Upgraded, Old School, 222 Remington BR

[wildcatter]

Well I started this build last May. I obtained a pretty beat up old McMilan Graphite stock, as well as very neglected Panda action. With a .378" bolt face, I really thought about selling it. But being Fred Sinclair used this cartridge a lot to shoot his way into the BR Hall of Fame, and was quite fond of it, I decided to try one for myself.

I had to settle for a rented reemer I knew nothing about, a Shilen Selec Match barrel, again not my first choice, but a known performer. But since this was the first 222 Rem. I've ever owned, using second choice components and tooling, I opted to try another first, rachet rifleing.


It has been a good shooter, winning several group and score matches out to 200 yards, even a 1st in a 200 yard egg shoot, that was shot using paint balls for the targets as well as eggs.



I ordered a custom reemer after getting some Lapua Brass, and a Wilson FL Bushing die, and used them with 52 grain Match bullets to design my specs around.

Well in May I believe we built this rifle using top end components at a basement cost. It turned out to be the most fun build I've built in the past 30 years since my first 6ppc.

So after waiting since early June on the reamer, I obtained an early Krieger LV 1-14 twist barrel, to cut when the reemer was done. I got it late October, or early Nov. but with our match season over, I was in no hurry to cut it.

Well yesterday we cut the Krieger, after shooting the Shilen with a turned down barrel to get a 21.5" barrel to 10# 1.5 Oz. for the past 9 months. So it would make 10.5# if I wanted to use a modern 30mm BR scope, instead of the old School B&L 36 power, (thanks Al, it's been great) after this past summer I decided using the old classic 1" tube scope was part of the fun and nostalgia competing with the newest and baddest 6 ppc, and taking down many each match.

So with luck a calibrated length of 21.5" with the LV contour was decided to be close, and if not cut it back from there to dial in the the 10.5# max wieght to use it in both HV & LV class as well as Sporter if I chose.

We nailed it,, 10.52# not sure but I think 2/100 of a pound, is accepted in the + or - leeway for wieght? If not, going to single screw scope ring on the rear will make it legal. So i said perfect,,, crown it! Same exact length, and with 6.5 more oz. than the Shilen. Should help with its manners on the bags? But I'll be able to see if I can get the same velocities with the loads I did in the Shilen, which seemed 100 to 150 faster than expected with every powder combination I tried. Not scientific, but both same length, both 4 groove, Shilen rachet rifled, with .219" bore, the Krieger is straight cut rifled, with a .218" bore.

So with 200 rounds of new 222 Lapua MATCH brass cut for a .2443" loaded neck, and prepped for the .246" NK chamber, all within .1th of a grain, and another 300+ within .4th of a grain. And 2000 very special custom BR bullets ready, along with Barts and Bibs 52 grain, I should be set as long as I don't run out powder and primers. And I'm really hoping to cut .1" off my aggs with this new barrel and chamber. No matter what, I'm going to be one happy old man for some time to come!


Fred putting the official crest on the barrel, making it official,,,,, ready for pleasure!



With this winter weather finally arriving I won't get much load development in, but I've shot two rounds today, cleaned after each, very minimal signs of copper on the first round. The second none, but cleaned and JB'd the second time just Fer good measure. But will shoot 2 tomorrow, in 40 to 50 mph gusts, just to see. Then, wait till mother nature tells me I can play again! He'll, I might never shoot my Bat in 6 ppc again?

 

[snert]

So that is what beat me in the Duece #2 match!?

Here is what you were up against....twin brother, separate mother!!



I think your paint is nicer!

 

[wildcatter]

Nice rifle! I painted mine with Custom color Candy Ruby Red. I plan on repainting and giving it a better job, with two 1/2" wide black forward slashes up towards the front of the forearm on both sides, and 222 ) ) ) on left side, maybe both sides of the but, if it doesnt look to gaudy, in 1" tall numbers and each parentheses slightly smaller going away from the 222 then under the silver Metalic and on top of both black metallic and silver, 3 coats of the Candy Ruby Red.

But well see, I might have to much fun shooting it to take the time to paint it again, I can live with it as is. But with this special barrel, and the new chamber, in the same length barrel 6 oz heavier, I expect an improvement?

Again nice rifle, and good shoot'n!

 

[20 TAC]

Love that rifle and the old 222! Thanks for sharing!

 

[perazziguy]

That is one classy rifle! Thank you for sharing!

