222 rem question

[boltman223]

I have a 14 twist HV shilen barreled action. It was chambered with a SAMMI reamer with a .242 neck. I though I would be able to touch the lands with 50 gr vmax before it fell out of the case, but I guess not.

I am going to try the 52 & 53 matchkings to see if they touch the rifling before they fall out of the case and hopefully that wil Improve my groups.

From what i've read IMR & H4198 and RE-7 are probably my best choice, but does anybody have any other bullet/powder recommendations? Any advise, info or ideas is much appreciated. Thanks in advance, andy.

P.S. I want to use the rifle for p dogs and some informal BR shooting. Right now my main goal right now is to find an accurate load regardless of bullet design. My 40 nos b-tip load averges in the .7's with one five shot group .217 and another .403. Ten groups total. I would think that I should be able to average well under a half inch

 

[areaone]

You must be turning necks with a .242 neck, My 222 is a no turn .250 tight neck. try 23.5 grs of 3031 to start for accuracy your FB must be way out there, My experience with a 222(since 1965) is that it shoots best with a jump. try H4198 or Ramshot Xterminator, my PD load is Xterm with speer 50 gr TNT, It works well out to 350 yds if the wind is not blowing too much, which seems to only happen very early in the morning in Wyoming as I discovered this Summer on two separate trips this Summer. Your wife spotting and correcting, you shooting and hitting---Priceless., When she wants to shoot and you spotting, Not so priceless.

 

[bheadboy]

i cant remember how many 222's i have had in the las 55 years but all shot best with a .010-.020jump. my last 40x hart shot 2015 well, all shot 4198, some h322, all blc, 748 stick powders of high gr weight like 3031 4895 work but are often compressed.

my Sierra 50gr blitzking went under .3 all day long.

Bob

 

[boltfluter]

My go to powder for the .222 has always been H4895. Good luck. ;D

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[gtl1946]

IMR4198 and RL#7 are very good w/52&53 grn bullets and I have had very good luck with them . Sierra's accuracy powder was ,I think, IMR4895 which is a compressed charge . In helping someone else I found that my using a drop tube and Win. brass (thinner) was helping me load this powder . Not using EITHER of these causes you not to be able to get the amnt. of powder you want without the powder being right to the top of the neck. IMR 4895 was one of the "chosen" powders by Mike Walker the founder of the cartridge and shoots very well for me .

 

[snert]

My 222 is a 253 neck and with Lapua brass, a 50 Grain nosler BT it shoots best with H322. IMR4198, 19.5 grains, 52 grain MK has been my accuracy load, but the BT breaks up better, and it likes H322. I use it for chucks. Go figure.

If you have a 243 neck you MUST be turning necks. Mine was origianlly a 250 neck and it was right on the edge with domestic brass, tight with Lapua.

Love the Duece,
Snert

 

[snert]

Oh, and all that I forgot, I jump em .10. That is the sweet spot for this Hart 14 twist.

 

[ArticWolf]

My rifle likes H335 with a little jump with the 53 & 52 gr bullets but it does like the 52 better

 

[boltman223]

I have decided to have it rechambered with 222 reamer with a .250 neck and zero free bore. I like to touch my brass up a little bit but sick of turning for a .242 neck.

Speaking of .250 being on the edge I measured some factory loaded rounds at the store most where about .246-.247. I measured one box of hornadys at .250 another box was .241!. Dont know what happened there

 

[K22]

Shot this caliber for many years until I switches to 223 rem.

Many powders work well for this caliber but IMR 4198 is a solid proven performer. BLC2 also works quite well if you like a ball powder - I don't - too dirty.

The 52 grain match bullets with IMR 4198 and Rem 7 1/2 primers are 1/4 moa to sub 1/4 moa capable in a match rifle.

 

[pintopete]

PT&G has a reamer #30248 Revision B that is a .251 neck and 0 freebore. It must be the revision B.

