222 Rem Mag resurected!

[lpreddick]

I had a 6x47(222 rem mag) chambered about a year ago and accumulated hundreds of cases from several sources. I pushed the loads and primer pockets went loose quickly. Was advised to try Norma's 204 ruger brass and indeed, the primer pockets are very tight and took the pressure without loosening. Since I had so many old rem brass I decided to build a 222 Rem Mag and shoot 52 gr bullets as I had accumulated a lot of them...buy bullets, then build a gun to shoot them...that is how this gun thing works for me. I had whidden make dies for the 6x47 and the reamer by jgs had a 30° shoulder. Reamer, by jgs, for the 222 Rem Mag also 30° shoulder with shoulder moved forward .015. Other dimensions same as 6x47 and I hoped I could use the dies for the new build. Indeed, the dies work for both, so I set to work trying powders that were used for the 222 Rem Mag when it was the benchrest champ. Published velocities were not much more than the 223. Surely with the longer case and 30° shoulder I could push the 52s closer to 3500+. LT 30 and LT 32 were not available in the day, so they were tried. Thus far, I am using H4198 at 24.6 gr seating .020 into lands, CCI 450 s and hitting 3600 fps and overlapping holes. The primer pockets are surviving for now, but I fear they will loosen. The Norma 204 ruger brass is staying very tight. If I shoot any bullet longer than the 52s the Norma has to be turned/reamed as the bullet's base reaches the lower neck that was once shoulder(much thicker). Have some hornady 222 Rem Mag brass on the way and hope they will take the pressure, plus if I try 60 gr bullets I won't have to turn necks. The 222 Rem Mag seem capable of more speed than the 223 and accuracy is very nice. Presently trying other powders as my H4198 supply is small. Another gun project that is going great...anybody else tried this?

 

[tooter]

Interesting projects indeed! I'm also into the 222 Rem Mag, but 40 degree AI renditions. To insure I don't run out of quality brass in the future, I ordered and received 500 new "Nosler" (Norma?) 222 Rem Mag cases from Graf yesterday. I too was reforming 204 Norma cases but no longer need to do so ---- FYI! http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...ocess%22%3B%7D

Enjoy and good shooting -

tooter

 

[bheadboy]

Ok we are in the same camp - I shot 222m, 222, 6x47(222m) back in he 60's and 70's in BR,

love them,
a year and a half ago, I purchased a 223 Rem 26"bbl that I spent 6 months trying to get under .500 at 100.

bedding, lap bolt lugs, trigger, crown, you name it, would not shoot below .500 no matter what powder, primer, bullets I tried, - gave up,

sent it to Wally and Bobby Hart, they scoped the Rem bbl and it was ok, so they trued the action and re-chambered it to 222m, .200's groups now with 52 Sierra, my B&A 53's and velocity in the 3500 range without pushing the pressure. h4198, 2015, h322 seem to be very similar in performance. 7 1/2 primers, Rem brass.

Some things old are just plain good.

Bob

 

[rcol317]

DITO TO BOB! I couldn't agree more, some rifles are just plain good and the 222 Rem Mag is one of them. Never understood why the 222 Mag slipped away. I love mine and as Bob said all those powders seem to work. Mine seems to excel with H322 and also likes 8208 XBR. I have a new 9 twist 3 grove barrel sitting in the closet. Keeping my eye out for a Pierce action to build another 222 Rem Mag. I picked up a bunch of Herters brass and like it better than the Rem. I think the Herters brass was made by Norma. Look forward to another 222 Rem mag in the safe some day. Good shooting

 

[Cold Bore]

I think my very first centerfire shots were out of a 222 Rem Mag, some 40+ years ago. That old Rem M700 BDL rifle is still tucked in my safe, after my dad turned it over to me. I'll pull it out every now and then and carry it in a groundhog field, "just because".

Also built a 6x47 (6x222 Rem Mag) a couple years ago. Was concerned about brass, but knew I had a fair supply from my original rifle's stash.

