222 pet loads please
- Thread starter JamesnTN
- Start date
Shot one for many years until I rebarrelled to a 223 about three years ago.
Unquestionably, I had my best results with IMR 4198 with 50 grain bullets. BLC2 also worked very well if you don't mind using ball powder. My sporter weight Remington 700 shot in the sub 1/2 moa range with these two powders and 50 grain Sierra Blitz Bullet until I shot the barrel out.
Best results were with Remington 7 1/2 primers.
Unquestionably, I had my best results with IMR 4198 with 50 grain bullets. BLC2 also worked very well if you don't mind using ball powder. My sporter weight Remington 700 shot in the sub 1/2 moa range with these two powders and 50 grain Sierra Blitz Bullet until I shot the barrel out.
Best results were with Remington 7 1/2 primers.
I'll have top find me some 322
I believe I have some 4198 out in the shop and I know I have some BLC2 except its surplus WC846 powder same thing as the BLC2 I also have some VV N133 and RL-7 I'll be testing.
Powders I have tested is BLC2 and it was all over the place as for groups except one load 26.1 grns shot a sub .2 group but ES was too high at 32
Benchmark worked well I just don't have any it was most consistent in grouping working up loads thus far
H4895 was all over the place
RL-7 was all over as well
IMR 4198 was all over to except 1 load
I always heard the 222 was very powder friendly I guess I have one not so friendly. But all the loads I tested I used Fed 205m primers maybe a different primer will do better?
I'm not real fond of powders that don't have a node for accuracy as I work up my charges in these little cases at .2 grn spread and to have 1/2" groups and bigger then bam a .1" group and .2 grn heavier another spread out 1/2" group just does not work for me.
I believe I have some 4198 out in the shop and I know I have some BLC2 except its surplus WC846 powder same thing as the BLC2 I also have some VV N133 and RL-7 I'll be testing.
Powders I have tested is BLC2 and it was all over the place as for groups except one load 26.1 grns shot a sub .2 group but ES was too high at 32
Benchmark worked well I just don't have any it was most consistent in grouping working up loads thus far
H4895 was all over the place
RL-7 was all over as well
IMR 4198 was all over to except 1 load
I always heard the 222 was very powder friendly I guess I have one not so friendly. But all the loads I tested I used Fed 205m primers maybe a different primer will do better?
I'm not real fond of powders that don't have a node for accuracy as I work up my charges in these little cases at .2 grn spread and to have 1/2" groups and bigger then bam a .1" group and .2 grn heavier another spread out 1/2" group just does not work for me.
I have owned a 222 since 1966. I have three today. My favorite. I love that little cartridge and have killed many PD, foxes and coyotes with it. For many years I shot 23.5 grains of IMR 3031 and 50 gr Sierra
Spitzer. Very accurate. Today I use Ramshot Exterminator with Speer 50 gr TNT, extremely accurate, easily in the .2's and can go in the 1's, 3 shot groups. 23 grs cci450, 3200fps in my Shilen 14 tw RatchetSM, chambered by Sid Goodling. H322 works well also. 71/2 Rem Primers, Many years ago an "elderly" shooter put me on to 3031, His style of reloading was to dip the case in 3031, level it off at the top of the case, seat a bullet(compressed) and shoot. And shoot well he did. Never had a 222 that would not shoot well, had a Win 70 1983 production and it killed lots of fox and coyotes with the factory set up, it was a well under 1/2 in 3 shot with any bullet. Still have the barrel, just rebarreled the action to Rem Varmint contour. Probably had less than 1500 rounds thru the original barrel which was in Sporter contour.