 

[S Miller]

Good luck breaking in and tuning your new krieger .224-14tw. Here is a photo of the first three three shot groups from my new krieger .224-14tw. Keep us posted!
Scott

 

[wildcatter]

Good luck breaking in and tuning your new krieger .224-14tw. Here is a photo of the first three three shot groups from my new krieger .224-14tw. Keep us posted!
Scott

SWEET! That's what I'm hopen for, those groups would put a smile on this old farts face!

But right now that's just wishing. Heat wave next Thursday, 27* forecast hear. If it is without hurricane winds I hope to get it on the bench and zero'd. But it's gonna be a while before I do any load development.

Sweet shooting Scott.

 

[nakneker]

It’s heart warming to see the little 222 get so much love. Recently a well known outdoor writer pretty much pronounced the little cartridge dead. Granted it‘s sales aren’t near what the 223 is but for many of us it’s a sentimental favorite and can still deliver fantastic accuracy, little recoil, easy tuning…… dead it is not, if anything it’s gain a resurgence of sorts.

I’m glad Scott centered the first two mail in shoots on the 222, didn’t take long to have enough guys wanting to participate to make it happen. Kudos to everyone who joined in.

Triple duece fever, I haven’t found the cure yet ………

 

[wildcatter]

Well, first, truer words were never spoken nakner, the first thing is the 223 isn't capable of the accuracy the 222 cartridge is. I also think the only reason it's more popular for bolt actions is,,,, the manufacturers won't chamber thr 222 today. Those that do like Dakota Arms, Cooper, etc. Probably do sell more 222's, but they sell to a different clientele than standard manufacturers.

It's all about easy cheap ammo to come by! Most buyers don't even reload the 223, most that do, are not looking for the degree of accuracy the 222 is capable of with a little work, and most that do load for it are looking for varmint rifle accuracy.

 

[wildcatter]

I took the gun out this morning, 3* and 45 mph gusts. But I had to see how this barrel reacted after the second shoot and clean. I didn't find any copper after the second shot from this vintage barrel. But I did run a JB patch just to be sure.

Well I was going to go to two shots, for two cleanings, but dang, driving out to shoot, in this these 45 mph gusts, I decided to shoot 3, might mean more scrubbing, but I ain't got nothing better to do till this weather changes.

My cleaning regime always goes, 3 wet patches, set a couple minutes, then 6 to 10 strokes with a bronze brush. Then three more wet patches, with the third usually as clean as a baby's fresh diaper. But I wait a couple minutes to let the Butches work on any copper if it's their.

To my delight the dry patch was spotless. So I broke out the bore scope. WOW! This barrel amazed me when I bought it. I was sure this would cleanup quick, and it did. Basic clean and it's spotless after just 5 shots.

I'm using 22.5 grains of N133, no pressure, but brass is formed with sharp shoulders, and shoulders headspace .0025" longer than when run through the Wilson FL die, exactly what I was aiming for. The necks for the .246" chamber have a loaded diameter of .2444" and fired allow a 52 grain flat base with a .2243" compression ring, to slowly drop into the case, after fired. Maybe a little wiggle to allow it to freely drop back out. The cases reflect no markings from the flawless chamber.

So it's time to sight in while fire forming, and at the same time, see how 3 shot groups respond to the charges, going up .2 of a grain till I see it has had enough seated to .010" in the lands.

I will do this with N-133, LT-32, H-322, and Benchmark. This should get me thru the 100 rounds I have sorted for this season, then I will have new cases to dial in the load, then come off the land .002" at a time. Hopefully finding those 3 shot groups shooting .0's and dial it from thier.

But this barrel has shot clean better than any barrel has from new in the past 6 or 8 years. I do think the newer barrels take a little more to clean up from the start. But now all it has to do to make me happy, is show me its a shooter, been a while since I had one I would call a hummer!! Nothing like setting it up for high hopes!

All in all, from the reemer, to the chamber, and final fit, I couldn't have hoped for better results after the initial start of this project last May!

 

[S Miller]

Pretty much how mine have been. Clean up quick and start shooting right off the bat. Hope yours is a hummer!!!!

 

[Slowshot]

What a beauty. The most accurate rifle I have ever owned was the BAT action 222 that Russ Haydon put together for me.