Then last week, I also found the Graf's deal listed above. A few days ago, 1000 of them got dropped off here at the house. Nosler brass at less cost than Rem (when available)? Yep, send me a big pile of it!

I'll always have a soft spot for the 222 Rem Mag.....

 

[357Mag]

Lpred -

Howdy !

Yeh.. my good friend and shooting buddy is getting ready to have an old school " Deuce Mag " assembled on a M-700 action.

He intends to go no-turn neck, an have a 1-14 twist.... probably a sporter wt not longer than 24".

We like 55SX SP on groundhogs. Might also be tried on PDs... future circumstance permiting.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[lpreddick]

I think my very first centerfire shots were out of a 222 Rem Mag, some 40+ years ago. That old Rem M700 BDL rifle is still tucked in my safe, after my dad turned it over to me. I'll pull it out every now and then and carry it in a groundhog field, "just because".

Also built a 6x47 (6x222 Rem Mag) a couple years ago. Was concerned about brass, but knew I had a fair supply from my original rifle's stash.

Then last week, I also found the Graf's deal listed above. A few days ago, 1000 of them got dropped off here at the house. Nosler brass at less cost than Rem (when available)? Yep, send me a big pile of it!

I'll always have a soft spot for the 222 Rem Mag.....

i got some of the nosler 222 rem mag brass and the primer pockets are tighter than old rem brass and after firing a full load, they are still tight. necks are slightly thicker than old rem brass which i like as my. loaded neck is .2485 and my chamber is .250, so i work this brass less than rem and the norma. i have some herters but their primer pockets get loose with hot loads. my 6x47(222 rem mag) will surely like the nosler brass. i am liking this cartridge.

 

[lpreddick]

i got some of the nosler 222 rem mag brass and the primer pockets are tighter than old rem brass and after firing a full load, they are still tight. necks are slightly thicker than old rem brass which i like as my. loaded neck is .2485 and my chamber is .250, so i work this brass less than rem and the norma. i have some herters but their primer pockets get loose with hot loads. my 6x47(222 rem mag) will surely like the nosler brass. i am liking this cartridge.

Noticed something a bit different with the nosler brass...new brass, testing loads and 1\3 were hangfires with cci450 ...they fired on second attempt. Uniformed primer pockets and got quite a bit of brass out before uniformer hit bottom. No problem on second firing. I don't mind extra effort to uniform pockets after first firing, but it is a bit of a struggle with virgin brass. Also a lot of run out in new brass, but most gone after first firing. Nice to have primer pockets staying snug as I tend to push loads. If I push a 52 gr bullet past 3600 fps, pockets loosen, while at 3500 they take it. H4198 is giving best results but I'm trying others...a fun gun.

 

[XBBR Shooter]

I also campaigned a 40XB BR in .222 Mag, back in the mid 1970's, and did well with it. Retired it from bench, took a block plane to the flat bottomed wood stock, and it did well against furry and black feathered friends. I still have it....

... and it still shoots well, with 50gr BlitzKings.

While Rem brass has been lacking in many calibers, in .222 Mag it has been excellent. Maybe because they set up "new" every few years and run a bunch - so things don't get a chance to get sloppy - I have ~ 900+ cases, that I have collected over the years, and the weight spread of the whole batch is within 1.7 grains.

 

[lpreddick]

Noticed something a bit different with the nosler brass...new brass, testing loads and 1\3 were hangfires with cci450 ...they fired on second attempt. Uniformed primer pockets and got quite a bit of brass out before uniformer hit bottom. No problem on second firing. I don't mind extra effort to uniform pockets after first firing, but it is a bit of a struggle with virgin brass. Also a lot of run out in new brass, but most gone after first firing. Nice to have primer pockets staying snug as I tend to push loads. If I push a 52 gr bullet past 3600 fps, pockets loosen, while at 3500 they take it. H4198 is giving best results but I'm trying others...a fun gun.

another possible problem with the nosler brass...case spliting! no harm but not sure why. my dies are made by whidden based on the reamer print and is not excessively large. old rem brass and the norma 204 ruger brass do not split. anybody else have this happen with the nosler brass?

