needed the large 444 case to be filled completely and the charge slightly compressed to achieve mildly supersonic MVs with 240s. This was a very accurate load in the cartridge at 100 yards and very pleasant to shoot.

 

[JTO]

Going down in bullet weight is the wrong way to go.

= My first thought.

 

[takbok]

Vihtavuori N310 is a good powder for subsonic loads, and very economical.

I use 3gr N310 with an 83gr cast bullet in my 6x45 (6mm-223). I started at 6gr and reduced load until I got to around 980fps. I also used 120gr bullets with a similar load with some success before this.

I'd start at a similar charge with the 223 and a 50/55gr bullet, although I've not got experience at shooting jacketed bullets subsonic so don't know if they behave differently.

 

[Smellydog]

Vihtavuori N310 is a good powder for subsonic loads, and very economical.

I use 3gr N310 with an 83gr cast bullet in my 6x45 (6mm-223). I started at 6gr and reduced load until I got to around 980fps. I also used 120gr bullets with a similar load with some success before this.

I'd start at a similar charge with the 223 and a 50/55gr bullet, although I've not got experience at shooting jacketed bullets subsonic so don't know if they behave differently.

I load my 30-30 with jacketed bullets sub sonics or just above.
Works fine.

 

[KimE]

I load my 30-30 with jacketed bullets sub sonics or just above.
Works fine.
View attachment 380135

New invention a bullet with plastic boattale?

 

[Smellydog]

New invention a bullet with plastic boattale?

Work great