 

[wildcatter]

We finally got below 15 mph winds and above 20 degrees. That was all it took, I couldn't stand no more. With a total 8 rounds thru the barrel for break in, I went to a buddies and put some fireform loads thru the gun, as well as some of the loads the Shilen shot best.

Not ideal shooting off an aluminum concrete form, screwed to plywood on three legs, but it served this purpose. Light snow, 5 to 10 mph SW wind, shooting North, and about 25*. That's the target at the wood pile.


I took 4 rounds to sight in with 133 powder and 52 grain Bibs. Then a final adjustment and with 12 rounds now on this barrel I shot a group with my best H322 load, using the 52 gr Bib FB.


Needles to say I didn't believe it, so next I fired 5 more, with 4 in one single hole I had to walk down and make sure I wasn't seeing things, should have got a picture. But walking back decided to put the last 5 I had with that load in them and shoot them in this same group.


I was quite happy, this is just thrown together with no tuning, .006" off the lands. But I wasn't done, I had some LT-32 loaded, with 47 gr bullets. These were not hot at 25.0 gr in my shilen barrel and shot about decent, but since I have a very limited supply, I never worked with them wanting to use them in this new barrel. No chronograph but this load did over 3500 fps in the same length Shilen barrel.


The right sighter 2 shots are foulers going from H322 to N133. Needless to say, I'll be running a tune session on this Lt-32 load and 47 grain bullets, as well as the 23.1 gr. H322 load with 52 gr bullets.

But after sighting in with n133 and the 52 gr Bib, then the 5 shot group with one out, I was surprised they didn't shoot any better but one shot could have been me, and by now I had over 20 rounds through the barrel. I sighted in with 22.0 grains, and this did appear to be a little better at 22.5, so with 5 more rounds with 23.0 grain loaded, I shot one last group.

It didn't appear to care for the loads I had with 133. But around 35 or more rounds now without cleaning a new barrel that had only been broken in after 4 cleanings, it might just be fouling. But with the H322 groups, and the LT-32 group with the 47 gr. Bullets. This is where my efforts will begin with load development.

With most groups in the low .2's, in new brass, and never a seating tune, or any load development, I think I can safely say this barrel is going to be a shooter. To say I'm more than happy with a first outing, and in this weather is an understatement!

 

[snert]

I think it is shot out. Please send that to me and I'll finish up that barrel since it seems to be wearing out. Glad I can help...

 

[wildcatter]

Now thanks to are classifieds, and 30EX, I the rifle is now safely legal as a 10.5# LV. No more hoping there would be a .03 oz. grace for wieght. Going from the Black dual screw Kelbly rings, I am now setup dual screw front, single in the rear.

I was lucky to find any 1" Kelbly rings when I first built this rifle, then this week I was lucky to catch not just a set of silver 1" high, but also a set of dual screw 1" high. They were both unpolished. So I decided to try my luck at polishing one of each. I mean that's how this rifle started its life, it had been sanded and looked like it was ruined when I got it. But after some advice from a couple friends that had polished them, it looks pretty good. So rings can't be that hard, can it?

I am sure I shaved more than .03 of an ounce from that 10.53# but I also think it looks a lot better with polished rings. I'm so happy, I just wish my Bat multi flat SB wasn't glued in, I'd like to see how shiny I could polishing a Stainless action. But now it's ready for any class BR, once find a load.

But some hard water fishing is on the menu this coming week.if we don't get to much rain,,,,,,

 

[wildcatter]

DAY 2 - Today with 48* and sunsine I set out to fire some more of these new cases. 10-15 mph winds with gusts to 20. But hey, the sun's shining and I can't wait no longer to get some more brass ready for load testing.

One thing I didn't do on the initial fireforming was neck sizing after I had turned the necks. So I ran them back thru the .241" bushing. These cases were all bought with a ??? Primer in them ??? No idea what primer or how long before I purchased them they were primed. All I did was bottom them out in the Wilson bushing die, and expand the necks with my K&M turner mandrel, and turn to a loaded .2443" dia. Then neck size with a .241" bushing this

With the 133 showing little promise, I loaded LT-32 in the properly neck sized brass wit a berger and seen no gain. But did load 5 with LT-32 and a 52 grain Bib bullet. In fairness the Berger was loaded into the lands, and this is the only cartridge i have that likes .006 to .003 of jump, even .010" off is better than touch..2.292" is touch.