Spitzer. Very accurate. Today I use Ramshot Exterminator with Speer 50 gr TNT, extremely accurate, easily in the .2's and can go in the 1's, 3 shot groups. 23 grs cci450, 3200fps in my Shilen 14 tw RatchetSM, chambered by Sid Goodling. H322 works well also. 71/2 Rem Primers, Many years ago an "elderly" shooter put me on to 3031, His style of reloading was to dip the case in 3031, level it off at the top of the case, seat a bullet(compressed) and shoot. And shoot well he did. Never had a 222 that would not shoot well, had a Win 70 1983 production and it killed lots of fox and coyotes with the factory set up, it was a well under 1/2 in 3 shot with any bullet. Still have the barrel, just rebarreled the action to Rem Varmint contour. Probably had less than 1500 rounds thru the original barrel which was in Sporter contour.
most br shooters used imr 4198 at 20.0-20.2 gr with the 52/53gr match sierra, jumping .020,
7 1/2 primers are the trick
do not jam a 222. i have had 4 and all shot into .200's and less when i did my job,
Mike Walker used 4895 exclusively and won a lotof matches, again do not push the load to absolute max and do not jam.
Bob
7 1/2 primers are the trick
do not jam a 222. i have had 4 and all shot into .200's and less when i did my job,
Mike Walker used 4895 exclusively and won a lotof matches, again do not push the load to absolute max and do not jam.
Bob
A vote for 22.2 of H322 with any quality 50 gr. bullet, but the 50 gr. V-Max's are at the top of my list of most accurate. Not something I dreamed up, just following the label advice that Hodgdon includes on the cans of H322. Over many years, with 2 different chamberings, it has a record of accuracy.
In both my 222's (Rem. 700 factory & a Hart, both 14 twists), bullets must be jumped .020". Seat them to touch & group sizes will double.
20.5 of H4198 with the same 50 gr. bullets is another excellent choice, for me.
In both my 222's (Rem. 700 factory & a Hart, both 14 twists), bullets must be jumped .020". Seat them to touch & group sizes will double.
20.5 of H4198 with the same 50 gr. bullets is another excellent choice, for me.
Worked up loads today using VV N133 a Fed 205 m primer and Winchester cases. I started at 21.6 grns and worked up to 22.8 grns in .2 grn increments 21.6 shot very well sub 1/4" kept going and got to 22.4 and it showed some promise nice little triangle group then 22.6 stacked 3 touching and 22.8 planted all 3 shots in one hole. What I don't like is the extremely high ES but going back over every recorded shot I've shot thru the rifle when it stacked them in the .1's the ES was always high.
I have a variety of primers I'm gonna try the 22.8 grns with the 7 1/2, BR4 and 450 primers and see if I can tame that ES I have a few lbs of 8208 I may try as well.
I'm gonna try and get my hands on some H322 and give that a try as well. and go back with the IMR 4198 and some 7 1/2 primers as suggested.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I have a variety of primers I'm gonna try the 22.8 grns with the 7 1/2, BR4 and 450 primers and see if I can tame that ES I have a few lbs of 8208 I may try as well.
I'm gonna try and get my hands on some H322 and give that a try as well. and go back with the IMR 4198 and some 7 1/2 primers as suggested.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Remember, Mike Walker was one of the founders of that round. He developed the 222 around 4198 and a 50 gr bullet.
In the early 50's it was as popular as the PPC is today in benchrest competition. If they had not change the rules in the sporter class to 23 caliber, I believe you would see more triple duces used benchrest.
I've had this cartridge since its inception, and never had one that wouldn't shoot. I own 3 of them. And will always have a triple duce in my gun safe. You get a lot of mileage out of a pound of powder along with real long barrel life with this cartridge.
In the early 50's it was as popular as the PPC is today in benchrest competition. If they had not change the rules in the sporter class to 23 caliber, I believe you would see more triple duces used benchrest.
I've had this cartridge since its inception, and never had one that wouldn't shoot. I own 3 of them. And will always have a triple duce in my gun safe. You get a lot of mileage out of a pound of powder along with real long barrel life with this cartridge.
