.222 Rem

09 December 2005, 00:44

Dthfrmbv

.222 Rem

I will be acquiring a .222 Rem barrel shortly and I do not have any experience with this round. I hope I like it. I hunt red fox and occasionlly groundhogs with a maximum range of 300 yards, but more like within 200. I do not reload and I'm curious about factory loads. Ricochets, as well as noise, are of a concern since there are houses nearby. What factory rounds would you recommend? Thanks.

09 December 2005, 01:17

.366torque

Nosler Custom: 40 gr. bt 3330 fps.
50 gr. bt 3025 fps.

Hornady Custom: 50 V Max 3140 fps.

Federal : 40 gr. Nos. bt. 3450 fps
50 soft point 3140 fps

You are purchasing a medium distance varmit rifle, that has a history of accuracy!

09 December 2005, 04:02

vapodog

it's a great and (normally) accurate varmint round.....

I agree.....load the 40 grain bullets.

09 December 2005, 05:26

groundhog devastation

The 50 grain PLHP offered by Remington was a real "fit" for the 222!! All the performance needed for varminting at 222 ranges!! Not sure if it's still offered as a commercial loading! If not then I'd opt for the 50 grain VMAX loading! VMAXs and varmints make "goo"!!! GHD

09 December 2005, 05:52

Avatar

A brilliant little round.
As accurate as they come, cheap to run, adequate power, and pleasant to shoot.

A 35grn VMAX at 3550 fps is trouble for varmints.
Take it up to a 55gr grainer at 3000 for the bigger stuff.

09 December 2005, 07:25

Dthfrmbv

I found commercial loaded 42 and 52 grain Calhoun bullets. Any good?

09 December 2005, 18:44

jbhewitt

The 222 is a pleasure to shoot,I just found one last year and have enjoyed it. The Calhoun bullets work very nice on small varmint haven't used them on anything larger than a prairie dog.

10 December 2005, 02:15

Cal Sibley

It just doesn't get any better than a .222Rem. and woodchucks out to about 200yds. It's been my favorite caliber for many years now. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

10 December 2005, 18:19

Joe Young

You willl love it, my old L46 is just right for what I want. I use a 52gr Sierra boattail, old habits I guess, havent tried the 40gr yet. Most 5 shot groups under 3/4 in, best just under 1/4 in.

10 December 2005, 23:10

bartsche

One of the nicer shooting bullets in my .222 is th 50 gr Speer TNT. The price is usually right on these also.

roger

10 December 2005, 23:27

mho

Your new .222 should be your incentive to get into reloading!

Surely, there is sufficient cheap and accurate factory ammo available for the .222. But it is such a sweet cartridge to feed, and you are likely to get (even) better results from handloads than from factories.

This is a good point in your shooting career to make the jump, and start rolling your own. It won't be cheap, but it will be a lot of fun. In a couple of years, you won't look back. What better cartridge to start with, than the wonderfully flexible and accurate .222??

- mike

12 December 2005, 10:06

ColoradoMatt

I use 50gr Nosler balistic tips in handloads for Coyotes. SUPER ACCURATE! It's a factory Rem. 700 ADL sporter with wood and blued steel. I won't post how accurate it is. Few would believe me. 50gr BT's go in and usally don't come out. Lung damage is spectacular. No sewing needed on the pelts. There is no better medium range varmint cartridge in my opinion. You will LOVE the 222. Two-twenty-two. It just sounds good, does it not?

Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."

14 December 2005, 00:58

Dthfrmbv

Triple Deuce sounds good too. I ended up purchasing some cheaper Federal 50 soft points for break-in and scope alignment. I am very excited to try this out. After last nights red fox hunt with a .17 HMR, I'm ready to get this thing sighted in.

17 December 2005, 12:54

Dthfrmbv

Shot my rifle today with the Federals mentioned above. It doesn't like the 50 grain soft points. I have some factory Remington 50 grain Accutips coming.

The barrel's twist rate is 1:14. Federal loads 40 grain ballistic tips in the premium line. Do you think they would be worth a try with this twist rate?

I was a little concerned with my purchase after shooting today since my groups were nowhere near the .222's reputation I keep hearing about. But, its still early and I have several more bullet options left to try.

17 December 2005, 20:36

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by Dthfrmbv:
I was a little concerned with my purchase after shooting today since my groups were nowhere near the .222's reputation I keep hearing about. .

Although the .222 is a beautifully designed cartridge when it comes to accuracy or repeatability the three duece is not magic. Probably more than 75% of all the accuracy magic is in the barrel.The rest is in bedding, components, loads, trigger, scope and hardware ect.

Last year my cousin thought he had bought a lemon. His .223 couldn't do better than 2" at 100 yds. After he had put over 200 rounds down the barrel it began to be a continual MOA rifle. You say your barrel is new; well it may just need a little execise.

