222 47 grain First Loadings, Shows Promise

[wildcatter]

After a match I shot Sunday, I did a trial load using some 47 grain HP from a friend. I would expect similar performance from any good 50 grain in this tight 222 chamber.

Before loading the six for the test group, I ran 2 shots each, 23.5 grains, 24.0, 24.5. and 25 grains of LT-32. I stopped at 25.0 grains because using a 6" drop tube, and filling the case slowly, I am w less the .1" from the mouth, but still no signs of excess pressure in this tight chamber. So this is giving me a slightly compressed load.

At 100 yards the test group, with a 47 grain bullet and 25 grains of LT-32 in my chamber with a 4 groove ratchet rifling in my Shilen Barrel and averaged 3645 fps with a 29.54 fps extreme spread, and showed signs with a little tuning, it might just group as well as my best 52 grain target load?


I might switch to this bullet as the first group showed promise, no seating depth, charge variation, or nk tension has been tuned for it. Just the first 6 shots on paper. It already would be my go to load for Varmint in this gun because of the 3645 fps it turned in.

Just remember, I started low from a charge .5 grains warmer than my 52 grain load with this bullet. I also have an extremely tight chamber, and only bump brass .002" when resizing!

 

[17VLD]

Very cool to have a friend that can make custom bullets that shoot that well. I’m sure everyone would love to see a picture of the 47 and 52 next to each other.
I assume they are flat base.

 

[JEFFPPC]

While it takes some skills to make a .222 shoot bad don't count your chickens until it repeats. Looking at those 6 shots if you had shot a 3 shot group it could have been a 2 and 1 group. 2 and 1 groups can cause a guy to tear is hair out. Not me, I have none, hair that is. It would be cool to have you friends bullets work for you. Keep at it.

 

[Daddycaddie67]

What twist? E

 

[jcarpen]

What jacket length?

 

[wildcatter]

What twist? E

This is in a 1-14 twist Shilen.

 

[wildcatter]

What jacket length?

These are made on custom jackets. He uses shortened jackets the 52 grain bullets are made in.

This 14 twist barrel uses ratchet rifeling, which might have something to do with this 22.5" barrel giving me the surprising speed without extreme pressure.

This all came about after some info on custom bullets today, over what was used in the hey day of 222 dominance in Bench Rest.

When Walt Berger, was making hand swedged match bullets, the jackets were shorter for his 52 grain bullet. Same as Uber, Watson or anyone that was making custom match bullets back then.

That is why the 1-14 twist barrels were ideal back then. Today many that are much more experienced on the subject recamend and prefer 13 twist and 12 twist for the 52 grain bullets today.

I have checked this information and it has proven right. I have some old Berger bullets, less than a full box, from the day that Walt himself made his bullets. I also have some old paper box Remington 52 grain bullets labeled Bench Rest, a very good supply, these are from the 50's close as I can tell. But both are shorter than the Barts, Bibs, Berger, or any other match grade bullet made today.

This is all because today, they all are controlled by the same jacket suppliers.

I am waiting to get serious with load development, until I get my new 222 Remington reamer. I have a special LV uncut Kieger blank from 2011 vintage I got these bullets specifically for.

I will also say this group has proven itself, but for now, I have decided to wait to use them in the new barrel, with the new reamer. But it's nice to know, this barrel works good at these velocities if I want to dedicate them to varmint use.

 

[Slowshot]

After a match I shot Sunday, I did a trial load using some 47 grain HP from a friend. I would expect similar performance from any good 50 grain in this tight 222 chamber.

Before loading the six for the test group, I ran 2 shots each, 23.5 grains, 24.0, 24.5. and 25 grains of LT-32. I stopped at 25.0 grains because using a 6" drop tube, and filling the case slowly, I am w less the .1" from the mouth, but still no signs of excess pressure in this tight chamber. So this is giving me a slightly compressed load.

