222 and 4198

[JSH]

Mine is a 1-12” also.
I was tempted to try and hot rod it but I have other 22’s.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I received by first .222 sixty years ago on my 14th birthday. It was a 340 Savage with a 6X Lyman. I started with 21gr of 4198 with a 50 gr Sierra. That load with multiple bullets served me well with different .222s for many years.....until it didn't. I have a factory 700 BDL I shot out until it keyholed, lots of running deer matches over the years. I wanted to keep it factory and found an unfired factory take off. It shot terribly. I was about to order a new custom barrel. A long time fellow competitor who also shot .222s and always favored 4895 came to mind. Yep, 4895 in that sporter factory barrel shots great. Put that barreled action in a benchrest stock and you could raise some eyebrows. Moral of the story, don't get stuck on one powder. Different barrels like different things. Don't just try your favorite and give up. PS....best overall accuracy in .222s over the years has been with Barts 52gr.

 

[ELR LVR]

I know back in it's heyday a lot of benchrest shooters got away from 4198 in the deuce because it doesn't run through a powder thrower well but other than that is there any reason not to use it in a 222 nowadays.

I guess what I'm asking is, powder throwing aside, is there anything that much better for the 222 (normal 50-55gn bullets) than 4198?

W-748...better for me than 4198 & I like Rem 7-1/2 BR primers for this combo.
My .222 is a varmint rig with a 2-7x scope and I am still amazed I can shoot less than 1/2" groups with such a low power scope when Im too used to 24x and above. (Can barely see a bullet hole much less a fine aiming point)
I will sometimes go back to this .222 Model 788 for keeping my hold, follow through, breathing technique re-honed if I feel I've lost an edge.
I would agree with 322 & 335 being every bit as accurate and useful for smooth powder operations.
The stick powders are awesome if you can deal with 'em though.

 

[sw282]

My first Prairie Dog trip, early 90s l took a 222Rem and a 243Win. 222 was a sporter wt Win 670. The 243 was a Winchester Mod 70 Varmint. l took 300 factory 222Rem rds with 50gr soft points/Only ammo l could find then. The 243s were 60-70gr l think. First P Dog l ever shot was with those 50gr sp. Standing at attention, facing me at maybe 70 yds he took that 50gr sp in the chest. lmmidiately launching his head STRAIGHT UP!
Shot up most of the 222s. All but 20 rds of the 243s came home with me.

 

[sw282]

After shooting prairie dogs almost 30yrs l can say 95% of the PDS l've pulled the trigger on could have been done with a 222Rem. IMOP, the US Military killed the 222Rem with their ''do everything'' barely adequate, weak 5.56 x45/223Rem. Ask any country outside of NATO what it takes to STOP the enemy. They'll sing praises to a 7.62/.30cal bullet

 

[moorepower]

My L461 loves 20.5 grains of H4198 and a 50 Vmax.

 

[jk80]

I've got a 788 Remington that absolutely loves 335 and hornady 50 gr. sx. It's taken a lot of crows and coyotes. It gave me 3/8" groups without much work.