222 remington Stretching It Out

[wildcatter]

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!

 

[JEFFPPC]

As always.....it's the Indian. Good shooting.

 

[AWS]

+1 on the great shooting.

The Deuce is a surprising little cartridge, it and the 22-204 are my goto for coyote hunting. Hard to imagine being without one. In fact added another for this season.

 

[SecondsCount]

+2 good shooting

Care to share your load data? I'm thinking that I may get a 222 to play with in the near future.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Not only fun on targets - much quieter than the 223 on varmints when you use a can. I have 2 - one is a Tikka 1-8 twist and a 1960's BSA with a factory 10 shot magazine.

 

[wildcatter]

+2 good shooting

Care to share your load data? I'm thinking that I may get a 222 to play with in the near future.

For the longer range I was using a 52 grain Bib bullet, with Remington 7.5 primers, and 23.1 grains of H-322.

This is a load I was shooting before using a .242" nk bushing, I switched and loaded this batch using a .241" nk bushing. After the match we setup a target and before cleaning I shot this 5 shot group.

With the .242" nk bushing I've shot a few 3 shot groups testing but didn't do this good for 5 shots. I switched and went to LT-32 for this bullet, but I think I might switch back to H-322 after this?

But 22.8 grains of LT-32 shoots pretty good with this 52 grain Bib bullet also.

 

[K22]

Old farts like me are not surprised by the 222's outstanding performance. At one time, it ruled the benchrest circuit. It also became a top medium range (out 300 yards), varmint caliber.

As for me, I had Rem 700 Sporter weight rifle in the 222 with a walnut stock. Mine routinely shot 1/2 moa with IMR 4198, Sierra 50 gain bullets, and Remington 7 1/2 primers. Took many of hogs and crows with that wonderful rifle.

I re-barreled it after about 5,000+ rounds with a Douglas Match barrel in 223 Rem only because brass was much easier to find and the 223 Rem gave me about 100 f/s more velocity but to tell the truth, that 222 didn't give up much to the 223 Rem.

 

[wildcatter]

Old farts like me are not surprised by the 222's outstanding performance. At one time, it ruled the benchrest circuit. It also became a top medium range (out 300 yards), varmint caliber.

As for me, I had Rem 700 Sporter weight rifle in the 222 with a walnut stock. Mine routinely shot 1/2 moa with IMR 4198, Sierra 50 gain bullets, and Remington 7 1/2 primers. Took many of hogs and crows with that wonderful rifle.

I re-barreled it after about 5,000+ rounds with a Douglas Match barrel in 223 Rem only because brass was much easier to find and the 223 Rem gave me about 100 f/s more velocity but to tell the truth, that 222 didn't give up much to the 223 Rem.

What I keep asking myself is why I waited till I was 69 years young to have one. I mean 40 years ago Fred Sinclair told me how accurate and easy it was to load for.

But back then, I wanted not only after burners on my cartridges of choice, but hence my user name, wildcats that most didn't have, that just had to be better. Dumb kid syndrome!

Luckily for years Fred never quit giving me information I cherish today, but this was all because I came into a Panda action and a Old School Graphite McMilan BR stock, with a .3378" bolt face.

It was like Fred put it in my hands to finally get me to listen. So that's how this hole 222 Remington set up came about. 5 months later I am still learning how I deprived myself of a true diamond in the rough all these years!

Sometimes us old farts can be taught new, although old tricks!

 

[Lee Whitsel]

For your 222 brass is very hard to find I know. But this summer Star Line made a special run of 222 brass. I picked up 250 for $101 shipped free. Very fast service. I only shot critters not benchrest. I did check out the brass by weight and necks seam to be much better than the little bit of Remington brass cases I have. And I see they still are listing 222 brass for sale so check it out if you need some more brass.

 

[wildcatter]

I have never shot any Starline rifle brass, but call their pistol brass, the Lapua of pistol brass.

I have a large supply of 222 Match Lapua brass so I can burn up the barrels I have now. But a buddy shoots a 223 in factory class, and was using the Starline. He eS happy with brass like you seeing an improvement over the Remington and LC he had used.

But I gave him 20, 223 Match headstamp Lapua cases. The same week he asked if I could sell any. Since I'll never build another 223 now that I have my own 222 Reamer, and a solid supply of brass, I sold the 100 I had to him.

Thats my only experience with Starline Brass in any bottleneck case.

 

[Lee Whitsel]

The reason for me for buying the Star Line is 1 because I was about out of brass and was thinking of making 223 into 222 ... Then I saw that Star Line was taking orders for a special run of 222. I know from reading Handloader Magazine that Star Line Brass is very highly praised by abut all the writers in there. So I jumped in and placed an order very glad I did... Now I wish I had picked up 500 ........

 

[wildcatter]

You certainly made the right choice in my opinion. I'm lucky and have a significant supply of Lapua MATCH 222 brass. But before I formed 223 into 222 brass I would turn to starline, or Norma. But as you know, any other option is tough to get right now.

For my buddies 223, he just found the Lapua to last longer, mainly in the primer pockets. But had good accuracy running the Starline.

 

[K22]

What I keep asking myself is why I waited till I was 69 years young to have one. I mean 40 years ago Fred Sinclair told me how accurate and easy it was to load for.

But back then, I wanted not only after burners on my cartridges of choice, but hence my user name, wildcats that most didn't have, that just had to be better. Dumb kid syndrome!