The left five shot group was with the Bib 52 grain, with a load that shot good in the Shilen barrel, the right was the 22.5 grain N133 load with a 52 grain Berger at touch. Not much better than the looser neck results with 133 at touch.

But I did load some of the 47 grain bullets I aquiered using a .241" neck sized, same new brass with the mystery primers, and LT-32 powder like in the 5 shot group on day one with the Shilen barrel ammo.

This time I tamed the 25.0 grain load shot in the Shilen prepared cases down in these new cases. The Shilen shot decent, as did this barrel, and the Shilen turned in 3645 fps. I started these loads, just three of each, with 23.7, 24.0, and 24.4 grains of the same LT-32. All with 3 each at 2.785", 2.788", and 2.792" col. according to my Sinclair comparator.

I did slowly adjust the poa to center it and left it alone after the 24.4 grain load. Final adjustment and zeroing the turrets will be when conditions are optimum. But we're good to go hear with either bullet.

This was great, and the 47's are where my efforts will begin. I forgot my sky screans, and the first 3 shots @ 23.7 grains were not recorded, reading errr2, but the .056" 3 shot group was, a surprise in the conditions I was shooting in.

But while cleaning and after a few shots at steel @ 200 yads, the clouds came back. Now the chrony was ready to go and would read the 24.0 grain load and it was recorded, as well as again shooting all 3 shots into an under .1" group measuring .082" @ 3469fps. Target #17

While it was not any better than the .056" group at 23.7 grains, it was better than I had hoped for for both groups, and no slouch at 3469 fps average, and only an 11 fps extreme spread.

Now with about 15 rounds since cleaning, I wanted to clean. But with one more load of 24.4 grains waiting, with these little 47 grain bullets, I just couldn't wait, I had to see what they would do. Again a little bigger, but this early with the new barrel, I was happy. Target #22 was again one hole, growing @ .218",

But in these conditions shooting in an open corn field, in the Great Black Swamp of Ohio, it very well could me! But now we had 3542 fps average, and a ES of 8 fps. Or a 3 shot, 3 group ag of .119" with these bullets, using three different loads, and two different seating depths!

Not ideal conditions or the most solid bench setup, but good enough to give me a starting point with my batch of once fired brass now, and the 47 grain bullets, with LT-32 powder will be it.




We now have hope, and I only have one direction to go. I just need some better weather with good testing conditions. I think Fred was smiling down on me today!

 

[S Miller]

Thanks for the update. Glad to see lt-32 giving you great accuracy and velocities. The deuce and Krieger are performing nicely, keep it going, cant wait to see an agg from that combo! Lt has gotten alittle unpredictable in the warmer weather for me. I have loads for both 133 and lt depending on day. Again, impressive start and nice shooting!

 

[357Mag]

Wildcatter -

Howdy !

Great shootin', and.... you have been making a superb long-term effort !

That gun shoots better than it looks, and it looks incredible.

You are to be commended, for showing the " cognizanti " just what a great " Deuce " can
do !
.
Yeh...Fred would be proud, and you must be too !

Great, great stuff !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[snert]

I didn't know any 222 could make 3400 FPS. Mine must be a member of the short bus brigade. Very slow.

 

[wildcatter]

I didn't know any 222 could make 3400 FPS. Mine must be a member of the short bus brigade. Very slow.

3542 fps on target #27, 24.4 grains, and the 25 grain group with 47 grn hp shot 3645 fps, under 1/4" 5 shot group. And that is with a confirmed chronograph. Checked with a Ohler 33, and a magnetospeed. All printing within 12 fps of each other. As well as these speeds duplicated with the same 22.5" Shilen barrel. It used their rachet rifeling and I see no significant diferance in speed.

If I were using this for varmint, the 25.0 grain load would be it, and that one was a 5 shot group on day one. But I will gladly trade 200 fps for this guns purpose, and that is accuracy priority one.

Those three loads all are possible, with only one shot out, on one of the groups, out of all three loads, on the bench I was on, in the gusty switch winds in a wide open corn field, was no serious testing conditions. As well as only three shot groups, but this next week, with 50's and 60,s forecast. I will get some solid range time in on the perfect range in Hilsdale Michigan. We have an incredibly protected 300 yard range.

We have graduated with this load work to 5 shot groups now, with .009" seating depth test, in .003" increments, in and out, and 1 grain charge range, from 23.5 to 24.5 grain. So next week I hope to have a final load proven with multiple 5 shot groups, and will report here.