Author Topic: 222 rem. coming back (Read 3513 times)

gould · « **on:** January 20, 2007, 03:54:48 PM »

I see Browning has 2 new modles in .222 rem. I love this cartrige and will just have to have one as soon as it comes out. So what do you think is it comming back or will it be lost quickly?

MOGLEY · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2007, 03:20:51 AM »

I hope it comes back. I have a cz 527 lux in the 222 and love it. I have taken to resizing 223 brass for reloading for the 222. Ballistic wise their really is not much diff between the two but the noise factor and cost of ammo comes in to play. Cheaper ammo for the 223 but 222 is a bit quieter for populated areas and I think a smoother shooter. I know the 40gr vmax bullets are impressive downrange for terminal effect!!

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2007, 03:38:40 AM »

I am a huge fan of the 222. Mainly because I shot the 222 for years before purchasing a 223.
The only difference I see with the 222 is minimal speed.
I understand some contries will not allow a military round (223) in the hands of hunters and shooters

beemanbeme · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2007, 04:42:30 AM »

"coming back"

? I didn't know it had been away.

I have two. Just had a 788 rebarreled. I have a couple of .223's also, which may be a redundancy but........... I'll be shooting the Postal matches this summer. I'm gonna shot one series of targets with a .223 and another series with a .222. I've heard that the .222 is minutely more accurate than the .223. I'll find out.

1armoured · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2007, 01:31:25 PM »

I have had an Anschutz 1742 sporter , in .222 , for many years.

Great rifle, great calibre/cartridge,

and a pleasure to reload for.

The .222 never went away here in New Zealand. Still plenty around.
I think Sako have been the latest Mnfr still offering the chambering.

I've used Sierra MK 52gr HPBT, to good effect,
always under a minute, down to .4" .
I've also experimented with Speer 52 and 50grs. Also pretty good.

The best of late have been the Nosler Ballistic Tips in 40gr. Obviously going a bit quicker, and very tight groups out to 200mtrs.

(I also shoot a .223 Vanguard Special Varminter and a Savage Model 40 .22Hornet)

cheers,
Sean in 'Godzone'

Don Fischer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2007, 01:59:00 PM »

I had two and loved them. There is a difference in them and the 223. In mine, with sporter weight rifles, a sako L461 and the 788Rem, the 222 let you watch the bullet hit thru the scope, the 223 didn't. The 222's were also more accurate.

1armoured · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2007, 10:34:08 AM »

I also owned a Sako A1 Vixen,....great little sporter, with it's mini action,
but I thought two .222's was a bit of a luxury, so I kept the heavier Anschutz sporter,
which I use for my 4P target work. Not the ideal target rig, I know, as the stock fore is a bit flexible with a tgt sling on the front swivel, but it still shoots great.

I thought I'd share this fun target of mine shot with the Anschutz .222. Only a 'one shot group' at 100mtrs, I'm afraid, but I did achieve the 'aim' of the shot.

I did offer to do the same for any volunteers amongst my mates who witnessed it, but there were no takers.

Bunch of 'sissies', I thought !

cheers,

Sean in 'Godzone'

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2007, 03:10:06 AM »

I hope it does make a come back. My first rifle was a 222 back in the 60's. Since then I have added a few more of them to my gun safe. What a pleasure to reload & shoot. Yes I own 223's & 22-250's & they are great calibers also, but the little 222 is just good fun to shoot. The brass last forever, it's easy to load, no recoil, low noise & a real tack driver.

orpco · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2007, 05:35:00 PM »

I have a 222 10" Contender/ I've shot more prarie dogs than I can count and a few coyotes with it. A remington round nose 46 grain hollow point worked quite well. before the days of the ballistic tips or Sx's. I don't think they make it anymore. IMR 4198 was what i was loading. Probably easier powders to load would be worth a try.

dogwhisperer5 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2007, 03:43:14 AM »

I'm unable to spot the .222 in the 2007 Browning catalog...are you sure that you're not referring to .223? I see that Remington has finally dropped it from the 700 BDL as of 2007. A CZ 527 American seems to be just about all that's left in the "affordable" bracket. I too am a great fan of the .222 and have somehow allowed myself to be without one for a long time now...I need to do something about that soon I guess if I'm ever going to.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2007, 07:08:53 PM »

Quote

A CZ 527 American seems to be just about all that's left in the "affordable" bracket. I too am a great fan of the .222 and have somehow allowed myself to be without one for a long time now...I need to do something about that soon I guess if I'm ever going to.

You'll be able to get a nice single shot in it if you want...They should be available this year...http://www.cva.com/products/rifle_optelite_center.htm

Mac

Argonaut · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2007, 07:50:45 AM »

I just bought a nearly new M700 varmit model in .222 made in 1968 , so far I have found loads that shoot into .5 moa and thats about as good as i can do with sandbags. I love shooting it. Next to no recoil, light powder charges, least expensive bullets, I can watch the bullets hit the metal gong at 200 yards at my club and they hit exactlly where the sight was pointing.

I can't believe people fool around with .22 hornets when a .222 can deliver the kind of accuracy it does.

1armoured · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2007, 01:51:54 PM »

Sorry, Argonaut, can't agree,

.22Hornets are fun to shoot and load for, esp with the lighter projectiles now available.

Fortunately, we aren't restricted to owning one gun.

