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222 rem part 2

Leadfarmer

Silver $$ Contributor
Probably one or two more rounds of these questions and then I'll hopefully have everything ordered and then the wait from the gunsmith and others.

I understand what you tell me doesn't mean much for my specific rifle, but it's a good starting point to say the least and hear from people who know better than me.

What barrel brands do you all prefer for your 222rem?
I was thinking a 14 twist Hart?

How much neck tension does your 222 like?

Finally, do you have more success jamming, touching or jumping off the lands?

Thanks!
 
Late into the 222 game myself. All I can tell you is it isn’t a finicky cartridge. Mine has digested odds and ends of partial boxes of bullets and partial bottles of powder, with zero issues to complain about.
36 grain to 55 grain bullets, all MOA @100, maybe a skosh bigger but still good enough to make you smile.
Powders, I have used some old stuff that I was going to toss out because of no data. Well I got to digging in my archives and found some old early load data.
Primers, brand new fresh to some 40 year old BR primers.
Jam, that’s what I put on toast.
Neck tension, what ever my dies are.
Jump, I honestly couldn’t tell you. I did some measuring when it was new, I keep it at least 015 off on everything.
 
No intent to hi-jack - only to demonstrate that, regardless of cartridge, a 1:12" twist REALLY WORKS!:cool:

Here's a quick seating-depth 'scan', with a new HART 1:12" twist: with the Lt-32, the powder charge scanning (with my preferred jam-seating) never was exciting - but the 'jumping' looks decent !!

All just 3-shots, 'scanning' in 10-15 MPH R-L zephyr counter-clock-wise: #4 to up - L, then down center-line: 0.010" jam; just kissing leade; 0.010" off; 0.015" off; 0.020" off . . . yep, my preference is steering for the ditches, looking for some DRAMA before splitting hairs - this barrel looks pretty forgiving between 0.010" and 0.020" 'jump';).

For the non-believers, note the SHAPE change between HO-Hummer (touching/in the lands) and respectable groups (all off the lands). Now, we can return to 'messing with' the powder charge! But, at my mickey-mouse ability, why bother . . . well, for proof, some 5 and ten-shot groups will be required!!
:pRGB4A8C3B4-54EF-44F4-951F-C87B8F1CDC4A_1_105_c.jpeg
 
Last edited:
RGRobinett said:
No intent to hi-jack - only to demonstrate that, regardless of cartridge, a 1:12" twist REALLY WORKS!:cool:

Here's a quick seating-depth 'scan', with a new HART 1:12" twist: with the Lt-32, the powder charge scanning (with my preferred jam-seating) never was exciting - but the 'jumping' looks decent !!

All just 3-shots, 'scanning' in 10-15 MPH R-L zephyr counter-clock-wise: #4 to up - L, then down center-line: 0.010" jam; just kissing leade; 0.010" off; 0.015" off; 0.020" off . . . yep, my preference is steering for the ditches, looking for some DRAMA before splitting hairs - this barrel looks pretty forgiving between 0.010" and 0.020" 'jump';).

For the non-believers, note the SHAPE change between HO-Hummer (touching/in the lands) and respectable groups (all off the lands). Now, we can return to 'messing with' the powder charge! But, at my mickey-mouse ability, why bother . . . well, for proof, some 5 and ten-shot groups will be required!!
:pRGView attachment 1564083
Click to expand...
Not hijacking at all! I also found an older thread where you and Al Nyhus explain the jacket length, twist, and some other math. I'll be going with a 1:12 twist for sure. Probably Hart or Lilja. Can't decide though!
 
Like Randy said, I had a 12 twist on my .222 also. 52 Bergers and VV N133 with Federal 205 primers shot extremely well. Easy to tune and it shot some small groups. This was before LT-32 became available so I never tried that.

Edit to add: this was a Pac-Nor barrel. I was using about 1.5 thou neck tension and it liked the bullet just touching the rifling.
 
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Kevin1990 said:
Awesome. I've never tried a pac-nor barrel. I will look into them as well. Good to know on the neck tension. Any recommendations for a good set of dies?
Click to expand...
I'd ask your gunsmith for a sizing die recommendation based on the reamer he uses. I used a Redding bushing die.

For the bullet seating die, I made an arbor press die with the chamber reamer.

That was the only Pac-Nor barrel I've ever had. Most of my PPC's have been Krieger or Bartlein. A couple of Shilen, too.
 
Leadfarmer said:
Not hijacking at all! I also found an older thread where you and Al Nyhus explain the jacket length, twist, and some other math. I'll be going with a 1:12 twist for sure. Probably Hart or Lilja. Can't decide though!
Click to expand...
Do yourself self a huge favor of the two you are considering and get the Hart barrel. Period. You will also get a no questions asked warranty, period. My most accurate barrel of all time, hands down, my old .22Waldog. An amazing barrel to say the least! Hart for the win!
Paul
 
Leadfarmer said:
Not hijacking at all! I also found an older thread where you and Al Nyhus explain the jacket length, twist, and some other math. I'll be going with a 1:12 twist for sure. Probably Hart or Lilja. Can't decide though!
Click to expand...
I have put all the barrel maker names in a hat and pulled one and went with it. I have had good ones from all of them, it’s easy to agonize over components. Not sure what your building but Krieger has some in stock 12’s in #18 contour. If you don’t already have them put some flags in your program. Good luck with your build. The 222 is great fun.
 
I own and shoot a Hart barrel and have had Pac-Nor as well
Hart is a winner but so is Pac-Nor so much for helping you there as for the cartridge
just got back from the range with mine a fantastic cartridge mine is a 14 twist and it will shoot most up to 55 gr.
 
Leadfarmer said:
I think I'll give Karen at Hart an email and order a 12 twist. Hopefully, I can get it before the summer ends.
Click to expand...
I was just at the Hart building last week and had a most pleasant talk with Jim and Karen. Jim fixed my Swift which I had mucked up. Took him ten minutes compared to my several hours of futzing to screw it up. Good people. It was particularly cool to see two "mini-me" Jim's working at the barrel lapping. It stays in the family at Hart. Great young men who looked me straight in the eye with a smile and welcomed me to the shop.
 
snert said:
I was just at the Hart building last week and had a most pleasant talk with Jim and Karen. Jim fixed my Swift which I had mucked up. Took him ten minutes compared to my several hours of futzing to screw it up. Good people. It was particularly cool to see two "mini-me" Jim's working at the barrel lapping. It stays in the family at Hart. Great young men who looked me straight in the eye with a smile and welcomed me to the shop.
Click to expand...
I've never been to HQ but they are only about 90 minutes from me. That sounds like a really cool experience!
 
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