OK. So I know this topic has been beaten to death but I had a sudden urge to dust off the old Savage and play around with some light loads. Years ago I got hold of a Handloader (157) article called "Petite Loads For Squirrels" by Glenn Stewart and at the time I had a great little TC Contender custom carbine barrel. It was hard to make that thing shoot a BIGGER group than 1" @100yds. So I made bunches of loads and seemed to find that my 223 loved H4198. With anything from 40-55gr VMaxes and 14ish to 20ish grains of H4198 it semed to hold pretty near 3/4" at 100 yds. I had never experienced such consistency before or since.
In years since I've messed around with 800X, 2400, Blue Dot, I think maybe even Bullseye for "slow" loads. I have ben warned not to reduce loads of slow rifle powders and that seems to be consistent regardless of who you're speaking to. I assumed that H4198 worked well becasue it is relatively fast for a rifle powder.
So now I have a Savage with a 1 in 9" barrel and I'm thinking of working out some similar loads but I happen to have a big jug of AA2200 (DATA POWDER). I've gotten down to 14gr with some 75gr AMaxes and it's grouping pretty well at 50 yards. I haven't chronoed them but I should be getting down around 2000 fps, and it's getting quiet. Big question: Am I going to blow my own face off?

Oh yeah, and I always double and triple check for double charges and when I'm experimenting I always check for squibbs.

Accurate has some reduced loads (for some cartridges) on their web site. Otherwise go to 24 hour campfire and get in touch with a fellow uses the name Seafire; he's worked with reduced loads with Blue Dot. Good luck and be careful.

Have you tried Trail Boss. Haha, its definitely a light load.

Yah, and you can't over-fill with trail boss (TB).
What I've found with TB in general, is it is just too soft for supersonic FPS.
But great for subsonic loads.

Sorry, got a little busy there, but I managed to find a few loads I had already made up (3 years ago?). 75gr AMAX on 14gr 2200 and 55gr VMAX on 18gr 2200. So I managed to sneak out and burn a few.
The 75s seem to stabilize ok. Not bad at 50 yds but fall apart by 100. Maybe 3” groups or so. The 55gr made a fuzzy bug hole at 50, and under .5” at 100 yds. I was kind of surprised because the 55 grainers are pulled bullets, moly coated. It’s not exactly quiet but definitely low intensity. I need to try 200 yards to see how far they drop and maybe chrono them but I think I can live with it.
I wish there was more info on what makes reduced loads so unpredictable. I haven’t had any problems but I am very careful when experimenting. I just don’t like thinking I’m immune to screwing up and these are uncharted waters. Thanks for the input.

Reduced loads for .223 listed here- might be worth a try.
Jim
http://www.accuratereloading.com/223rem.html

try 60% to 80% of a published load with h4895........
Try Accurate 5744........ it shoots well with reduced loads.... I don't have time right now to give you info.... but search for 5744 loads.......

also a full case of a slow powder like 4831 or aa3100 or even slower will give reduced velocities..... but not necessarily the recoil reduction you might expect... if that matters...... a lot less than a full case of a slow for caliber powder can be dangerous...... a full case of slow powder is very safe..

for Blue dot loading a 223.... do NOT!! load over 50% of case capacity.. because this is a fast for caliber powder.... a full case of blue dot in a 223(222,22-250) is very dangerous.... 20% to 40% of a full case of blue dot has been used to create enjoyable shooting rounds for some people....

An intriguing thing about using blue dot is the ability to get loads using a small about of powder and not heat the barrel as quickly... blue dot loads have also shown good accuracy at lower velocities than one normally thinks of for a 223...

I enjoy reduced power loads for some applications.. I enjoy making loads that do not exactly duplicate factory loads..... I have an 8mm mauser and a 760 rem in 308 that is use for "big bore plinkers" both have peep sights... I have used 4895 and 5744 for both of them with success.... and I just use them to plink at the same things i do with a 22lr .. sometimes it just suits my mood..... the 760 is not fun to shoot with full power loads.... with my reduced load using 4895.. it is a hoot to shoot


also
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/bee.php



http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=63662

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2901091

Nice link ilmo, thanks for the info.

I am a bit interested in reduced loads myself. I have some 2200 powder. Did you start with book minimum loads and work down to 18 grains with the 55gr bullets? I too do not want to blow myself or equipment up!

READ THIS FOR 5744.........

http://www.varminter.com/forums/topic/8708-reduced-loads-with-accurate-5744/

12 -13 gr blue dot

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/557100696?r=557100696#557100696

ilmo, thanks for the links!!! Interesting stuff.

Speer reloading #14 has reduced loads for the 223.

All the old Speer manuals had reduced load data for a bunch of the bottle-necked cartridges. You can find em cheap on ebay and such if you want. Personally, I stick to published data in the reloading manuals, not internet advise, although many times they align. Trail Boss will get you 22LR-22WMR performance in a 222/223. H4895 and AA 5744 will get you the next step higher (22 Hornet and more). 700X and 800X were listed in the Speer manuals decades ago also. All with published data. I've never seen the Blue Dot loads pressure tested or recommended by Alliant, so I'll refrain, thanx. No need when there's tested data on other powders to go to. Plenty of success stories on these powders alone.