Does anyone have experience in reloading 55-60 grainers in a 222 with the N135 ? I would appreciate your feedback, positive or negative.

Welcome. Always work up a load, You might find a good load using less powder.
Sierra 55gr FMJBT 21.gr CCIBR2 norma Brass.
Start at 19grs and work up.
This load is for Riihimäki Sako 222 new SS barrel.

SMK 52 have proven the most accurate in my Blaser rifle. With said 52 Sierra MatchKing I tried the most compatible Vihtavuori powders and got 5-shots groups like :

- N 135 / 23.0 = .2 MOA
- N 130 / 20.5 = .2 MOA
- N 133 / 22.5 = .15 MOA (most accurate)

Same tests were run with Hornady A-Max 52 and proved a little less accurate.


Blaser JagdMatch .222 Rem with Lothar Walther U.I.T. BBL. + Swarovski 6-24/50 AO.

Thanks Hivelosity and Andre M. for your replies.
Great groups with all 3 Viht powders Andre (and a nice rifle !).
I am about to reload Hornady 60gr SP, and have yet to choose (and buy) the powder.
Am I right in thinking N135 might be better than N133 for that bullet weight, in terms of accuracy ? Which would you recommend ? The rifle is a CZ527 with a 24 inch barrel.

I cant speak to the N133... I shoot mostly 40gr to 55 gr Sierra Hp or Vmax. I use H380 with good results. I use a reduced load with 40gr Vmax and Bluedot.
N135 for the heavier bullets. my groups are at.35" 100 yrds. The bluedot load is my turkey load. generally put 5 shots in the same hole at 75 yrds.

I would choose the N 135 for the 160 g bullet. I've done tests with a Nosler 160 HP but could'nt keep the same accuracy level (true, I'm comparing a MatchKing with a hunting bullet).
Also, my rifle has a 1-14" twist and (in theory at least) a 1-12" would suit >55g bullets better.

OTOH, the Hornady 52 A-Max shoots along the SMK.

Many thanks both for your feedback.
I assume André you meant 60gr bullets rather than 160gr ...
So N135 I will try...

I stand corrected, 60 it is, of course. A 160g .224 bullet should have an interesting length with a formidable BC though, provided there's still room left for the powder charge in a .222 case

By the way, do you crimp your .224 bullets or not ?

I don't. I crimp only heavy recoil calibers.
Handgun 38, 357 and 44mag get crimped

I don't crimp rifle ctgs.,up to and including 9,3x74R. All handgun loads are taper crimped, including revolver loads, which practically eliminates case length limitation as compared to roll crimping. Regarding the latter, I handload for pistols on a Dillon XL 650, using Dillon proprietery dies ; their seating dies offer both roll or taper crimp options. Even my TC'd .44 Mag bullets remain seated with full loads.