Subsonic 223 in a bolt gun. Shooting supressed

[arco_shooter]

I am trying to build an ultralight 223 bolt gun. I plan to shoot 77gr subsonics with a suppressor. But I want it to be as short a barrel as possible (sbr length).
At what point in cutting down the barrel would subsonics lose the required speed for rodents and other small game?
Thanks all!

 

[Greenmoustache]

I've played around with subsonic 223 just for fun back when TrailBoss wasn't impossible to find.

Is there a specific reason you want to go with 223 vs. 22lr? I assume it's the 77gr projectile, but in my experience a 45-55gr projectile is more than enough for rodents/squirrels etc and most standard velocity 22lr will be subsonic out of a SBR.

I found it was extremely finicky trying to get heavier projectiles subsonic with 223 due to the low case-fill and the line between supersonic and squib became extremely thin. 55gr projectiles on the other hand were much easier to consistently load in the ~950-1000 fps range but now you are back at 22lr performance just more expensive.

edit: If you aren't totally set on 223, I had a lot of luck loading subsonic 300 blackout with 110gr vmax projectiles and TrailBoss. They are also comically quiet and pack a decent punch at 1000fps if you are set on something heavier than standard 22 loads

 

[arco_shooter]

I've played around with subsonic 223 just for fun back when TrailBoss wasn't impossible to find.

Is there a specific reason you want to go with 223 vs. 22lr? I assume it's the 77gr projectile, but in my experience a 45-55gr projectile is more than enough for rodents/squirrels etc and most standard velocity 22lr will be subsonic out of a SBR.

I found it was extremely finicky trying to get heavier projectiles subsonic with 223 due to the low case-fill and the line between supersonic and squib became extremely thin. 55gr projectiles on the other hand were much easier to consistently load in the ~950-1000 fps range but now you are back at 22lr performance just more expensive.

edit: If you aren't totally set on 223, I had a lot of luck loading subsonic 300 blackout with 110gr vmax projectiles and TrailBoss. They are also comically quiet and pack a decent punch at 1000fps if you are set on something heavier than standard 22 loads

Thanks. I wanted something heavier than 22lr but not as big as 300 blackout. So I was looking at heavier 223 because they pack enough punch while still subsonic

 

[redbullitt]

A bolt action 38special or 357mag would be my pick. Great bullets meant for those speeds and fast fluffy powders are very quiet if you have more than an 8 inch barrel and decent can

 

[99mpower]

A bolt action 38special or 357mag would be my pick. Great bullets meant for those speeds and fast fluffy powders are very quiet if you have more than an 8 inch barrel and decent can

bolt action 38spl? that sounds fun

 

[arco_shooter]

bolt action 38spl? that sounds fun

A bolt action 38spl does sound fun!