Subsonic .222 recipes

Well then - as per my post #3 - off to the range today with my beloved triple deuce and ten rounds of “subsonic” trials with 2.9gns of Titegroup - 5 x 55gns Sierra Gamekings and 5x 55gns Sierra Blitzkings. The logic (wot?) was that my Pard 008p has five zero settings and I could simply toggle (impressed huh?) between my normal Vmax fox setting and whichever of my subsonic trials provided the best zero as a separate saved zero for rabbits as they presented themselve - if you get what I mean….
Anyhoo, young Einstein, brimming with confidence, set a target up a whole 15 yards away, fired a couple of test zero shots with my go-to full strength Vmax which rightly were low at such a short distance and then, full of dread anticipation, loaded up the subs, let fly carefully took aim, controlled breathing and gently squeezed the trigger….
IMG_0522.jpeg
Now, ignoring the two six o’clock test holes from the Vmax, the more observant of you will note two distinct err, patterns.
The more err, striking perfect silhouettes of a bullet were the Blitzking which also produced a ricochet sound which a Rambo movie would die to have. The other ahem, slightly loose “grouping”, are the Gamekings which even your humble eejit researcher can determine are somewhat short of acceptable - in extremis.
And so it would appear that the search for a .222 subsonic rabbit round may well prove elusive. No doubt and of course just as I was warned expected the very slow rifling twist coupled with low velocities conspired to bugger ruin the accuracy. On a positive note (?) the Gamekings were noticeably quieter than the Blitzking, presumably down to shorter bearing surfaces. That said the howling ricochet effect was missed, as was nearly the entire target.
However undaunted and in the spirit of that other great chap Barnes Wallis, the search will continue - just as soon as I can figure out how to do so….
Offers?
🦊🦊
 
All I will say is you’re wasting your time. We Been there done that yrs ago and it’s just an expensive waste of ammo. The larger cals are easy. But the smaller are just fine line between a sub round and a bullet stuck halfway down the barrel.
that would turn your nights foxing into a very early night mucker

there is a reason WHY the .22LR is so popular.
 
A2400 is a great powder for downloads 16-19 grs works well in most calibres in both cast and jacketed bullets might need to droop a gr or two in the 222 to keep velocity down though ?
 
One on top of two said:
All I will say is you’re wasting your time. We Been there done that yrs ago and it’s just an expensive waste of ammo. The larger cals are easy. But the smaller are just fine line between a sub round and a bullet stuck halfway down the barrel.
that would turn your nights foxing into a very early night mucker

there is a reason WHY the .22LR is so popular.
Click to expand...
Yep I know but nothing ventured….
The annoying thing is I am certain I did all this many years ago but forgot just how bad the results were. Mind you the screaming ricochets were worth it…
🦊🦊
 
reiver said:
A2400 is a great powder for downloads 16-19 grs works well in most calibres in both cast and jacketed bullets might need to droop a gr or two in the 222 to keep velocity down though ?
Click to expand...
I think the issue is the very slow barrel twist which means the bullet will not stabilise at low velocities as no such issues with the much faster twist .308 at subsonic speed. I just wish I had recorded the sound effects!
No doubt someone with much greater knowledge than I will be along in a minute with the answer……..
🦊🦊
 
Foxyboy43 said:
I think the issue is the very slow barrel twist which means the bullet will not stabilise at low velocities as no such issues with the much faster twist .308 at subsonic speed. I just wish I had recorded the sound effects!
No doubt someone with much greater knowledge than I will be along in a minute with the answer……..
🦊🦊
Click to expand...
True a shorter bullet, round nose bullet 40 gr sierra or a 35 gr v-max with the tip pulled/rubbed off. And even less powder!
 
Definitely a shorter bullet but creep down from super sonic.
I honestly would of thought those bullets would stabilise around 1000fps.
Try them backwards, works for me.
 
Smellydog said:
Definitely a shorter bullet but creep down from super sonic.
I honestly would of thought those bullets would stabilise around 1000fps.
Try them backwards, works for me.
Click to expand...
Not sure because I didn’t chrony them but next time……
I have some 40gns in different brands so the experiment continues - I think the Blitzkings decided themselves to try backwards, sidewards and every other permutation!
As an aside, in WW1 the germans reversed their 8mms and found it penetrated the new british tanks.
🦊🦊
 
Foxyboy43 said:
Not sure because I didn’t chrony them but next time……
I have some 40gns in different brands so the experiment continues - I think the Blitzkings decided themselves to try backwards, sidewards and every other permutation!
As an aside, in WW1 the germans reversed their 8mms and found it penetrated the new british tanks.
🦊🦊
Click to expand...
I use them in my 30/30 at around 1200fps.IMG_20221022_134415.webp
 
I've been thinking of giving this a try with 55gr 1390 HPBT Gamekings in my 223. According to the JBM Stability calculator here

JBM - Calculations - Stability

Stability in a 1:12 twist 222 at 1050fps is marginal but using my 1:8 twist 223 it was ok. I think the 1:12 in the 222 is too slow to stabilise these. The 1390 Gameking is only 0.7205" long and the Blitzking is 0.7874" long. When I ran the Blitzking through the calculator it came up as unstable in a 1:12 twist but stable in a 1:8 twist. Your experiment seems to correlate this theory so now I'm keen to try the Gamekings as they're shorter and might work in my 223.
 
angusb1 said:
I've been thinking of giving this a try with 55gr 1390 HPBT Gamekings in my 223. According to the JBM Stability calculator here

JBM - Calculations - Stability

Stability in a 1:12 twist 222 at 1050fps is marginal but using my 1:8 twist 223 it was ok. I think the 1:12 in the 222 is too slow to stabilise these. The 1390 Gameking is only 0.7205" long and the Blitzking is 0.7874" long. When I ran the Blitzking through the calculator it came up as unstable in a 1:12 twist but stable in a 1:8 twist. Your experiment seems to correlate this theory so now I'm keen to try the Gamekings as they're shorter and might work in my 223.
Click to expand...
Most 222 rifles are 1:14"
 
Laurie said:
Of those powders in @Foxyboy43 's two tables, EU REACH has banned importation of:

IMR-4198
IMR-4227
H4198
Hodgdon BM2
H4895
Trail Boss

Not sure about Winchester 296 - most older Win powders are REACH non-compliant.

Trail Boss would have been my first choice in subsonic 222 Rem, real shame it has gone, although it was pretty well unobtainable pre-REACH anyway. If available near you @Foxyboy43, Lovex D060 is a similar specialist powder, in this case designed as a smokeless propellant to mimic black-powder pressures in large 19th century BPCR cartridges and similar, but not requiring full cases or compressed charges and very useful in reduced loads in modern bottlenecked cartridges. Viht N32C 'Tin Star' is another, which like Trail Boss was designed for 'Cowboy Action' loads. Viht discontinued it early this year, but there may still be the odd can around.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately no RFDs in Northern Ireland stock Lovex powders,Vit,Alliant,Hodgson and Vectan are our only choices
 
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