.222 Remington
- Thread starter doceaux
- Start date
I'm pretty much stuck on the Hornady V-max lately. Been shooting the little 35 grainers with super accuracy and barn burning fps, but I haven't been able to get them lately. The forty's are more available, and also very good. I seat them right out to the lands.
Powders, my faves are H-335 and BLC-2. However I've just been experimenting with some IMR 4320 just cause I have a bunch. Can't get enough in the case to get to max pressures or high fps, but it's shooting very well. I'll admit to being lazy about weighing charges, and much prefer a powder that meters "dead on".
I've used both standard primers and mag, and honestly haven't found benefit of one over the other. I stick with one or the other with whatever load I work up, but I'm pretty much gonna just start using standard and call it good.
My rifle is an old, (seventies vintage) ADL, 24", 1-14 twist, that is horribly eroded. It still rips out 1/2 MOA groups pretty regularly.
You'll find a lot of guys who will sing the praises of this little cartridge, and I'm one of em. jd
Powders, my faves are H-335 and BLC-2. However I've just been experimenting with some IMR 4320 just cause I have a bunch. Can't get enough in the case to get to max pressures or high fps, but it's shooting very well. I'll admit to being lazy about weighing charges, and much prefer a powder that meters "dead on".
I've used both standard primers and mag, and honestly haven't found benefit of one over the other. I stick with one or the other with whatever load I work up, but I'm pretty much gonna just start using standard and call it good.
My rifle is an old, (seventies vintage) ADL, 24", 1-14 twist, that is horribly eroded. It still rips out 1/2 MOA groups pretty regularly.
You'll find a lot of guys who will sing the praises of this little cartridge, and I'm one of em. jd
I like 4198 in this cartridge. A lot. Many a cloverleaf. I've also got some Reloader 10X I've been meaning to try in it. The trick is, with the 14" twist you need to stick to flat base, stubby bullets as you get toward the upper end of the .222 bullet weight range, which, IME is about 50 grain bullets. A 52 grain boattail would not not shoot nearly as well as a flat base 50 grain bullet in mine because of the length difference. My rifle is also older, 80's era Rem 600. Real tack driver, though. 50 grains and about 0.66" length seemed to be the limit.
4198 is a good, possibly the best choice for the .222. Surprisingly, 4895 does ok too (is there any rifle 4895 doesn't work in?
) I have also had reasonably good results with WW748.
I see no point to using magnum primers in the .222. There just isn't that much powder being burnt. Although, a specific combination with a mag primer might give good accuracy in your gun.
And that's the key. Which combination of what does best in your rifle.
.222s usually handle the regular 55gr flatbase bullet well enough, but the seem to live for the 50gr, or lighter. Despite their popularity these days (.223, primarily) FORGET heavy bullets for the .222. There is data for 60gr but my experience says they are, essentially, a waste of time, and money.
If you're lucky, your .222 will group the heavy slugs as well as a deer rifle, but not up to the standards of varmint shooting. If you aren't lucky, they won't even shoot that well.
The .222 ruled the benchrest circuit for many years, it is a very accurate round, and the rifles generally do it justice, if you stick with the bullets it is meant for.
Unclenick, are you sure your 600 is from the 80s? Maybe its a little older? I'm not certain, I'd have to check, but I'm thinking Remington dropped the 600 series in the latter 70s, although they kept building the rifles under the Mohawk name till the early 80s, I think.
I have one of the Rem 600s in .222. Really neat gun. I also have a 10" .222 barrel for my Contender. I'm a bit of an oddball, I'm not a big fan of the .223. I like the .222, and when I want more, I go to the .22-250. I skip the .223 for varmint shooting, no point to it, for me. I do have a .223, but its a Mini-14, and not a good varmint rifle.
Keep .222 loads to 50gr bullets or less, and load just short of max, and you usually see outstanding accuracy.
) I have also had reasonably good results with WW748.I see no point to using magnum primers in the .222. There just isn't that much powder being burnt. Although, a specific combination with a mag primer might give good accuracy in your gun.
And that's the key. Which combination of what does best in your rifle.
.222s usually handle the regular 55gr flatbase bullet well enough, but the seem to live for the 50gr, or lighter. Despite their popularity these days (.223, primarily) FORGET heavy bullets for the .222. There is data for 60gr but my experience says they are, essentially, a waste of time, and money.
