Cupcake

Just a thought, my buddy was talking about a .22 kit for his AR15 (for shooting squirrels and bunnies and such), and wondering how fast he could convert back to .223. That made me wonder, any reason why a guy that reloaded his own couldn't make a cartridge out or standard .223 brass and bullet that packs the punch of a .22LR? I figure it wouldn't cycle properly, so basically you have a bolt-action rifle, sort of. Right? Carry loaded with a mag of these "wimp-loads" for hunting little stuff and if the need arises (other in-season game, or wild pig (legal any-time, for any hunter in MI)), just swap mags and bangy-bangy.

Now, tell me the truth: How idiotic is this Idea? Go ahead, I can take it. (or better yet, tell me it's brilliant)

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Cupcake

Anybody out there? Someone at least tell me I'm a moron...

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P95Carry

Care is needed with reduced loads in HV bottle-neck rifle rounds IMO.

Sure, you can download by maybe 20% to 25% but to get ''whisper'' rounds can entail having a very poorly filled case.

If a lot of space spare for powder there have reputedly been cases of what is called ''detonation'' - not sure if that is strictly the case but anyways - over-pressure. Plus too maybe inconsistency in accuracy.

I load some .303 and .308 rounds with cast bullets, keeping MV well below 2k fps - but i use a very high bulk powder so as to not have too empty a case.

Best you can do is experiment a bit but - do not go too low on charge weight - that's my take. Not necessarily as easy as it seems - and you want to stay safe too. Much better is right cal/gun for the job.

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aus71383

Its probably a bad idea especially with a gas operated gun. There needs to be a certain amount of pressure just to get the brass to seal the chamber off - otherwise you'll get burnt badly. Then you need extra gas to make the gun cycle. Also, those little 55 grain bullets (or 40, or 77 - whatever) need some speed to make sure they get out of the barrel. I think it could probably be done in a bolt action or single shot .223 a lot more safely than in an AR. Semi-automatics generally have looser chambers and need plenty of pressure to be safe. I've heard of guys using Unique and cast lead boolits for target ammo in big game rifles....but a .223 isn't much to start with really.

FWIW switching calibers from .22 LR to .223 on an AR would take about 30 seconds if you were moving slow. Take off the upper, swap out the buffer and buffer spring, put on different upper. Done.

Austin

farronwolf

+1 for bad idea in making a .223 perform like a .22lr.

Why would you want to spend as much for the lead as what a .22lr round can be bought much less the time, powder, primer ect to make the bullet act like something it isn't.

My vote is to just go out and get a nice 22 rifle. That wasn't part of the OP, but everyone needs a good 22 in their cabinet.

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mcp1810

I don't know if anyone is marketing them anymore but you used to be able to get adapter cartridges. Basically a brass .223 snap cap that screwed apart and had a .22lr chamber in it. They also had them for shooting .30 carbine loads out of .308 or .30-06 chambers.

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Cupcake

The idea was to be able to fire either while in the field, without lugging 2 guns. Thanks for the education guys, I guess a lot of things sound like a good idea when you don't know what you are talking about. The adapters sound interesting...

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SIXTO

Its all frosting on that cupcake isnt it? Low power 223 is a bad idea, just as the other posters pointed out.

The .22 conversion is super easy, and could be switched back and forth in a matter of seconds. Its a matter of switching out the bolt and magazine... thats it.

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QKShooter

I don't think they are being made anymore.
Yes, there was a .223 Rem to .22 Rim Fire.

I had some a long time ago that converted .45 acp to .22 rimfire.
There was a barrel insert and lathe turned steel "cartridges" that the .22 slipped into.
It worked quite well but, (of course) the action would not cycle and the sights were way off due to the recoil difference.

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blueyedevil

+1 for bad Idea, tell him to save up a few bucks and buy a .22. Loading a .223 down that low would be down right dangerous, might not have enough juice to clear the barrel, very low load density etc.