New member .222 rem, .223 rem questions

[Wellington]

Hi guys, new guy here. I am a recently retired guy from Canada with a strong interest in shooting. I have been lurking and searching the forum for about 2 months and need some help. I shoot in a fun bench rest league, about 12 to 16 guys per night. I am shooting a Tikka varmint with an aftermarket Jard trigger set at about 8 oz and have a Boydes Varminter stock on it. The twist is an 8 and I shooting 69gr Sierra MK. My scope is a Sightron S3 6X24. I reload and my groups average around .5 moa with about 25% dropping into that .25 moa range. The barrel will have about 2200 rounds through it after this summer and I want to re-barrel this coming winter. Because of the bolt face I cannot go to the 6mm cartridges so will stick with the small rounds. I hope this is the correct forum for my questions, if not maybe a mod could move it. Anyway I will just ask.

1. Should I go to the .222 rem which I understand is an inherently accurate round or stick to the .223 rem.

2. What twist should I go after, I have a line on a 13.5 Bartlein here in Canada which would be good for the 52, 53, 55grain bullets I would use in the .222?

3. Will one of these cartridges be competitive in a 100, 200, 300 yard shoot for score league? It is quit informal, no divisions or anything like that. There are some real bench-rest guns in the league, but only about 5. So I am mostly shooting for myself satisfaction, but tinny bug holes are satisfying.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

On the 6mm part if you want one rifles are not like wives, it’s okay to have more than one.

 

[littlebuddybr]

Could go the 6x47. 222mag case necked up to 6mm. Very accurate cartridge.

 

[LHSmith]

6 x 45 (.223 case necked up to 6mm). Since Score is best-edge scoring. 68 gr. bullets available in custom Benchrest grade. Less affected by wind, easier to see holes @ 2/300. Assuming the use of flags is legal----use them -no matter what cartridge.

 

[gambleone]

Triple deuce all the way. It held the record at 100 yds till not long ago the 6ppc beat it
only by a fine hair. If you have good equipment and do your part you'll be in the running.
Of course if your shooting score at that range against 30br its tough.
Correction, not 6ppc, but 30 Stewart that shot the smallest group.

 

[CharlieNC]

In fclass the 223 is very competitive for 300yd score comps. At that distance the 80.5 Berger full bore is as good as it gets using 8 twist.

 

[SBS]

I don't think with your rifle/stock, you'd notice any difference between .222 and .223 cases. Since you're shooting 300 yd., I'd stick with the larger .223 case so you can run heavier bullets to buck the wind. This will require a faster twist than the 13.5 you mentioned. Decide on the bullet and get a compatible twist.

 

[tmwinds]

Triple deuce all the way. It held the record at 100 yds till not long ago the 6ppc beat it
only by a fine hair. If you have good equipment and do your part you'll be in the running.
Of course if your shooting score at that range against 30br its tough.

I could be wrong. I am quite often, but I don’t think a 6 PPC has ever held the 100 yard group record.

 

[riflewoman]

In the heyday of the 222 era in Benchrest there were lots of shooters who shot other cartridges. 222-1/2, 219 Donaldson, 6x47 as well as the 222 Magnum, plus a few more. Then the PPC hit the scene. First was the 22 shortly the 6mm. A deuce hasn’t been competitive since. Jim Stekl told me a long time ago that for a season he campaigned with a 223 if only to disprove Mike Walker that the neck was too short. He didn’t win that season, but he beat Mike and that was enough.
So the 223 doesn’t hold you any further back than any other 22.

So for your present problem, I’d just continue with the 223. UNLESS youre willing to open the bolt face about your only wildcat option is a 6mm based on a 22Nosler. That cartridge has a rebated rim to fit into a 223 bolt face. You will, however, likely experience primer pocket expansion with hotter loads. I would also consider a drop in twist rate with a 223 to 1 in 9.

 

[LHSmith]

I could be wrong. I am quite often, but I don’t think a 6 PPC has ever held the 100 yard group record.