I like to add when I load develope I shoot 3 shot groups, I have done this for many years and its worked well for me. Some may say and argue you can't learn anything from a 3 shot group. For some this may be true for me and shooting over a chronograph I can learn just as much with three shots as most do with five shots. Now once I have settled in on a load I will shoot several groups to verify accuracy I don't take into account one group is the holy grail.
As I test more I will publish results as I search for my pet load.
Info on rifle is a Winchester Heavy Varmint 1-14 twist 26" SS barrel and a Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50 scope with TMR reticle.
As I test more I will publish results as I search for my pet load.
Info on rifle is a Winchester Heavy Varmint 1-14 twist 26" SS barrel and a Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50 scope with TMR reticle.
kolar55
Silver $$ Contributor
LT-32 works pretty well too. Start at about 20.0 and go up from there. I had gotten extreme spreads last Saturday in the neighborhood of 8 Fps using Hornady 55 sx bullets. N133 has consistently done very well with the 52 Bergers too. It is not uncommon to get ES of less than 10 Fps. This is with a 700 varmint with a Hart 1/14" twist 24" long. I too like three shot groups for load development. Hell, if it won't shoot three it don't pay to waste more ammo.
JamesnTN said:
Thanks James..I need to jump a little more it sounds like from what you and others have said. I've thought about that ES problem also and wonder how much it really matters since this is what I would call a "short range" proposition.....out to mostly 200 to 300 max yds. but it is always nice to see low ES if possible.
Shot the 222 today again using same load and with 4 different primers.
I weigh all my loads within +/- .01 of a grain using a Denver Instruments 603D scale
Load was 22.8 grns VV N133
Fed 205m ES 17 Group sub 1/4"
Rem 7 1/2 ES 45 Group 1/2"
CCI 450 ES 22 Group 3/8"
CCI BR-4 ES 44 Group 3/8"
Here's what I learned today just a tidbit if my cases are snug to the chamber it'll stack them into one hole. if I have a case that's not snug with little to know bolt resistance it'll throw that shot. out a 1/4" or a little further. I need to back off my body die and keep all my cases snug as it seems.
Shot some 8208 also today I didn't run them over the chronograph but I don't think that's going to be the powder of choice. I'll try again tomorrow with cases that I won't run thru the body die and just see what difference it does make to be 100% positive.
In summary looking at burn rate chart my best groups and consistent has been Hodgdon Benchmark and VV N133 and both are side by side on the chart so it appears this is where my rifle likes the powder.
Yesterdays Avg speed using 22.8 grns was 3222 fps overcast skies and temps in 70's Todays results with everything the same except the cases were pushed back Avg was 3180 fps with sunny skies and highs in the mid 80's
I think I'll play with seating depth and see what goes for now. It appears that the Fed 205m is primer my rifle prefers.
More updates to follow
I weigh all my loads within +/- .01 of a grain using a Denver Instruments 603D scale
Load was 22.8 grns VV N133
Fed 205m ES 17 Group sub 1/4"
Rem 7 1/2 ES 45 Group 1/2"
CCI 450 ES 22 Group 3/8"
CCI BR-4 ES 44 Group 3/8"
Here's what I learned today just a tidbit if my cases are snug to the chamber it'll stack them into one hole. if I have a case that's not snug with little to know bolt resistance it'll throw that shot. out a 1/4" or a little further. I need to back off my body die and keep all my cases snug as it seems.
Shot some 8208 also today I didn't run them over the chronograph but I don't think that's going to be the powder of choice. I'll try again tomorrow with cases that I won't run thru the body die and just see what difference it does make to be 100% positive.
In summary looking at burn rate chart my best groups and consistent has been Hodgdon Benchmark and VV N133 and both are side by side on the chart so it appears this is where my rifle likes the powder.
Yesterdays Avg speed using 22.8 grns was 3222 fps overcast skies and temps in 70's Todays results with everything the same except the cases were pushed back Avg was 3180 fps with sunny skies and highs in the mid 80's
I think I'll play with seating depth and see what goes for now. It appears that the Fed 205m is primer my rifle prefers.
More updates to follow
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