Subsonic 5.56 ammo

[Charles S]

I just heard from my local gun shop that my new Smith Enterprise Wind Talker 5.56 sound suppressor arrived today.

http://www.smithenterprise.com/products11.html

Now I get to fill out my paperwork and wait on my tax stamp. This does however bring up a question. Where can I get subsonic 5.56 ammo.

The can will be mounted on a 16 inch barrel Bushmaster. A quick internet search reveals a variety of subsonic 5.56 ammo. Can anyone recommend a specific manufacturer and if so what source did you use to purchase it?

I appreciate your assistance.

 

[GRAPE-DRANK]

http://www.ebr-inc.net/556UltraStealthMatchSubsonic.html

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/13...emington-100-grain-asp-full-cycling-box-of-20

http://www.ttiarmory.com/223.html

 

[Charles S]

I have done the internet searches and have found all of the above websites. Do you have any experience with the loads?

I have searched the Internet & found as much as I can. I was hoping to find someone's personal experience.

 

[wally]

A sub-sonic 5.56 gets you into "mouse gun" .25ACP/.32ACP.380ACP territory, so I'd have to ask why? What can it do a suppressed .22lr can't?

At least with .300 Blackout and 220gr sub-sonic you can get .45ACP like energy levels and significantly better ballistic coefficient for longer effective range.

 

[Charles S]

A sub-sonic 5.56 gets you into "mouse gun" .25ACP/.32ACP.380ACP territory, so I'd have to ask why? What can it do a suppressed .22lr can't?

At least with .300 Blackout and 220gr sub-sonic you can get .45ACP like energy levels and significantly better ballistic coefficient for longer effective range.

Agreed, but I am not looking for energy. The primary purpose of this can is to shoot full power 5.56 ammo. However I would like one or two twenty round magazines loaded with subsonic ammo for punching paper, ringing plates, or taking care of small varmints.

I already have a 22 can set up for use on several host, but like the idea of redundancy. Thus, I am intersted in a quantity of good subsonic 5.56 ammo.

 

[jmorris]

What can it do a suppressed .22lr can't?

The only argument I have seen is a jacketed .223 bullet won't lead up the can like a .22 but I agree a single shot AR with the power of a .22of and the cost of 223 seems kinda silly. I would suggest trying each SS load out to make sure the bullet is stable before mounting the can.

 

[Captains1911]

A sub-sonic 5.56 gets you into "mouse gun" .25ACP/.32ACP.380ACP territory, so I'd have to ask why? What can it do a suppressed .22lr can't?

At least with .300 Blackout and 220gr sub-sonic you can get .45ACP like energy levels and significantly better ballistic coefficient for longer effective range.

This. Sub-sonic 5.56 makes no sense

 

[Nikdfish]

With a sub-sonic .223 you get pretty much the exact same thing as firing the 60 grain .22 Aquila SS round with a .22 LR conversion. (except no BCG change & no autoload ...)

Nick

 

[Ranb]

With a sub-sonic .223 you get pretty much the exact same thing as firing the 60 grain .22 Aquila SS round with a .22 LR conversion.

Not even close. What are people getting for speeds with the Aguila subsonic 60 gain ammo anyway? The best I could do was a bit over 700 fps in various pistols and rifles.

Let's say we have a 22lr 40 grain moving 1050 fps and a 60 grain moving 750 fps (can anyone do any better?). This gives us 98 ft-lbs and 75 ft-lbs. Compare this to a 70 grain Speer RN at 1050 fps; about 171 ft-lbs. Almost 75% greater energy. Use a heavier bullet and you get even more power. Another factor is that due to the much greater powder charge in the subsonic 223 (about 7 grains) compared to the 22lr (about 2 grains?) the subsonic 223 is going to be much noisier than any subsonic 22lr especially when suppressed.

Using a 300 whisper or 300 Blackout upper is much nicer. You get true semi-auto capability and much more power from the 240 grain bullet or supersonic 125 grain bullet. I never got any better than double the group size with subsonic 223 compared to standard ammo in my ar-15. If you want quiet, go with 22lr, if you want power and accuracy go with 300 Blackout. I have loaded subsonic 223 in the past and found it was boring, so I don't do it anymore.

I think buying specialty ammo is for suckers. Buying a single stage press will save you money in the long run, the short run if you are buying subsonic 223. Loading your own means you do not have to put up with subsonic ammo that actually goes transonic/supersonic and is noisy, or ammo loaded so weak as to guarantee subsonic velocity but only runs 800-900 fps with a trajectory that rivals a mortar.

Ranb

 

[Charles S]

Ranb,

Thanks, that is the information I was looking for.

 

[rodensouth]

Good post Ranb, saved this sucker some money!

 

[Ranb]

Just to be clear, I am comparing my subsonic 223 handloads to my supersonic 223 handloads. I have never shot any commercially manufactured 223 subsonic. I have no opinion at all on the commercial subsonic 223 other than that it is not tailored specifically for my rifle and is more money then I am willing to pay. But then I only shoot reloaded ammo other than 22lr and 7.62x39.

Ranb