222 remington Stretching It Out

[Lee Whitsel]

I to wish Howa would do a run of 222 Remington in their mini action I also missed out on it a few years ago. I called the U.S. office and asked and the young guy said it will never happen. He said take the barrel of and geta smith to rechamber it in 222 from a 223. No thanks try maybe getting a Tika in 222 would be better. If Howa did a 1/9" or 1/12" forget this 1/8" or 1/7" twist it doesn't work for most shooting 50/55 grain bullets.

 

[hpshooter]

It is currently in stock. Link below. Buying Lapua is iffy at best for the immediate future although you still see it from time to time on the classifieds. Earlier this year they released a batch, several outlets had it and it sold out in days so I would guess they will make it again at some point,

https://www.starlinebrass.com/222-remington

Ordered 250 pcs. this AM, thanks for the link.

 

[Kittitas George]

I'm a new comer to the 222 R, got a 22-250 when Rem came out with them mid1960s. Had to have all that speed. I've had other varmint calibers over the years. I decided on the 222 R a couple of years ago, I bought a 40X Rem. 222 mag with a 12X Leupold, re-barreled it to 222 R., Redding dies, IMR1498 powder, 45gr. V-MAX and I'm shooting minute of gopher. I've never found a good load so quickly. The rifle has a synthetic stock and heavy barrel so recoil jump is minimal. It works good, and geezers (81) can learn new things. The only difficulty I have at this age is deciding which gun, I seldom need to ask "did I get 'em?"

 

[Lee Whitsel]

I'm headed out this morning to go 20 + miles back into the mountains scouting for grouse and looking as black bear season starts tomorrow morning. Taking a look of course going into heavy bear country on a 4x4 means I will not be taking a 222 along maybe my 308 and a heavy pistol on my hip as an extra protection. Montana is a pretty place but can be very dangerous as well......

 

[Slowshot]

Well I've shot the little Duece in 4 group matches this year. All at 100 yards except one, a 2 target 100 yards and 2 target 200 yard score shoot.

The weird thing is it shot the highest score at 200 but I blew it myself at 100. That was the first match I shot with this New then Duece.

Well yesterday I shot a 200, and 300 yard match in pretty good conditions in a Varmint for score match.

I shot against four 6BR's, one 6mm Dasher, and one 22-250 in unlimited class, I didn't have a factory gun to shoot factory class, but again, I'm having my best luck against others at longer range!

The little Duece with 52 grain bullets finished 2nd. Pretty good for a little bullet @ 3200 fps out to 300 yards. Shooting .6" wide 10 rings, and .3" wide at 200 yards.

I have not shot one of these challenging matches since 2011, and forgot just how much different from NBRSA group or IBS score they are!

I was really handicapped the most by my 36 fine crosshair B&L Trophy, most relied on the NF 12x42 or 15x55.

So once again the little 222 surprised most shooters. Granted I had ideal conditions in 5 to 7 mph predictable winds, and very light mirage. But proving, when I show up at any match with this old school setup, I don't have to win, to leave for home one of the happiest shooters their!

Life with little 222 Remington is proving not just enjoyable but very worthwhile, and is proving a real eye opener from all those I shoot with!

I confess I never shot either my BAT action Russ Haydon built rifle or my one-off Ruger No. 1V (both 222 Rem.) in competition but I have fired them each quite a bit and done a lot of load testing. The results I have gotten have sold me on this little cartridge. When Russ was about to retire, I cleaned him out of Lapua 222 Brass. That was before I had a Ruger No. 1A converted to an otherwise non-existent 1V in 222 and I am glad I did that. With the conversion the Ruger in 222 Rem is accurate like no Ruger No. 1 is supposed to be.

 

[JSH]

Another one here that was late getting on the 222 wagon. I found this one by accident, it is a Howa mini and was listed poorly on GB. I won it for under $300. I was told by a buddy in the industry side of things, the 222 Howa minis were shipped to the US by accident. Meant for countries that can’t use a military round, 223/5.56.
I had zero brass or dies. I made some from 223 and then by luck a buddy had some virgin RP brass. Later I ordered some from Starline, loaded most of that up and then got on a 20-221 kick and ordered more 222 as a donor for making 221 brass.
As mentioned by many others, I think you will have to try to find a load that the 222 won’t shoot. I have ran 40-55 grain bullets of various types, along with multiple powders. It has helped me clean up some odds and ends of powder and bullets and all have shot extremely well.
Came into a bunch of Barnes 36 grain green bullets. Saw mixed reviews on them accuracy and performance wise. They work well enough on PD’s out too 200 ish, pretty explosive as far as I can tell.

 

[Slowshot]

I am certain that load testing will give you excellent results. When Russ Haydon built a rifle for me, I asked for it to be in .222 Rem. The BAT action rifle in 222 that Russ put together was the most accurate rifle I ever owned.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I'm from Huntingdon, Pa. but been in Livingston, Montana now for well over 20+ years. Cut my teeth on Pa. hogs as a kid. Dad wouldn't trust me with a rifle so he made me stalk up on hogs and blast them with my 16 gage single barrel till I was a little older.

old man was smart.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I am certain that load testing will give you excellent results. When Russ Haydon built a rifle for me, I asked for it to be in .222 Rem. The BAT action rifle in 222 that Russ put together was the most accurate rifle I ever owned.

Do you by chance have that rifle still? asking for a friend.

 

[Slowshot]

old man was smart.

Once I realized I was not likely to ever be competitive in BR competition, I let that rifle go. A guy bought it for his wife to shoot varmints. I think Russ was a bit disappointed in me for selling the rifle but I am not really a collector and do not hang onto things I do not use.

 

[durand mortenson]

I bought a used 222 722 at a gun show in the late sixties. The guy had two and the other was a 222 Mag. Mag sounded cool to me but my friend advised against it informing me the 222 was a record holder. The only thing I didn't like about it was the stamped trigger guard as it looked cheap. I still don't like it. The guy gave me some ammo and the same friend (A gun nut from work) and I went to local Police Range which was open to the public on Sundays. I didn't do well. Long story short I accurized it with a Herter's glass kit and started reloading.
I haven't used it in along time but plan to use it on the ranch I shoot on next spring. I have about 150 rounds left of Winchester brass I bought from Midway when they were still cheap.
I eventually changed the K10 with a used Leupold 12X which is still on it today.
Great little rifle.

Mort