Small game 223 load

[Yooper25]

Anybody load slow, maybe even subsonic 223 specifically for small game? My thought is it would be sweet to be able to shoot a grouse or ptarmigan while bear hunting without blowing it up too bad.

 

[coyotekilla]

Have you tried an fmj?

Edit* you said while bear hunting. Better off
A.) Not hunting bear with 223.
B.) Not carrying a non killing bear load while looking for said bear

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Anybody load slow, maybe even subsonic 223 specifically for small game? My thought is it would be sweet to be able to shoot a grouse or ptarmigan while bear hunting without blowing it up too bad.

I’ve thought about it before, but I always come back to “just aim for the head or neck.”

I had a good discussion with my dad about the supposed virtues of a .22 Hornet and 16 gauge combination gun for bird hunting. He eventually talked me out of it.

 

[waspocrew]

I’d just carry a 22 lr pistol with a can. Crazy quiet.

 

[Yooper25]

Have you tried an fmj?

Edit* you said while bear hunting. Better off
A.) Not hunting bear with 223.
B.) Not carrying a non killing bear load while looking for said bear

I would be using 73 eldm or 77 tmk for bear but I would like to also like to have have some loads that won’t blow up small game.

 

[wowzers]

I would be using 73 eldm or 77 tmk for bear but I would like to also like to have have some loads that won’t blow up small game.

Take a look at the link in this post.

Post in thread 'Centerfire handloads for Small Game?'
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/centerfire-handloads-for-small-game.341227/post-3520643

Another option would be a chamber adapter. I always wanted to get one for my Savage 24 so I could shoot 22lr in the .222 barrel.

 

[Thegman]

Search my screen name and "Trail boss", I've posted about these multiple times.

Speer 46 grain FP over about 4 grains of Trail Boss, Extra Lite, Red Dot, Clays...what have you. These work really well for what you're describing.

 

[Vern400]

Anybody load slow, maybe even subsonic 223 specifically for small game? My thought is it would be sweet to be able to shoot a grouse or ptarmigan while bear hunting without blowing it up too bad.

Yeah I use 40 and 50 grain bullets.
They're five bucks for a box of 50.

 

[Yooper25]

View attachment 1044779

Search my screen name and "Trail boss", I've posted about these multiple times.

Speer 46 grain FP over about 4 grains of Trail Boss, Extra Lite, Red Dot, Clays...what have you. These work really well for what you're describing.

Does using a different powder affect your poi at all when you shoot one with trail boss then another with your high velocity powder?

 

[Thegman]

Does using a different powder affect your poi at all when you shoot one with trail boss then another with your high velocity powder?

Not appreciably that I have seen.

These do produce a lot of carbon in the barrel relative to normal high-pressure loads. When I shoot a number of them in a row, I will often later run a dry patch though the barrel a few times to remove most of that soft carbon left behind, just in case.

 

[waspocrew]

Does using a different powder affect your poi at all when you shoot one with trail boss then another with your high velocity powder?

Disregard, misread your question.