If you're lucky, your .222 will group the heavy slugs as well as a deer rifle, but not up to the standards of varmint shooting. If you aren't lucky, they won't even shoot that well.
The .222 ruled the benchrest circuit for many years, it is a very accurate round, and the rifles generally do it justice, if you stick with the bullets it is meant for.
Unclenick, are you sure your 600 is from the 80s? Maybe its a little older? I'm not certain, I'd have to check, but I'm thinking Remington dropped the 600 series in the latter 70s, although they kept building the rifles under the Mohawk name till the early 80s, I think.
I have one of the Rem 600s in .222. Really neat gun. I also have a 10" .222 barrel for my Contender. I'm a bit of an oddball, I'm not a big fan of the .223. I like the .222, and when I want more, I go to the .22-250. I skip the .223 for varmint shooting, no point to it, for me. I do have a .223, but its a Mini-14, and not a good varmint rifle.
Keep .222 loads to 50gr bullets or less, and load just short of max, and you usually see outstanding accuracy.
Now your talking about a love affair. Back in 1979 I picked up a Rem.700 Varmint special. I will never let it go. It always shot well but after I glass bedded it and floated the barrel it was amazing. The trigger is good but a new lighter quality trigger would make it easier to shoot baby aspirins at 100Yds. At this time my best powder is BLC2 with 50gr. Hornady #2245 SP. or SXSP. But I have had good results with others 50 gr. bullets. Now I plan to try one of Hodgdon new extreme powder (Benchmark). If I were you that is where I would start. Remington 7 1/2 primers has been serving me well but I suggest that you experiment with primers since it can make a big difference. I have had 1/4" 5 shot groups. I have been averaging 3/8" groups but am always looking for better. I think you will really enjoy your new toy.
Did some work on a 1974 vintage Rem 788 in 222 last summer. Almost a complete overhaul. Took three weeks to get all the contaminants out of the barrel.
Load development went exceptional. Settled in the following as the load for that rifle.
Cutting Edge 40 gr ESP Raptor pushed by 20.4 gr IMR 4198.
Average grouping was 0.375 for 10 shots.
Average velocity was 3508 fps for 10 shots.
Bullet seated 0.205 first driving band to lands,
COL 2.193"
Load development went exceptional. Settled in the following as the load for that rifle.
Cutting Edge 40 gr ESP Raptor pushed by 20.4 gr IMR 4198.
Average grouping was 0.375 for 10 shots.
Average velocity was 3508 fps for 10 shots.
Bullet seated 0.205 first driving band to lands,
COL 2.193"
gonetocamp
New member
I load IMR 3031 in my Rem. 600 Mohawk and Sierra 52 gr. HPBT Matchkings. I played with other powders but found no reason to change.
my favorite cartridge.
I've been developing loads for this sweetheart for awhile now. Haven't gotten very far. my gun loves Blc(2) with 52gn Sierra HPBT match kings, they punch one small hole. At the starting load oddly enough. I've also used H335 with Sierra varminters with great success! I'm not next to my data right this second but I'd be happy to share all that I've developed so far if you like. Just ask. I'm shooting a sako L46 pre vixen. Very accurate and fun to shoot. Brass is necksized by the way. I've got a pound of IMR 4198 I can't wait to try too. Just trying to finish development on the other two powders first.
I've been developing loads for this sweetheart for awhile now. Haven't gotten very far. my gun loves Blc(2) with 52gn Sierra HPBT match kings, they punch one small hole. At the starting load oddly enough. I've also used H335 with Sierra varminters with great success! I'm not next to my data right this second but I'd be happy to share all that I've developed so far if you like. Just ask. I'm shooting a sako L46 pre vixen. Very accurate and fun to shoot. Brass is necksized by the way. I've got a pound of IMR 4198 I can't wait to try too. Just trying to finish development on the other two powders first.
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I have had my Sako Vixen a long long time....almost 40 years.... And, more than a few hundred whistle pigs ago...... I have no intention of trying to wring a few more fps out of it.... ACCURACY FIRST.... MY SCOPE ADJUSTS.... i HOPE MY GRANDSON(S) DROP A FEW MORE CHUCKS FAR OFF INTO THE FUTURE IN MEMORY OF ME AND MY LIFELONG AFFAIR WITH MY TRIPLE DEUCE.