 

[gzig5]

Yikes! How many firings? Have you talked to Nosler? Have you compared fired diameter to resized? First issue I've heard of. I had high hopes for this brass but I might have to hold off getting some.

 

[lpreddick]

Yikes! How many firings? Have you talked to Nosler? Have you compared fired diameter to resized? First issue I've heard of. I had high hopes for this brass but I might have to hold off getting some.

The splits occurred in twice fired brass. Once fired...some OK, some have a very fine line suggesting a split. New nosler measures .357 at site of split, as does unfired rem brass made many years ago. My die, made by Whidden off the reamer, sizes to .3619 and fired brass is .361. old rem and Norma's .204 ruger brass, both fired several times with same load, have no splits. I may have to use these noslers with reduced loads, several of which are very accurate.

 

[gzig5]

I'd suggest you contact Nosler. They very well may take that brass back and give you a new lot. As long as your loads are sane there is absolutely no reason for case failure like that on the third firing.

 

[lpreddick]

I'd suggest you contact Nosler. They very well may take that brass back and give you a new lot. As long as your loads are sane there is absolutely no reason for case failure like that on the third firing.

I contacted nosler and am sending the split cases. I checked all the nosler brass and found very fine line? creases on the surface of quite a number, some unfired. I am hesitant to use any until nosler evaluates these also. More info later.

 

[hoz53]

I contacted nosler and am sending the split cases. I checked all the nosler brass and found very fine line? creases on the surface of quite a number, some unfired. I am hesitant to use any until nosler evaluates these also. More info later.

Thanks for the info-- I'd like to rechamber a R700 I have in 223 that doesn't shoot to well. I think .222 Mag would be the way to go and your thread here has helped me make that decision. Not much shank on barrel though. I will measure it tomorrow.

 

[lpreddick]

I contacted nosler and am sending the split cases. I checked all the nosler brass and found very fine line? creases on the surface of quite a number, some unfired. I am hesitant to use any until nosler evaluates these also. More info later.

I received a call from Nosler today. They acknowledged the faint creases I noted on new brass were probably precursors to splits. They are replacing the 200 cases with nosler in other cartridges or in a few (6) months replace with new 222 Rem mag. I' ll wait on the 222 Rem mag. If you have any I suggest checking for creases on fired and new and consider light loads if you choose to use them. I will hold off and use other 222 Rem Mag brass.

 

[tooter]

Wow, checked my Nosler 222 Mag bulk cases I got from Graf. Haven't gone through all 500, but 25 or so picked at random all show noticible score lines running length wise on case and some continuing into the shoulder. How disappointing! Haven't fired any of these and likely won't until I contact Nosler. As an aside, I also have some Nosler Custom Loaded 222 Mag. ammo that show no such defects.

lpreddick, can you pm me your Nosler point of contact info? ----- Thanks, tooter

 

[lpreddick]

Wow, checked my Nosler 222 Mag bulk cases I got from Graf. Haven't gone through all 500, but 25 or so picked at random all show noticible score lines running length wise on case and some continuing into the shoulder. How disappointing! Haven't fired any of these and likely won't until I contact Nosler. As an aside, I also have some Nosler Custom Loaded 222 Mag. ammo that show no such defects.

lpreddick, can you pm me your Nosler point of contact

Wow, checked my Nosler 222 Mag bulk cases I got from Graf. Haven't gone through all 500, but 25 or so picked at random all show noticible score lines running length wise on case and some continuing into the shoulder. How disappointing! Haven't fired any of these and likely won't until I contact Nosler. As an aside, I also have some Nosler Custom Loaded 222 Mag. ammo that show no such defects.

lpreddick, can you pm me your Nosler point of contact info? ----- Thanks, tooter

 

[lpreddick]

The home office number is 541-382-3921. Explain you problem and they will assist you.