I have .22rf, .22Hornet, .222, and .223 in my stable,
and enjoy them all.

cheers,

Sean in 'Godzone'

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2007, 07:29:25 PM »

I was seeing double
sorry

Argonaut · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2007, 06:09:44 AM »

Well I can't say as I wouldn't mind having a Ruger #3 in .22 Hornet, But if you can handload you can do all of what it can do, But it was the .222 that really helped to kill off .22 hornet (though it has certainly made a come back), .218 Bee, 22 K-hornet, .219 zipper and now it is the .223 that is killing off the .222 (heck I have a .223 but on a AR15A2 platform) . Of course none of these will ever be completely gone. But for practical purposes they are except of course for the .22 Hornet. But the .222 should stay around For quite a while yet. I buy up bags of .222 brass when they are in stock, So I know mine will be barking for quite some time.

Now if I can just locate a .218 Bee. It even sounds fun to shoot.

It is interesting that the .22 Hornet is back exactly because it fills the same nitch it did in the first place. short range low noise reduced distance, center fire cartridge. It sounds more fun to me than that new .17 RF.

But my .222 can shoot quaters off a fence post at 200 yards so I guess that will do, In fact i just bought some AA2015 and I want to try it, So i better get to my loading bench, I love trying new powders.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:03:55 AM »

I just purchased a new Ruger M77 in 222.
I read about a guy that purchased about 50 of them and sure enough there were a few for sale!

dogwhisperer5 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2007, 10:14:33 AM »

Quote from: Hairtrigger on February 11, 2007, 11:03:55 AM

I just purchased a new Ruger M77 in 222.
I read about a guy that purchased about 50 of them and sure enough there were a few for sale!

Supposedly the Ruger 77 .222's was a batch made for sales in a foreign country that forbids the possession of military-caliber (ie-.223) rifles by civillians. I've seen several on gunbroker.com

flintman · « **Reply #17 on:** March 09, 2007, 03:40:12 PM »

I just saw a .222 today,a Savage 340,I am gonna try to talk the owner out of it.
I wonder what kind of accuracy others have gotten from this particular model?

Drilling Man · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2007, 04:32:05 PM »

Speaking of Savage.... I have a Savage 2400 in 12 ga/ 222 Rem... (made by Valmet in Finland) It's extremely accurate and i've harvested a LOT of small game useing it with light handloads...

The 222 Rem. is a wonderfull cartridge!!!

DM

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2007, 05:45:08 PM »

flintman:
I've owned my Savage 340 in 222 since the 60's. I bought it used for $25. Had my barrel replaced at the factory in the early 70's because the end of the barrel got messed up. Mine will drive tacks at 100yrds. Hundreds of chucks fell to this gun back then. There not a pretty gun but they shoot really well. ( There's a long story that goes along with my gun.) Don't really have time to tell it right now.

flintman · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2007, 07:02:05 AM »

Would you believe that I saw a 340 Savage in .225 Winchester today?!!!
Them things gotta be rare!

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #21 on:** March 14, 2007, 10:42:01 AM »

Quote from: flintman on March 14, 2007, 07:02:05 AM

Would you believe that I saw a 340 Savage in .225 Winchester today?!!!
Them things gotta be rare!

Tell me you bought it

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2007, 01:25:33 AM »

I've seen a couple of the 225 Win. over the years. The 30-30 & 222 were the most common calibers. My Uncle worked for Savage for 40 years, until he retired. This is how I came about my custom made 222 in the Model 340, that will shoot 1/2" groups all day long & has a stock you only could dream about.
Getting back to the 222. I just picked up a 222 Bullberry Custom bull barrel for my T/C G2 frame. I hope it shoots as good as it looks. Can't wait to work up some loads for it.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2007, 01:33:44 AM »

I have a Win 70 in 225 and love it.
The 225 cartridge is not quite a 22-250 but more than a 223, no real use for it as I have both but I thought I needed it!

Inrut24/7 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 08, 2007, 03:06:31 AM »

I have a Rem 788 222. I havnt handloaded much for it yet,but its easily the most accurate rifle i own with factory loads. I loaded up some 35 grain v-max's for fox and it shot under an inch 5 shot group at 100 yards. I cant wait to try a better bullet and see what it does. It was wearing a 6.5x20 vx3 leupold and i got a deal on it i just couldnt pass up. A local shop also has a few limited m700 remington sporters in 222.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #25 on:** April 08, 2007, 04:21:04 AM »

I have a gen-u-wine Bull Durham. 788 action, Douglas barrel, trigger modified to be adjustable, and a stock that I broke when I didn't use enough release agent and put it back together with brass pins and gorilla glue. Looks like what the bull left behind but shoots like a house afire. I use H322 and Sierra 52gr MK's. Glass is a V24 Weaver.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 14, 2007, 02:48:15 PM »

My user name (LaOtto222) says it all

. I had a Rem 788 in 222 and then traded it for a new Rem 700 Varmint Special in the 80's. The 788 would shoot anything I put in it very well. It just did not look good. For awhile I was sick about the trade. I finally found the 700 needed to be dirty to shoot well. I scrub the barrel and groups open up to 1+ inch @ 100 yd. Shoot 40 - 50 rounds and they tighten up to .3 inches at 100 yd. go figure. I do love the 222. It was my first gun that I reloaded for; seriously reloaded for. Had a 22 Hornet before that, but did not know what I was doing. Learned the most about reloading from the 222. Now I have a couple of 221 Fire Balls, a 222 and a couple of 223's (love the 222 based calibers). The Rem 700 in 222 is still my favorite.