.222 loading

[H666]

I recently started handloading for my Sako .222.  It's dated back to 1947 and I'm not quite sure how much powder to use.  I use a 50 gr. blitzking bullet and Vitavuorii 133 powder.  Someone told me 23 gr. was sufficient but the rifle throws them back and forth.  Can you help me with this?  I want to load both with 50 gr. and 45 gr. bullets.  Is the blitzking right for this rifle?  Should I use some other bullets or powder.  All scandinavian shooters swear by Vitavuorii so I'm gonna stick with that.  Help me guys.

[jhm]

H666 :  I cant speak for that powder as I havent ever used it but I used to load for a rem 600 in 222 and the load was 20.gr of IMR-4198 which gave me in the neighborhood of 3100 fps with a sierra 50 gr bullet, if you decide to try it, it was a vary accurate load and one of my favorites.   JIM

[bigdaddytacp]

I recently started handloading for my Sako .222.  It's dated back to 1947 and I'm not quite sure how much powder to use.  I use a 50 gr. blitzking bullet and Vitavuorii 133 powder.  Someone told me 23 gr. was sufficient but the rifle throws them back and forth.  Can you help me with this?  I want to load both with 50 gr. and 45 gr. bullets.  Is the blitzking right for this rifle?  Should I use some other bullets or powder.  All scandinavian shooters swear by Vitavuorii so I'm gonna stick with that.  Help me guys.

.....That load seems a little "hot" from my limited use of VV133.....I have a similar sako that was rechambered to 222mag and it shoots the 50-55grain bullets well....I have some vv133 that I am trying now for the 223 and 222mag....the first trials in the 222mag don't equal the accuracy of the IMR4198 loads that it loves and I'm still trying to find a load with the 133.......does the primer look extra flat?? and are you shooting from a rest? and what about the scope? I use rem 7 1/2 primers or CCI BR4 for most of my loads and get better accuacy from flat base bullets from serria and Berger's ........does it shoot any load consistantly? give us some more details and maybe the board can help.......good luck and good shooting/loading!!

[Carl l.]

I agree with Jim on the 222 load. The best load I have loaded for the 222 is 20 grs. IRM 4198 powder and 50 gr. Sierra bullet's. I think I would try it and see how it works. It has worked for me in the savage and Rem.'s Carl L.

[H666]

The primers tend to kind of "swell" up.  Doesn't that indicate the load is too hot?  I use a Nikko-Sterling 3-9x47 scope.  I shoot from a rest and use sandbags.  I use rem. 7 1/2 primers.  The rifle has a light barrel.  The only ammo I've shot from it hetherto is Lapua, loaded, 3,6 grams with a 55 grain FMJ bullet.  

Write if you need more info.  Thanks a lot.   H666

[IronKnees]

H666 I think the operative thing here is to obtain and use a loading manual for the bullet/powder you are using. Every rifle is different, and the best thing to do, once you have chosen your bullet and you powder, is to begin with the starting load, and then carefully work up, all the while checking accuracy, and for signs of pressure. To just select a load, as you have mentioned, can lead to poor accuracy and signs of over pressure. Both of which you have mentioned here... What manual(s) do you have? Again, find the appropriate data, and start low and work up till you find the right loading for your particular rifle...

[H666]

Thanks a bunch

[Ron T.]

I used Vihtuvouri's N-130 in my .222 Sako heavy-barreled varmint rifle... best 5 shot group @ 50 yards was .092-inches (that's less than 1/10th  of an inch).  That's a tight group when using 50 grain Sierra "Blitz" varmint bullets (not bench-rest bullets).  First four rounds went through the same .224” hole.  The 5th rounded opened up the hole to .316”.

The load was in Winchester cases that had the "spruce" reamed out of the inside of the cartridge case's flash-hole, the primer pockets "regulated" and "squared", the cases trimmed to 1.690-inches and had the case-mouth inside/outside chamfered.  The load was:
21.8 grains of VV's N-130
50 grain Sierra “Blitz” bullet (weighed to exactly 50.0 grains each)
Remington 7½ primer

WARNING:  THIS LOAD MAY BE DANGEROUS IN YOUR RIFLE.  USE THE STANDARD METHOD OF “WORKING UP” TO THIS LOAD LEVEL.

This load chronographed (15’ from the muzzle) at an average muzzle velocity of 3197 fps out of the Sako’s 23½ inch barrel @ 81º F.  Velocity deviation = 16 fps (+7 fps, -9 fps).

I found VV’s N-130 rifle powder, from 21.4 grains through 21.8 grains (inclusive), to be the “sweet spot” for this component choice, I.E., extremely accurate in my rifle.  Here are the following powder charges, the muzzle velocity and remarks from my notes.  There was a minimum of two 5-shot groups fired at each incremental powder charge level:
21.4 gr. (72º F) MV=3158 fps. Excellent accuracy =  .1875”. Velocity deviation = 22 fps
21.5 gr. (70º F) MV=3177 fps. Very good accuracy= .25”. Velocity Deviation = 17 fps.
21.6 gr. (80º F) MV=3178 fps. Excellent accuracy= .183”. Velocity Deviation = 47 fps.
21.7 gr. (81º F) MV=3187 fps. Excellent accuracy= .098”. Velocity Deviation = 50 fps.
21.8 gr. (81º F) MV=3197 fps. Excellent accuracy= .092”. Velocity Deviation = 16 fps.
21.9 gr. (68º F) MV=3210 fps. Groups opening up slightly. Velocity Deviation = 14 fps.
22.0 gr. (72º F) MV=3234 fps. Groups opening up more.     Velocity Deviation = 31 fps.

CONCLUSION:  21.8 grains of VV’s N-130 powder gives the best accuracy while maintaining the highest velocity consistent with best accuracy with the 50 gr. Sierra “Blitz” bullet, Winchester cartridge cases, Remington 7½ Primer.