.222 mag improved

[ras308]

I've posted in the reloading section with very little response, hoping for some here???  Does anyone have any experience with the "triple deuce improved"?  I finally settled on the .222 mag ackley improved.  I bought a 23" .223 barrel from Ed and am having it reamed and recrowned.  I plan on shooting 52 and/or 53 grain bullets.  I am looking for a good starting point as far as powder so I don't have to re-invent the wheel!!!  Any suggestions and/or experiences that would help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[Catfish]

Use data for the .222 mag. The .222 mag. case will hold 29.84 gr`s. of h2o and the .222 mag. imp will hold 30.34 gr`s of h2o. With such a small increase in case volume you will not beable to notice any real increase in velosity, less than 1%, but your case life should be alittle longer.

[ras308]

If you have experience with the 222 mag improved, what powder, etc. did you use to fireform?  Also, do you have a pet load?  Thanks.

[Shoot!]

Have you considered the 224x204 Ruger? Nearly identical to what you propose, but without the need for fireforming. Neck length would be slightly shorter and shoulder angle slightly shallower (30'). Case capacity probably a wash. Unless your reamer is already in hand and/or a pile of 222 Mag brass at home, it might be worthy of consideration. Reasonably-priced WW 204 brass is due at Midway any day now.

[roper]

I haven't done a 222magAI but have done the 222AI,223AI,22-250AIand 6mmremAI and my average gain in velocity is 100/200fps and increase in powder is 8 to 10%.   The BR guys did a 22x45 was a 222 mag case with 45 degree shoulders and that seemed to be the best one I think they also did a 22x35 and I don't think they had much luck with the 40 degree shoulder in the 222mag case.  My 222AI as I call in was orginal call a 222 1/2 and won a fair amount of matches in it's day.  I've got acouple 222remmag and a 6x47 (6x222mag)and they sure like H-4895.  If I was going to improve the mag case I'd call Hart bet they still have a reamer somewhere also Hammond might and could probably give you some good loading data.  Hope this helps.

[ras308]

I already had it shipped to have it reamed.  I just like the Ackley Improved cases.  I plan on loading some IMR 4320, I have some already and my 222 liked it???  I think it will do fine to fire-form with.  Hopefully I will run across someone else who has a 222 mag improved so I don't have to start from scratch.  Even though every rifle is different, I still like to see what someone else using.  Thanks for the help!!!

[SamSpade]

I shoot a 222 AI with a 45 degree shoulder.  I use 21.5 grains of 4198 with a 40 grain bullets.  It likes 4895 also.  I fire form using full charges.

[ras308]

Do you fireform with the 21.5 grains of IMR 2198 and load the fireformed cases with this same load?  Have you experienced good accuracy with this load?  Do you shoot this round in a TC Rifle?  Sorry for all the questions, but I haven't received much from anyone who actually had the mag improved version.  Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated!!!  Thanks.

[SamSpade]

I fireform and shoot the same load of 21.5 gr. H4198.  My rifle is a Rem 40X.  Accuracy is less than 3/8" at 100 yards less than 1" at 200 yds.  I use the gun for PDs so I don't do a lot of group shooting other than checking it once in a while.

[ras308]

I will give that a try if I don't get good results with the IMR 4320.  I already us this powder with several more loads and have had good results with it, I like to keep my powder inventory down.  I may have asked you already, but is the 4198 the only powder you've really used?  Also, when you fireformed, did you seat the bullet touching the lands?  Thanks for the info, I'll let you know how things go after this weekend!!!

[SamSpade]

I have used 4895 and 748 with good results.  No need for the bullet to touch the lands.  I have found that I don't loose much in accuracy while fire forming so I paper punch or practice while doing it.  I have even taken them out for shooting PDs.

[ras308]

That's been my experience fireforming for my 7mm TCU.  I kinda figured I maybe should load them a little light for fireforming, I may shoot a few and see what it looks like, I hate to just put the lead in a dirt pile if I could be shooting coyotes, hogs, etc.!!!  I'll give my favorite 4320 a try, if it doesn't group them well, I'll try some 4198.  Thanks for your help!!!

[ras308]

Well, my fireforming load with the IMR 4320 and 4198 are shooting an inch or less at 100 yards!!!  I'm hoping it's gonna get better yet when I get a load worked out for the improved cases.  At least I know it'll be accurate enough with the fireform loads to shoot some coyotes.  Hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas!!!

[coopershooter]

THE MOST ACCURATE RIFLE I OWN IS IN .222MAGAI!
  what a great round. i use 28grains of h-322. good for 3800fps WITH 40GR. BALISTIC TIPS! and it shoots 1/4 inch groups. the rifle is a savage  single shot with shillen barrel and sharp shooter trigger, with 20power unertl fixed.
  i wanted more speed, and went to a cooper in 22-250AI. I GOT MORE SPEED, but use a lot more powder!
  i like improved cases. i almost dont trim cases anymore.
  coopershooter
 p.s. ive loaded this same gun down to 24gr. of h-322 for 3400 fps. and still very accurate.

[ras308]

Is the 28 grains a pretty full case of powder?  I like my loads to fill the case so the powder doesn't shake around.  My cousin shoots in a bunch of matches from 100 to 1,000 yards, he says it doesn't make a difference???  I still like the cases full with no pressure signs, it can't hurt for the powder to be sitting in the case the same way every time without having to orient your rifle the same every time.  Oh, and did I forget to say, I like improved cases also!!!  My friends just don't understand why I want to go through the extra trouble to fireform, reload, etc.

[ras308]

I just happened to have some H-322, loaded some yesterday when I got home, will give them a try this afternoon!!!

[ras308]

I broke the rifle in right this past weekend, killed a 250 pound sow!!!  She should make some good sausage mixed with the spike I killed also.

[coopershooter]

ras!
 how,s it shootin? put it on paper yet? is this in a contender? what length barrel? do you have a crony?

[ras308]

It is a contender with a 23" factory barrel reamed to .222 mag improved.  I shot it on paper until I figured out which one of my fireforming loads shot the best.  I am shooting 28 grains of IMR 4320 under a Sierra 52 grain HPBT match bullet with a CCI small rifle primer.  It will shoot under an inch with this load.  I have no idea how fast it is shooting, I don't have access to a chronograph???  As mentioned earlier, I killed a sow that weighed around 250, it killed 2 does this weekend in the late doe and spike season!!!  One of the does was shot quartering at 75 yards behind the shoulder, the bullet was recovered under the skin on the opposite side, she only went about 25 yards.  The other doe was shot at around 150 yards through the heart, complete pass-through, she dropped immediately.  The sow shot earlier was shot in the shoulder, I didn't find the bullet, but it didn't pass through.  However, both shoulders and the heart and lungs were destroyed, she dropped on the spot.  I know most say a .22 caliber is not even close to adequate for deer and hogs, but I've shot many hogs of all sizes and several deer with excellent results.  I really enjoy this rifle, I know my girls will too!!!  I'm really looking forward to loading the improved brass to see just how well it will shoot.