Light load for 222 Rem.

C

Coppershot

New member
Folks,

I have a turkey rifle (222 Rem short action, Douglass barrel 18" stepped down) in 222 Rem. and am looking for a light load for wild turkey (legal in Virginia).

I have mostly Berger VLD target bullets in the 50 to 55 gr. range as well as some old 50 grain Winchester bullets. I'm using Lapua match grade brass. I have plenty of IMR 4198 and Norma 200 / 201 but can get other powders. Anyone have a light load that might work well? I can go down to 1600 fps and still have plenty of zip to do the job.
 
1600 fps will be a very long way under minimum for any jacketed bullet. Dangerously unsafe.
Cast bullet maybe though. Have some cast data in my old Lyman book. Velocities for a cast 58 grain with gas checks(Lyman mold #225462) are starting at 1510.
Mind you, accuracy is far more important than velocity. You'd have to consider the rifling twist as well.
 
4198 works in light loads in other cartridges. A load about 80% of published max should fill the case to over 60%. A short, flat base, 50 gr bullet should be stable.
 
Hi. There are some loads that start a bit over 2600. H4895 starts at 2466 for a 50 grain bullet according to Hodgdon. They tested in a 1 in 14.
I really don't think velocity matters though. Assuming head shots on a turkey(body shot would destroy too much meat) accuracy is far more important. Match bullets ok for turkey?
80% of published max for a 50 grain of 'H' or IMR4198 is also under minimum.
 
T. O'Heir said:
1600 fps will be a very long way under minimum for any jacketed bullet. Dangerously unsafe
Click to expand...

You just have to choose the right powder. Indeed, 1600 fps is the performance you would expect to get from an 18" barrel following IMR's recommendation for a starting load of Trail Boss (70% fill) with a 50 grain jacketed rifle bullet in the 222 Rem.


Coppershot,

I have an 18" Remington 600 in triple deuce. Something like a VLD would be hopelessly poorly stabilized by its slow rifling twist. Indeed, I found just going from a 50 grain flat base soft point bullet to a 52 grain boattail match bullet reduced precision (increased group size) in my rifle due to the bullet's greater length and the lower resulting stability factor. As you decrease velocity, that critical length will shorten a little owing to the increase in drag coefficient as you drop nearer to the speed of sound. That does not tracking with the reduction in RPM from lower speed through the rifling.

At 18", based on Hodgdon's data, you should find 18 grains of 4198 behind a Hornady 50 grain Soft Point produces about 2600 fps. Indeed, that particular load is a cloverleaf maker in mine, with groups under 3/8" at 100 yards being common for it.

If, on the other hand, you are talking about a load that would produce about 2600 fps in a 24" standard test barrel, the way Hodgdon data is developed, then you would likely be down around 16.5 grains of IMR 4198. I know that's below the starting load, but at 2.13" COL it's still 75% case fill, and 4198 lights up so you shouldn't have any issues with it. If you do, try deburring the flash holes. That can sometimes help if you have symptoms of marginal ignition.

You can try T.O.'s suggestion. 20 grains of H4895 would produce low velocity. It's a slower powder, but has a reputation for tolerating downloading better than most. With that 50 grain bullet, though, you will be throwing almost 25% out of the barrel unburned, so muzzle flash and apparent blast will be high.
 
Speer reloading manual has reduced load for the 222 using 9gr/SR 4759 with their 55gr bullets @1866fps to max of 10gr/SR 4759fps @ 2070fps. Barrel length was 24"
 
I don't understand why you would want a slow load when the bullet reaction and placement is the most important thing for hunting.

You are talking about using a $$$ VDL when a cheep Hornady 50Gr. SX from Midway ,or a 50Gr. Nosler BT , BLC2 powder and a Remington 7 1/2 primer should shoot a tight group and the flat base bullet will explode on contact. It has been my go to load for a long time.

The slow velocity that you have thought of sounds nice for just a slightly less noise and a lot of work to get it the VDL to stabilize. Also the VDL bullet is not a hunting bullet. I wouldn't be surprise if it just pokes through without expanding at all.

With the 222 a head shot would be my choice with a good rest of course. That's just my choice.

Good Luck
 
A pelt load as previously described is what you want for the big birds. The first turkey that I saw rifle shot was with a full value .222. The damage was massive. Something more like a .22 magnum would be my pick, if it was legal. I'd really like to take my .25 WCF model 1892!
 
I have reduced loads in 222 for years. I have shot gas check lead, and 40 to 45 gr jacketed hornet bullets. All work fine with 8 grains unique. Y his will get you 1600 to 1800 fps. SR4759 works great.
 
55 FMJ will not stabilize ad lower velocities. I tried it.... Keyholes every time. This is why I use a 40 or 45 gr.

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