Luckily for years Fred never quit giving me information I cherish today, but this was all because I came into a Panda action and a Old School Graphite McMilan BR stock, with a .3378" bolt face.

It was like Fred put it in my hands to finally get me to listen. So that's how this hole 222 Remington set up came about. 5 months later I am still learning how I deprived myself of a true diamond in the rough all these years!

Sometimes us old farts can be taught new, although old tricks!

My first exposure to the great 222 was in Western Pa in the late 70's. I was hunting groundhogs in those days with a pistol, S&W Model 27, 357 Magnum. The rolling terrain allowed for stalking to get close enough for an under 50 shots. I also always took along my trusting 243 Win because there were areas where a rifle was required. But I was addicted and obsessed with pistol hunting so more often than not the 243 Win was left behind in the car.

I encountered another hunter on the 600+ acre farm I was hunting, and he had a 222 Rem, sporter weight rifle with a 12X scope. We became friends and I was totally amazed at the shots he could make off homemade wooden cross sticks sitting on the ground. We began hunting together, I would stalk parts of the farm while he set up for long shots watching tree line, fence posts, etc., on the open areas of the farm. He let me take a hog with it, estimated range was about 250 yards (days before range finders). I was hooked.

I eventually got one and was never disappointed. Somes old farts shouldn't forget the tricks they learned long ago. 

 

[Lee Whitsel]

I bought my first 222 in a 788 Remington about mid 70's I think. I wish I had it back now. I swapped it for another 788 in 6MM Remington wish I had that back as well... Hind sight as they say..... I got and old beat up 722/222 with that long 26" barrel now. And refinished the stock. It looks like someone worked on the bolt with a hammer. But it still shoots great after all that beating it took. Wish someone would do a special run of 222 say in a Savage or some brand. I'd like to have a new one.. They still sell 222 over the pond but you can't get one here... I tried and all I get is excuses.... But all in all the 222 is my all time favorite light gun. I have shot whitetails with mine and gave it to another gun to use and he shot a deer with it as well.

 

[Lee Whitsel]

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.

 

[wildcatter]

My first exposure to the great 222 was in Western Pa in the late 70's. I was hunting groundhogs in those days with a pistol, S&W Model 27, 357 Magnum. The rolling terrain allowed for stalking to get close enough for an under 50 shots. I also always took along my trusting 243 Win because there were areas where a rifle was required. But I was addicted and obsessed with pistol hunting so more often than not the 243 Win was left behind in the car.

I encountered another hunter on the 600+ acre farm I was hunting, and he had a 222 Rem, sporter weight rifle with a 12X scope. We became friends and I was totally amazed at the shots he could make off homemade wooden cross sticks sitting on the ground. We began hunting together, I would stalk parts of the farm while he set up for long shots watching tree line, fence posts, etc., on the open areas of the farm. He let me take a hog with it, estimated range was about 250 yards (days before range finders). I was hooked.

I eventually got one and was never disappointed. Somes old farts shouldn't forget the tricks they learned long ago. 

Always nice to think back and share our experiences with others. This old 222 I'm sure has stories to tell that would keep us entertained for some time.

My joy in not having one for so long is now after literally hundreds of rifles and dozens of cartridges, it makes it easy to realize how much more user friendly this cartridge is.

Then like you mentioned, today paired with a top quality rangefinder, like my Leica R1200, it adds an easy 150 yards to this rifles effective range. A 200 yard shot back then would be like a 350 yard, maybe even 400 yard shot today.

Along with my personal, better awareness of reading conditions, are little things that make it an even more enjoyable cartridge to build on at this time in my life.

But it would been great to grow with this cartridge, instead of jumping on the newest greatest over and over. We have all seen these new better than evers slowly fade, and never have a following like this little 222.

There are few that enjoy the hard core following for decades the 222 Remington has! Or the stories and memories it carries with it, by those that looked past the kool-aid, and ran with a caliber known for its all round merits!

 

[Lee Whitsel]

The only thing I miss about Pa. is the pretty fall leaves on the trees and fresh Amish Cider, and come to think of it a pan of scrapple along with a whoopie pie. We lived around the Amish as you can tell.

 

[wildcatter]

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.

As far as making one a hunter, your dad had the right idea, learn to stalk your prey! As a hunter I have little use for a rifle, except for long range varminting.

I personally hunt everything from squirrel and rabbits, to big game with a bow, or a handgun 90% of the time. But I love the smell of burning rifle powder, and the sight of making small groups in paper. At any yardage. But the farther the better.

 

[nakneker]

I have always had a 222 problem, been buying and selling them for decades, current stable has quite a few. Recently added a 222 Tikka Master Sporter, pretty crazy how well it shoots. They all shoot under .5, some better than others. I blame my Uncle and his Sako 222 growing up, it was the rifle we all wanted to fondle.

The reason for this post though is brass. I have a couple cases of Lapua 222 brass, I consider it the best, when Starline came out with the brass I ordered 500 with the thought of using it in my 20-222s. I have Starline for many of my pistols and 45-70s. I’m glad they made it. I still hold Lapua at the top of the heap, it is more weight consistent and a pleasure. I‘d rate the Starline as very good brass, better than Remington, Winchester, Herters etc. just my opinion. The price direct from starline gets it a gold star too.

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

 

[AWS]

I missed out on the Howa Mini in 222 but would sure like to see them do a run of HB 222's, I have a Howa mini HB in 6.5G and they are a great little rifle. Light enough to hunt with but enough weight out front o be steady on the sticks. The Savage 25 in 222 is just too ugly.