Favorite powders: H322, N133, BR2015, H4198, IMR4198, H4895. I prefer powders that meter and measure easily. Sometimes it is hard to tell if one works better than the other in the .222

Bullets: Sierra #1400 MatchKing HP 53gr, Hornady 50gr V-Max, Hornady 50gr SPSX hunting chucks.

Best of luck, Peter.

 

[LHSmith]

Back in the day, 70's, I had a .222 700 BDL Varmint that shot real well with BLC-2, but even better with IMR-4198 using of all things Hornady 50 gr. SX. After building a .222 on a HV BR chassis, I tried those same loads and ended up with N-133 using Bart 52 gr. load as my most accurate. I believe that powder burn rates are very different from that of 40 years ago. Once I find a powder that works.......and works well in a variety of conditions in which that gun will see use..... I buy that lot number in bulk. Many powders will shoot bugholes if shot in the same atmospheric condition, but will quickly scatter them if temp changes 15 degrees ...or humidity goes to extreme high or low..........even with so-called "Extreme" powders. AA-2230C ( not an "extreme"powder) is a prime example... in a sporter 6BR it will shoot PPC size groups consistently @ 50-70' and humidity ~ 50%, but groups will be larger as the temp. or RH swings throughout the day.

 

[357Mag]

Boltman -

Howdy !

What bolt fluter said....

IMR4895 was the go-to .222 powder for a whole slew of benchrester's; back in its hey-day.

You might want to take a look at some of the new-wave ( lead-free ) .224" cal bullets.
These are typically longer than conventional lead-core bullets; as they have to be to reach the same wt as a lead-core. For example... perhaps Hornady's .224" cal 50 or 55gr GMX; or perhaps a Barnes ?

Otherwise, you might have to go " custom ". JLK used to have some long-ogive .224"s.


Regards,
357Mag

 

[Juma]

Is 748 no longer made in USA? All within thumbnail groups at 100m with this including 60gr Hornady out of Sako vixen.

 

[bheadboy]

Juma, in the 70's Ball C was the go to in line with 4198 and 4895

Today Hod has Ball C and 748 burn rate next to each other and either willdo the job, i think they are the same.

Bob

 

[jonbearman]

ww 748 is still available at powdervalley.com

 

[MrMajestic]

N133 and some Berger 52 gr. FB's and if it don't shoot real tiny groups it probably will never! Unbelievable inherently accurate cartridge, atta boy Walker!

 

[Predator1]

I hav tried a whole lot of powders in the 222 and while many of em shot accurately none gave me the velocity or the accuracy of N133. I load 24grs behind a 50gr vmax and a 52gr Berger. Velocity is 3400+. Keep in mind this is a factory rifle. Its a Winchester Model 70HV.

 

[snert]

Regarding brass on the small side...I have seen that a lot lately, especially with domestic US brass. Manufacuturers "may" be punching them out a little on the skimpy side of the SAAMI spec. Just sayin...

For years my Rem VS was fed IMR4198, 19.5 grains, behind a Sierra 52MK, or 53 MK. Switched to a 50SX for woodchucks when at the longer ranges the MK was sometimes "inhumane". All shot very well. The Duece is not "dead" because it won't shoot. It is moribund because the 223 is everywhere. I prefer the Duece, and regretted selling my VS the day after I did it. Finally built a 222 to replace it.

For giggles, I load it light (no I will not print that info) and use it for squirrels. No target 22 I have ever owned (52B, 40X, 541T or 513T) will shoot with it. Do an old Google search on "To Bee or not to Bee" by calhoun. Not to stir the pot....

 

[robbor]

I have decided to have it rechambered with 222 reamer with a .250 neck and zero free bore. I like to touch my brass up a little bit but sick of turning for a .242 neck.

Speaking of .250 being on the edge I measured some factory loaded rounds at the store most where about .246-.247. I measured one box of hornadys at .250 another box was .241!. Dont know what happened there

I want to say my lapua brass was .2495 or so with a few .250. Im planning on a 2515 neck and like .005-.010 freebore instead of the normal .025