I would like to try some subsonic loads in my 223 encore for "varmints" that will not disturb the neighborhood. I am having a hard time finding info on subsonic loads for the 223. Has anyone had any experience with these loads? What powders work good, ect?

I would like to try some subsonic loads in my 223 encore for "varmints" that will not disturb the neighborhood. I am having a hard time finding info on subsonic loads for the 223. Has anyone had any experience with these loads? What powders work good, ect?

Going to gently remind that in most locations, esp. ones where neighbors would be close enough to be distrubed by the noise, shooting can earn a visit by the local PD. A load that seem quiet on a rifle range can be surprisingly loud in a quiet residential area.

What you can't get is a functioning semi-semi auto when velocity is below 1060fps...and you'd bestter test well so that no INDIVIDUAL round makes that nasty trans-sonic crack even if the average is below the speed of sound.

Best to rely on cast bullets and small charges of fast powder. Part of the noise is the escape of gas at the muzzle...using small charges of fast powders lessens the pressure and volume of these escaping gasses.


Part of the sound is the "crack" of the transoic bullet...most of the sound is the escaping gas (the "boom" part of a rifle's discharge). IF all there were to it was getting below 1100fps, then my 50-70 should be quiet...it certainly isn't, and it's sub-sonic.
If you "just gotta", then use cast bullets (something in the 55-60gr. range), start at 3gr. of red Dot, and work DOWN until the sound becomes bearable. At these speeds, lead is prefered; if you guess worng you can drive a lead bullet out of the bore a lot easier than a jacketed one.

A friend of mine made something similar to what your looking for...he used 55 grain FMJ bullets barely seated into the case with i think 2 grains of alliant bullseye with a slight tuft of cotton to keep the powder close to the primer...these things were VERY quite out of a 20" or longer barrel and would put down rabbits and gophers out to about 50 feet easily and quietly...when the sun was just right you could literally see the bullets in flight. These wont function an autoloaders action, but work great in a bolt action rifle.

Not saying to do this, but an empty 2 liter bottle over the end of the barrel...... :D

I know berger was making some very heavy .223 cal bullets, I wanna say abound 95 grn. graphite coated bullets for long range highpower shooters. Not sure how they would work for a sub-sonic application but they should be easier to use at a lower velocity than the traditional 55gr. versions. A simpler Idea might be to use a .22 I know aguilla was making some .22 ammo speciffically designed for that, I think they were loading a 68gr. lead soft point or hollow point. Third option is a hunting grade air rifle... Have a blast

Have you ever thought of investing in a nice legal suppressor for your rifle? This would be the trick with subsonic ammo, nothing be heard other than the chamber clacking and the bullet striking the target..LOL....Or like was also suggested, maybe a 22.

I would like to try some subsonic loads in my 223 encore for "varmints" that will not disturb the neighborhood. I am having a hard time finding info on subsonic loads for the 223. Has anyone had any experience with these loads? What powders work good, ect?

I live in a small town that has an ordance against fireing weapons within the city limits. We have dog problems chasing the deer and skunks and such. Most everyone around me has some type of air gun, from a red ryder bb gun to pump and co 2 powered 17 and 22 cal rifles. These are quiet effective and do not disturb the folks around you.

You might consider one of those. I have a Sharidon blue streak with a scope in it and it's effective for small game out to 25 or 30 yards and on a dogs backside to 50. You don't have to worry about that pellet going great distances like a subsonic centerfire or rimfire would.

The only problem with a pellet gun...even the 22 caliber'ed ones is that they just dont offer enough oompphh to put down anything larger than a sparrow or other really small varmint reliably. Ive got a nice Benjimen .22 caliber air rifle and its loud and unless you get a good headshot, wont put a bunny down with a single shot 70% of the time. Its every bit as loud as a long barreled 22 rifle using CB caps and doesnt pack quite as much punch either.

The only problem with a pellet gun...even the 22 caliber'ed ones is that they just dont offer enough oompphh to put down anything larger than a sparrow or other really small varmint reliably. Ive got a nice Benjimen .22 caliber air rifle and its loud and unless you get a good headshot, wont put a bunny down with a single shot 70% of the time. Its every bit as loud as a long barreled 22 rifle using CB caps and doesnt pack quite as much punch either.

That depends what kind of .22 pellet rifle you choose... The Benjamin is an outstanding air rifle in that it has good power but requires multiple pumps (which is tedious) and is loud (it's pneumatic) because of the built up release of the air charge. Most .22 pellets are ~15 grains or so but you can buy pellets in 21gr all the way up to 35 grains if you want performance for one shot kills on small vermin.

A better (albeit more expensive) rifle is the RWS 350 Dianna magnum. They can be had for less than $350 if you are patient and shop around. This rifle outperforms any other .22 air rifle (that is NOT pre-charged) and is quiet due to the spring piston design. The negative aspect is that it kicks hard enough to ruin most scopes.. But not hard enough to cause cumulative trauma to your shoulder like a .45-70 does.

That all being said, your best bet both cash and accuracy wise is to simply get a nice .22 long rifle and buy the CCI subsonic rounds. I think that it will be difficult (and more expensive) to try and get a .223 to do something its design limitations are so far from (.223’s go ~3250 fps -depending on load). The pellet gun was my choice and all I can say is if you get a really nice one (first), you won’t be sorry. My RWS 350 magnum is LETHAL on cans at a 100yds with few different types of pellets. The “heavy” pellets have surprising punch but a .22 LR will double that.

Anyways, sorry if I am coming off as trying to be too persuasive as to not load the .223 down that far.. I just don’t think it can be done with enough safety & reliability (accuracy) to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

I tried some loads with ~50gr lead bullets and 2-3gr of HP-38 and Unique. I was unimpressed. The groups were fairly small, right around .75" at 100ft, with a lot of drop (to be expected), and were rather loud.

My old Stevens bolt action .22 (24" bbl) with Aguila sub-sonic loads group around .5" at 100ft, roughly the same drop, and are much quieter. My Daisy .22 CO2 pellet gun is louder. I don't even bother with ear protection when shooting this combination, and it is quite effective on "vermin".

For the bonus round, the Aguila loads cost much less (about half) of what the bullets alone cost for the .223! Granted, I purchased the bullets rather than cast them myself, but still...

Just my experience

I use my TC 12" 22 long rifle... I don't use the Aguila SSS...instead I use the 22 that has merely an extra strong "primer", if thats what you can call it on a RF. IIRC, if I hold about 5" over center at 50 yards it hits right in the 9-10 ring...however, I haven't tried it yet with my little Lobo 3x scope I just put on it...and I don't even bother wearing plugs or headphones when shooting this one...now I shoot Aguila SSS out of my Reminton Nylon and its a hoot...very quiet with the barrel length...its not much louder than my CO2 pellet pistol.