Subsonic 308 and 223 Data for Trail Boss

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shooter_john

New member
I purchased my 308 suppressor today and have now began the waiting game. In the meantime I would like to go ahead and roll up a few subsonic loads, particularly in 308 and 223. Most of the information I have found online suggest Red Dot, Titegroup, and especially Trail Boss for such ventures. I got a can of Trail Boss on the way home, and now I just need some good data to work from. I have plenty of 308's in 150, 155, 168,173, and 190gr varieties on hand, and everything from 50 to 75 grain in 223 on hand. Can you guys help me out?
Thanks in advance!

(I did a search and turned a tidbit here and a tidbit there... I thought a new thread might be a good place to centralize some good data.)
 
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m&p45acp10+1

New member
Go online to Hodgdon's site. They have the best online load info on thier site of all of the powder manufacturers. I use thier powder almost exclusively just because of that fact.
 
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Doodlebugger45

New member
Hodgdon claims that 10.0 gr of Trail Boss gives a velocity of 1176 fps with a 150 gr bullet. That's just barely subsonic isn't it? I don't really remember what the speed of sound is most days because it soesn't really concern me.
 
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kraigwy

New member
10 grains of Trailboss works for me, both in 150 grn cast bullets and 174 pulled match bullets.

Edited to add:

I just found out That same load works grea in Mosin's 7.62X54R, 10 Gr TB and 174 pulled GI match bullets.
 
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ATCDoktor

New member
shooter_john handloading subsonic rifle rounds for use with suppressors requires a little experimenting by the shooter to get the right "recipe" for your gun.

I could write a page long post here and answer a million of your questions and I would most likely sound like a genius but that would not be as much help as the following suggestion:

Go here

http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=68

Read every single thread on what you interested in doing and it will save you many hours of time and many dollars in components (and quite possibly your suppressor).
 
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Unclenick

Staff
Trail Boss is simple in rifles. Read this article on the topic at the IMR site. Basically, don't load it below about 70% fill of the empty space under the bullet, and don't ever compress it (don't exceed 100%). If you stay in that range, you should be cool. Obviously, heavy bullets will not fly as fast for a give pressure level as light ones do. You will want to get a chronograph, if you don't have one, and see how that load range works out with each bullet weight you try?
 
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MADISON

New member
Subsonic? in .223 Remmington

I can not help you in subsonicing a 308 but, in 223 yes!
Get a copy of the Lee Shooter program for about $12.00. It lets you take
your caliber and bullet, with your full charge powder and go down to a velocity your want.

My "subsonic" load comes to an estimated 1850 fps.
55 grain bullet with 5.6 grains of UNIQUE.
 
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Unclenick

Staff
1850 fps is not subsonic. Sound speed is about 1120 fps at sea level in average barometric pressure conditions. 1850 fps will still make a sonic crack, negating much of the suppressor's value.

It's hard to make those little bullets go slowly enough. A 7" twist barrel and 90 grain bullets will be easiest to try to get it with.
 
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SL1

New member
WHY make subsonic .223s ?

I can understand subsonic .308s, but a subsonic .223 seems like a lot of work to duplicate the .22 rimfire subsonic load. And, the .22 rimfire bullets are blunt and soft lead that CAN expand a little instead of making an ineffective wound like a jacketed .223 round that won't expand. The rimfires also seem to have an accuracy advantage and an advantage in the consistency of their velocities. And, there are semi- (and even full-) automatic 22LR firearms, while an AR probably won't cycle a subsonic .223 reliably. And, .22LRs don't create the stuck bullet issue like subsonic jacketed bullets can in the .223. And, the .223 jacketed bullet probably costs as much as the whole .22LR cartridge.

So, other than "because it's a cool hand-loading project," why try to get so low with the .223 cartridge?

SL1
 
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Hey_Allen

New member
I'm guessing that the reason to try to get the 223 subsonic is due to purchasing a suppressor that can be fitted to either rifle.
Yes, you take an efficiency loss when using an under caliber round in the suppressor, but ~80% versus 0% reduction?
 
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