stoney1666
Member
I don't have a can, but was just wondering if it could be done and cycle a AR.
can a 223 be made subsonic
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I doubt it, because at that point you have a 55ish grain projectile at or below 1100fps...which is 22 long rifle territory. Maybe if you used the heaviest 223 bullet you can find, I think 80gn, may be able to download to subsonic. A better option may be to get a 22lr upper for your AR and run subsonic ammo.
I guess there is subsonic 223
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...nic-77-grain-hollow-point-boat-tail-box-of-50
But this is from the product literature:
Atomic Ammunition’s 223 Remington Subsonic is unlike any .223 Rem ammunition. It is quieter than most .22 Long Rifle ammo, produces the same energy and power as most 380 ACP ammunition and delivers excellent accuracy out to 100 yards from rifles with barrel twist rates of 1 in 7’’ or faster. This ammunition is not specifically designed to cycle semi or fully automatic weapons.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...nic-77-grain-hollow-point-boat-tail-box-of-50
But this is from the product literature:
Atomic Ammunition’s 223 Remington Subsonic is unlike any .223 Rem ammunition. It is quieter than most .22 Long Rifle ammo, produces the same energy and power as most 380 ACP ammunition and delivers excellent accuracy out to 100 yards from rifles with barrel twist rates of 1 in 7’’ or faster. This ammunition is not specifically designed to cycle semi or fully automatic weapons.
CMV
Member
You can, but it takes a decent amount of work to get an AR to cycle subsonic reliably.
Supersonic, .223 with a can is loud. A 10/22 however can be pretty much all action noise, so that's probably a better option for hush hush .22. Even better option with AR platform is 300BLK. You can cycle a suppressed 300BLK all day long on subs and surprisingly quiet. And a subsonic 300BLK round is hitting @ 100 yds with about the same energy as a .45ACP at the muzzle.
This is mine & a buddy's ARs with 300 BLK. Even directly in front like that it's pretty quiet.
Integral suppressed 10/22
Supersonic, .223 with a can is loud. A 10/22 however can be pretty much all action noise, so that's probably a better option for hush hush .22. Even better option with AR platform is 300BLK. You can cycle a suppressed 300BLK all day long on subs and surprisingly quiet. And a subsonic 300BLK round is hitting @ 100 yds with about the same energy as a .45ACP at the muzzle.
This is mine & a buddy's ARs with 300 BLK. Even directly in front like that it's pretty quiet.
Integral suppressed 10/22
jmorris
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I have never seen a .223 sub round that would cycle a regular AR 15.
Get a 22 conversion and shoot “standard velocity” ammunition and your there.
I like the videos though. This one is a buddy of mine shooting my suppressed 458 socom (sub 405gn) at a steel target 300 yds away, he missed on the 3rd shot.
Get a 22 conversion and shoot “standard velocity” ammunition and your there.
I like the videos though. This one is a buddy of mine shooting my suppressed 458 socom (sub 405gn) at a steel target 300 yds away, he missed on the 3rd shot.
cougar1717
Member
Just put this in perspective - a 223 Rem fired in an AR has a pressure around 50,000psi and a little under if measured by CUP (say 48,000 CUP). It's approximately 25 grains of powder turned into gas to get velocities around 3,000 fps.
Lets be generous with subsonic stats - lets say that a subsonic velocity is 1,100fps. Hodgdon's subsonic data for 223 Rem with 55gr bullets is approximately 4 grains of powder and 4,000 CUP.
Hodgdon has data for subsonic 223, but you can see really quickly that any recoil system built for cycling 48,000 CUP won't be able to also cycle something that's approximately 1/10 of the pressure. It doesn't mean that it is impossible. Somebody out there may make an ultralight bcg, buffer, and recoil spring for the express purpose of cycling subsonic 223. The problem would be to make sure that you don't shoot a full power cartridge in it, only the subsonic ammo. Then, what do you have really? - it's a "better mousetrap sim22LR AR" that shoots jacketed bullets with less than stellar accuracy.
Lets be generous with subsonic stats - lets say that a subsonic velocity is 1,100fps. Hodgdon's subsonic data for 223 Rem with 55gr bullets is approximately 4 grains of powder and 4,000 CUP.
Hodgdon has data for subsonic 223, but you can see really quickly that any recoil system built for cycling 48,000 CUP won't be able to also cycle something that's approximately 1/10 of the pressure. It doesn't mean that it is impossible. Somebody out there may make an ultralight bcg, buffer, and recoil spring for the express purpose of cycling subsonic 223. The problem would be to make sure that you don't shoot a full power cartridge in it, only the subsonic ammo. Then, what do you have really? - it's a "better mousetrap sim22LR AR" that shoots jacketed bullets with less than stellar accuracy.
Riccochet
Member
JRB has video of making some sub-223.
To use for side hunts after your main hunt is finished? It’s much easier to carry a few extra rounds of ammunition than an entire rifle. I load the cast 55 grain “Bator” bullet in my 223 to 22 WRF velocities. Accurate enough out to 40 yards or so. They have provided many a small game stew at the hunt camp. I do the same thing using the 113 grain cast “soup can" bullet in my 300 BLK and 30-30.
And no, the 223 Bator loads nor will the 113 grain Soup Can loads cycle a semi automatic.
jmorris
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I actually find it easier to have two different guns or at least uppers. If you are changing nothing but ammunition you have two very different POA/POI relationships with sub vs super ammo.
If changing zeros isn’t an issue, one of these will give you semiauto function with subs out if your .223 AR.
bluetopper
Member
Why? Get a 22 lr. Why do people try to neuter rifle rounds?
stoney1666
Member
I'll go with a 22 conversion kit, that makes sense
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