loading 222 rem mag improved

[kimark]

Thinking about re-chambering my 223 Ultra- Varminter to 222 Rem Mag Improved.  Was wondering if anyone's  reloading for this cartridge and what is required and any tips or techniques and possible starter loads?  Thanks

[Savage]

I'm assuming you're referring to the "Ackley Improved" .222 Mag. there's not a lot of data out there that I have seen. I would question how much you would gain over the .223 by re-chambering to the .222 Rem Mag AI. But, just the same I found an old thread that might be helpful. I have no personal experience with this chambering, seems like it was introduced back in the 60s or so. Good luck.
Savage

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=14645.0

[Catfish]

I don`t know what your expecting from it, but as a rule of thumb you can figure that your increase in velocity will be 1/2 the percentage increase in case capicity. The capicity of the 223 is 1.82 cc and the capicity of the 222 mag. imp. is 1.96 cc. That is an increase in capicity of abt. 7.7% so your increase in velocity will be about 3.85% at the same chamber presure. So if your pushing 55 gr. bullets at 3,200 fps in your 223 you could expect to get abt. another 123 fps, or  3,323 fps. with the new chamber. That will equal about another 5 yrds. max. point blank range. If you are looking for more chamber it to a 22-250. The dies for the 22-250 are cheap and easy to come by and the dies for the 222 mag. imp will run you around $ 100 and be hard to find. Now if your just one of those nuts that have to have something different, go for it. I have several rifles around here that are chambered in rounds very few people have, I know going in that they will cost more and be worth less when I sell them. 

[roper]

Thinking about re-chambering my 223 Ultra- Varminter to 222 Rem Mag Improved.  Was wondering if anyone's  reloading for this cartridge and what is required and any tips or techniques and possible starter loads?  Thanks

I shoot customs in 222/222AI, 223/223AI and I have a factory 722 222mag.   I've always used new barrel so I see a pretty good gain with my Ackley's.  I have a custom 222mag in the works and I'm using a 1/12 twist barrel finished @ 26" and one of my future projects is a 222mag AI.

If your looking at AI cases like the 222,223 and 222mag 1gr is alot of powder reason for that is if you look at most start to max loads for the parent caliber the difference is 2grs also look at the velocity spread it's 400 fps.  When you move up to cases that use LR primers like the 22-250/243 you see a spread of 4gr powder and 400fps.

You might want to look at necking up the 204 cases to 22cal you can do a search on the 22-204 Ruger  Well good luck