McMillan's small group record of 1973 was bettered by a .30 BR variant, I believe. Odd stat isn't it? Goes to show the importance of Aggregates in competition.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Follow the lead of your fellow Canadian Bob Pitcarin. Get a tighter twist 223 and run the 80.5 grain fullbore bullets or step up to the plate like Bob did and run the 90's. Great article he wrote back in 2012 called A Mouse on Steroids: http://www.dcra.ca/Marksman/Marksman Summer Autumn 2012.pdf

 

[tmwinds]

McMillan's small group record of 1973 was bettered by a .30 BR variant, I believe. Odd stat isn't it? Goes to show the importance of Aggregates in competition.

I believe you are correct. If I remember correctly it was a .30 cal. based on a 6.5 Grendel case. My comment was in no way intended to disparage the 6PPC. There is a reason that anything else is seldom seen at 100-200 yard group matches.

 

[Wellington]

Thanks for the replies guys. Money is an issue and I have looked at opening the bolt face, it was actually my first choice (6br). I cannot find a smith willing to take it on and thru research (looking on the internet) it is because of the ejection plunger and claw. So I am left with trying to get my little set up as accurate as possible. With a barrel swap and a custom barrel I am hoping to get something that will make me happy. But that means getting the chambering and twist rate right, hence my ask for help. If funds were unlimited I would go the custom action route. The one draw back to the little cases is how accurate you have to be on the powder measuring front. Please keep the comments and suggestions coming.

 

[gambleone]

I believe you are correct. If I remember correctly it was a .30 cal. based on a 6.5 Grendel case. My comment was in no way intended to disparage the 6PPC. There is a reason that anything else is seldom seen at 100-200 yard group matches.

Yes, guess it was a 30 stewart. Read somewhere it was a 6ppc that beat the 222, but was incorrect.

 

[joshb]

Welcome to the forum! I have put custom barrels on three Tikka 223s. All eight twists. They shoot well. I’d stay with the 223 because you’re already set up for it.You should also look into a Sightron 10-50, used. Aim small, shoot small!

 

[swd]

I’d put a 13-13.5” twist in 6x45. Its one pass through a die and load, and it opens the door to all the great 6mm custom bullets.

 

[SecondsCount]

LRI is making Tikka bolts now. $375 is pricey but you could get the bolt and barrel you want, and shoot either 6BR or 223.

 

[Wellington]

LRI is making Tikka bolts now. $375 is pricey but you could get the bolt and barrel you want, and shoot either 6BR or 223.

You got me all excited.... but my rifle is a left hand. it is nice to read that the Tikka actions are so close in tolerances though.

 

[357Mag]

You got me all excited.... but my rifle is a left hand. it is nice to read that the Tikka actions are so close in tolerances though.

Wellington -

Howdy !

Another thought:
Could perhaps sell the Tikka, if project cost warranted; and buy a rifle w/ a changeable bolt face
( Savage bolt rifle for example ) ?

The Savage action w/ barrel nut makes the set-up a " change barrel " system.
And, there are multiple vendors that can provide " pre-fit barrels ", for Savage ( and Tikka ); should that route hold appeal.

There are 6mm wildcats available that fit your Tikka's existing bolt face, and of course any Savage .222 or .223 bolt face. Savage bolt rifles of more recent years came from the factory w/ adjustable triggers; and these might provide pull weights you find acceptable ?

As regards use of a 6mm wildcat vs a .222 Remington...... how much wind you find yourself typically shooting in would certainly be a consideration. Enough breeze/ wind would likely drive you to use of heavier wt custom .224" cal bullets, which has already been mentioned by others; along w/ associated twist rates.
For 100yd and .224" cal, a 52-53gr accuracy bullet shot from a 1-14 twist barrel would work fine.
200 - 300yd + wind, and the equation is biased toward heavier bullet / faster twist.

I had a Savage 112V .222 that shot superbly, and had to compete against other shooting the same rifle.
There were very accurate right out of the box, and I ended up having to have a class wt-legal custom .224" cal rifle built to beat those 112V's @ local area shoots. In the same era, I was also doing some short range benchrest shooting @ the time the 6PPC was coming onto the scene; and the legacy .222 & .222Mag based stuff was on its way out.

Please let us know what you decide !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Wellington]

So what I am thinking at the moment is a .223 chambering with a 1 in 9 twist. This would allow me to shoot the 52-53 at 100 and 70gr at 200 and 300. It is windy where I live. Is this twist to fast for 53 gr flat based bullets. Thoughts.