222 Rem. in a 722

[Dan877]

I was looking for a low cost rifle / action for a planned light weight 6x45 varminter build and found a pretty nice deal on a 722 in 222 Rem. Nice custom stock, 26" factory barrel, even has a 2-8 Balvar scope monted on top, I figured for $379 I couldn't go wrong. It will be next year at the earliest before I send it off to be rebuilt and I figured I ought to at least play with it in triple-duce in the mean time. Anyone have some pet loads for a 722/222 with 26" factory barrel?

Oh and don't worry, if it shoots I'm sure I'll keep it and find something more "modern" for the 6x45 build.

Dan

 

[Steve Blair]

My first centerfire rifle was a 722 in .244 Remington. I still regret selling it.

My favorite load for .222 is a mild load of 20.5 H4198 with Sierra 53g HPMK seated at 2.200". That load has delivered the goods in several rifles. The good news is that you can almost use the case as a scoop, seat a bullet and shoot ½ MOA groups. It is perhaps the easiest loading cartridge ever designed.

*** Corrected load ****

 

[WildPete]

Our standard load has been 25 gr of Win 748 below a 50 gr Hornady or Sierra Bullet. I will be trying the Nosler 40 and 50 gr BT's. This is over the listed MAX in the Winchester book. Approach with caution!!! In all the Remingtons and Winchesters we have shot this load in, we have had no trouble. We did have pressure problems in a Sako and a Husqvarna. I've been shooting it for years in a Rem 600. Also, I have heard that Win 748 is temp sensative. Be careful!!

Wild Pete

 

[40X Guy]

24 grains of IMR4895 under a Sierra 52 MK works very well. Mike Walker himself said that IMR4895 is "the" powder for the triple duece.

Frank

 

[fdshuster]

The load as shown on the H322 Hodgdon powder label: 22.2 grs. of H322 with any quality 50 to 53 gr. bullet. The before mentioned 20.5 of H4198 is also excellent.

 

[MrMajestic]

Vihtavouri N133, Lapua case, match pimer, good 50-53 grain FB bullet and your shooting bugholes.

 

[280shooter]

I have a 722 - 222 it likes 55 gr bergers 20.3 gr rl 10x
Also likes 55 berger with 23 gr imr 8208

 

[Bobs243Ackley]

I concur with the use of IMR-4895. I had a chance to talk to Mike Walker personally, and he said that IMR-4895 is the powder of choice for accuracy testing for the .222 Remington in the Custom Shop at Remington. I tried it, as Mike directed, and that is all that I have used since. You will not get the velocities that some of the other powders, but the accuracy is great!

Bob

 

[SpiritNugent]

I also use IMR 4895. I tried 5-6 powders when load testing for a 1972 M700 BDL. IMR 4895 was leaps and bounds the best of the powders tested.

I use a 40 grain Blitzking and CCI 400 primers. My best shooting rifle. It's a one holer.

As noted, not the fastest. Heck, I believe my load of 23 grains with a 40 grain pill might be very "mild". But it shoots more accurately than anything I've ever laid hands on before.

Mike Walker said it, and he was right.

The triple deuce and IMR 4895 go great together, like Ma and apple pie!

 

[1000yardstare]

In 1988 found a Rem 722 in .222 in a country gun shop deep in the Ontario boonies. It had fallen off the back of a tractor into the triple hitch and the barrel looked like a dog`s hind leg. The stock was splintered and held together with binder twine.

Bought it for $50 for the action. Had my `smith install a McGowen 26 inch 10 twist barrel in .223, a Fajen prone stock with Anschutz fittings, Timney trigger, Anschutz front aperture sight and Central rear aperture sight. Shot it with a sling in various Canadian Palma events even though in 1989 .223 was not eligible for prizes. I didn`t care. Shot some perfect scores with it using 69 gr SMK and 24 gr AA2460. Chronod at 2850 fps.

In 2008 had a `smith square the 722 action and rebarrel with a 30 inch 8 twist for F/TR. Best load 77 gr Nosler match with 25 gr H4895, 2840 fps.

At my local club a Rem 722 in .222 with a cheap scope has just gone on the board for C$450. Don`t know what kind of shape it is in. The guy is dreaming but I will keep my eye on it and see what happens. If it winds up in my hands it will become a sporter weight 6x45 for coyote.

Bill

 

[LongRanger]

Bought my 722/222 in 1952. Still have it and still shoots 1/2 MOA. 22 grains IMR 4198 with just about any 50 grain bullet makes it a ground hog's worst friend.

Frank B.

 

[FryeGuy]

dan, I had problems getting 55 grain bullets to stabalize in both of the 222 I have been shooting recently. My gun ended up liking 52hp berger varmint match bullets, with 21.0 grains of N133. It also liked 52hpbt sierra matchkings, with 20.5 grains of IMR4198. It didn't like the 50 grain v-max bullets at all. The other gun ended up liking the V-max bullets best, go figure. I have loved shooting these things. I might have to try and find one in a heavy barrel.

 

[22BRGUY]

I have to second the reply about N133. I've tried some other powders with good results too but N133 in my 722/222 is like a marriage in heaven. With 50gr Bergers and about 23 gr it shoots 1/2 or less moa at 200 yds. Work up with caution and best wishes.

 

[BOBC]

I bought a 722 Rem in 222 when they first came out. In the last 50yrs I've had 3 triple duces and still have three. They all like 4198 with a 50 to 52gr bullet. The duce was developed to use a 50 gr bullet and 4198 powder. That is how they get 3000 fps MV. I clocked my 46gr bullet with 21.5 grs of 4198 at 3345 fps out of a 24"barrel. That is the average for 5 shots. I can't think of a better round that's easy on barrels and does not gobble powder and gets very good MV. I'll always have a duce in my rack.

 

[Dirtfarmer]

In the early 60's, I shot varmints with a buddy who had a .222, 722. I checkered it for him in a skip a line pattern popular back then. Later I traded for it, had a Hart barrel installed as the original barrel was getting tired. The Hart had a chamber issue and I didn't shoot it much. I recently sent the barreled action to Ray Bowman at Precision Rifle and Tool in N.C. Ray set the barrel back and re-chambered it, using a PGT .22-204 reamer with .060 freebore.

It's on the way back to me via. UPS. I'm looking forward to working up loads for this new ctg. It should be a good bit hotter than the .222 and with good .204 brass available, it's an easy process to neck the .204 up to .224 with one pass. No fire forming like the .223AI and slightly more case capacity. The Hart is a 12 twist and I'm looking at 40-55 gr bullets.

Will post data as it develops.

DF