Now I've put over a thousand rounds through my CZ 527 American in .222 and it seldom is MOA. It is , however a nice plinker and walk around rifle. lol

roger

20 December 2005, 12:10

roebuck222

Dthfrmbv,

If its factory ammo you want,and its available to you,I would recommend SAKO ammo to anyone
I use the 55 gr gamehead (3279 fps & 1312 flbs
at the muzzle...good stuff

http://www.sako.fi/pdf/specs/cart_datatable_2004.pdf

cheers
roebuck222

13 January 2006, 07:56

Jay Johnson

Since you do not reload I'll tell you right out to go with a .223. You'll have alot better selection of ammo. You did mention fox look for something with a bullet in the 35 to 40 Gr range.

13 January 2006, 12:59

ColoradoMatt

I agree with Jay Johnson. You would be much better seved with a 223 if you don't reload.

13 January 2006, 18:22

Dthfrmbv

I shot the HSM .222 Rem ammo yesterday and let me tell you I was hitting 3/4" dots at 100 yards 8 times out of 10. My friend, who is a competition shooter, was hitting 1/2" dots at that distance consistently. I believe I found my ammo. The HSM rounds are loaded with the Calhoon bullet for instant fragmentation. Mine were the 52 grainers and I found them at Cabela's.

13 January 2006, 23:53

stepchild 2

quote:
Originally posted by bartsche:
quote:
Originally posted by Dthfrmbv:
I was a little concerned with my purchase after shooting today since my groups were nowhere near the .222's reputation I keep hearing about. .

Although the .222 is a beautifully designed cartridge when it comes to accuracy or repeatability the three duece is not magic. Probably more than 75% of all the accuracy magic is in the barrel.The rest is in bedding, components, loads, trigger, scope and hardware ect.

Last year my cousin thought he had bought a lemon. His .223 couldn't do better than 2" at 100 yds. After he had put over 200 rounds down the barrel it began to be a continual MOA rifle. You say your barrel is new; well it may just need a little execise.

Now I've put over a thousand rounds through my CZ 527 American in .222 and it seldom is MOA. It is , however a nice plinker and walk around rifle. roger

Roger,
Perhaps, you should have chosen a Remington.
Stepchild

Never have I had a Remington that wouldn't shoot 1/2" or better groups, with most being .250-.300" and these were sporters!
And nothing over 12x scopes. They might metal foul to beat hell, but they SHOOT.

14 January 2006, 00:03

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by stepchild 2:
quote:
Originally posted by bartsche:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dthfrmbv:
Now I've put over a thousand rounds through my CZ 527 American in .222 and it seldom is MOA. It is , however a nice plinker and walk around rifle. roger

Roger,
Perhaps you should have chosen a Remington.
Stepchild

Perhaps.

roger

14 January 2006, 00:31

stepchild 2

Roger,
To clarify this, I have a lot of admiration for most of your posts. It just grinds me to think that a cartridge as GREAT as the the .222 is being obsoleted in favor of the .223. The only thing the .223 has going for it(as far as cost) is the availability of brass. Once you own 100 cases, the rest is of little concern.
This little darling once ruled benchrest and i'm sure that a properly prepared .222 is still able to compete and possibly win at 100 and 200 yd events.
At any rate the .222 is an outstanding cartridge!
Stepchild

14 January 2006, 07:30

fog

het dthfrmbv
tell us specs on your gun.glass,etc.

14 January 2006, 08:13

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by stepchild 2:
.222 is still able to compete and possibly win at 100 and 200 yd events.
At any rate the .222 is an outstanding cartridge! Stepchild

I could not agree more. I have a number of sentimentle favorites because of their design and historical performance; the .222 is amoung them. The small list is: 22-Varminter, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Carcano, 6.5X54, 6.5x55, 7x57 and 8x57. Now although I agree the 06 has a great history and is a great performer it doesn't appear on this list because it was little more than a modified copy of the 8x57.

roger

15 January 2006, 02:05

Dthfrmbv

This is for you fog.

Rifle: Blaser R93 Prestige
Barrel: 23" .222 Rem
Rate of Twist: 1:14
Scope: Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14 x 44 Z-Plex reticle
Rifle is stock with a free floated barrel

15 January 2006, 07:55

groundhog devastation

dfb, You'll love the .222!! Shoot those Calhoun bullets if that's what it likes!! I was in Maryland last weekend and the Red Foxes were something to behold ovr in Kent County!! Mating season and they were running everywhere!! I could have had a blast(pun intended) if we'd been allowed to shoot them!!! I called 7 of them up to my deer stand into bow range!!! "More fun than eatin beans!!" The .222 is a marvelous little invention! The .222Magnum is SUPERIOR to the .223!!! HAVE FUN!! You've got the original really accurate, fun to shoot, handy dandy varmint cartridge!!! GHD

15 January 2006, 08:25

Buster

Took my Sako Vixen .222 out today and busted a few Utah Jacks with it. Man, I love the sound a 40gr Vmax makes when you pound a rabbit good and solid, especially when they're out there a ways....Booooooom,....WHOP!

15 January 2006, 17:43

Dthfrmbv

GHD, There are a lot of good looking foxes in Kent Co. I went down there the other night to Caroline Co., which borders Kent on the shore, but couldn't call any in. That was a first. I figured someone maybe trapping on one of the bordering farms.

Buster, I've only shot one jack rabbit in my life in West TX with a .223 and I still remember the "WHOP" sound. Kinda like fireworks...Ooooo...Aaaah!