At 100 yards the test group, with a 47 grain bullet and 25 grains of LT-32 in my chamber with a 4 groove ratchet rifling in my Shilen Barrel and averaged 3645 fps with a 29.54 fps extreme spread, and showed signs with a little tuning, it might just group as well as my best 52 grain target load?
View attachment 1474488

I might switch to this bullet as the first group showed promise, no seating depth, charge variation, or nk tension has been tuned for it. Just the first 6 shots on paper. It already would be my go to load for Varmint in this gun because of the 3645 fps it turned in.

Just remember, I started low from a charge .5 grains warmer than my 52 grain load with this bullet. I also have an extremely tight chamber, and only bump brass .002" when resizing!

I have had great success shooting 222 Rem in two different rifles. My go-to load is easy to remember. It is 22.2 grains of H322. Here we have that load in Lapua brass, with a 52 gr. Berger FB bullet and a Remington 7 1/2 BR primer.

Of course, as they say, "your results may vary."

 

[wildcatter]

I have had great success shooting 222 Rem in two different rifles. My go-to load is easy to remember. It is 22.2 grains of H322. Here we have that load in Lapua brass, with a 52 gr. Berger FB bullet and a Remington 7 1/2 BR primer.

Of course, as they say, "your results may vary."

I've had my best results with 322 using 52 grain Bib bullets with a charge wieght of 23.1 grain, and like you I'm using the 7.5 Remington primers as well. .246" tight neck Lapua brass.


Of course 5 shot groups. As well as the same components with LT32 and got pretty much the same results

 

[JSH]

H322 is about as available as H4198. :-(

 

[wildcatter]

Hopefully we start seeing some before this last 9 to 10 lbs I got left runs out. If not, the LT-32 shoots pretty good with them 52's and the 47's as well.


I've seen some having these same results with 133. But I'd love to see and try some H4198. Hopefully we see some of all soon.

 

[wildcatter]

I decided finally on a load with these new bullets. I have not worked with any powder but LT 32, and N 130.

The N130 just didn't show any consistency. From 3100 fps to 3400 loading 22.0 grn. to 34 grn.

The LT 32 I took from 22.0 grn to 25.0 grn. At 23.8 it showd its most consistent accuracy. It turned in a zero a couple times that were opened up to a low .2 to a mid .1, with .168 it's best during testing.

If this was a Varmint rig that 25.0 grain would be my choice. It shoots around mid .250 moa 5 shot groups most times, with a low .3 now and then. But at 3570fps, in this little 222, that would be a great Varmint load.

I settled for 23.8 grn. for the first Match with this new barrel and chamber with the new reamer. 24 shooters and I was the only 22. Mostly 6 ppc with a couple 30 BR thrown in. I finished in 3rd place with a .276 agg, 2nd was a .274 agg. Both blown away by a .188 for 1st.



I had two groups I let slip away missing a condition. Below is my first group with the one shot out missing reading my 60 yard flag on the second shot. The second group was the last relay, 5th shot and waiting the 40 and 60 yard flags to change, shot with the front flag changing before I seen it. Both 4 shot groups were under .1 on both targets.

Yep a couple screw ups on two relays ended up costing me big. But I left VERY HAPPY! First time out with this new settup, using 47 grain bullets against a but load of good shooters and their 6 ppc's, the little duece proved its worth! No if it just had someone that was capable of driving it?

Oh well I'll keep trying. But I seen just how critical these little 47's are with a slightly missed condition. I have yet to try the 52 grain Bibs in it, as well as anything with H 322, my favorite powder in this gun, and what shot best in the Shilen Rachet barrel. I have a very limited supply of the H322 Extreme, but I'm going to see how well this new barrel will do with my old favorite, just ain't sure I can find the powder to feed it, if it likes it?

 

[RCE1]

The triple deuce was the original benchrest cartridge. I had terrific luck with 40gr VMax.

 

[ArtinNC]

I need to lite a fire under my gunsmith , I want to shoot my 222 and post pictures !