222 Remington

[Mark W]

I just picked up this nice old school 222 Heavy Varmint / Bench Rifle build. It was smithed by Borden and built on a Shilen DGA action with a Hart Barrel, tuned 40X trigger, and a old glossy Leupold 6.5-20. The stock is said to have came from Shilen 25 or 30 years ago. Some of the notes and load data that came with it were from the early nineties. it shoots small with 52 Berger’s over H322 in Lapua Brass. I can’t wait until next years prairie dog trip to give it a real work out.

 

[biggun2869]

Nice, I love the .222. The one I have held onto isn't nearly as pretty as that one, its' an old original 722 and like yours what I have loaded for it is 322 behind a berger 52grn. Mine has a 16x steel weaver on top. Gary

 

[hpshooter]

Great looking rifle. Have killed many Floyd Co. VA ground hogs in years past with 19.5gr. of IMR4198 behind a 52gr Hornady SX using a Remington 7 1/2 primer in Remington cases. Never was able to get H322 to shoot as consistent as the 4198.

Feel like I need to revisit the H322, more patient, systematic and knowledgeable in working up a load now than I was 40 years ago.

 

[stacy]

NICE RIFLE I VE NEVER BEEN WITHOUT A 222 MY 40X LOVES H-322 AND 52GR BERGERS PRINTS SOME PRETTY BUGHOLES WHEN I DRIVE IT RITE

 

[JEFFPPC]

Great looking rifle. Have killed many Floyd Co. VA ground hogs in years past with 19.5gr. of IMR4198 behind a 52gr Hornady SX using a Remington 7 1/2 primer in Remington cases. Never was able to get H322 to shoot as consistent as the 4198.

Feel like I need to revisit the H322, more patient, systematic and knowledgeable in working up a load now than I was 40 years ago.

You might also try 4895. For 40 plus years I only used IMR 4198 until I got a barrel that hated it. Tried H 322, it hates that also. Tried 4895 as a last resort because a friend from years ago always swore by it and bingo, constant tiny holes. Give it a try.

 

[Tommie]

The DGA was my object of lust in the early 1990’s. Gorgeous gun. Congrats!

 

[K22]

One of the best every created, the 222 Rem. I shot one for many years, took many of ghogs and foxes with it. Out to 250 yards it has no peers. With 50 grain bullet and IMR 4198 my Rem 700 sporter was a sub 1/2 moa rifle.

I eventually shot the barrel out of mine and rebarrel to the 223 Rem for a little more velocity and distance but the old 222 Rem leave nothing to be desired.

 

[centershot]

When I had a duce, I used ball c 2 in it with 50 grain Hornady SX. Great combo! Blew up dogs.

 

[LCazador]

I have three old duces. A Sako L461 Varmint, a Remington 700 Varmint Special, and a Harrington and Richardson sporter and all love AA2200 and 52 Sierra Matchkings. In the old days I shot 52 grain Remington Benchrest bullets in them. Everyone of those firearms has over 2000 rounds and they have slain their share of dogs. The Remington got set back and rechambered with a .244" neck. The Sako may have over 4000 rounds and is going to get stocked with a new piece of AAA walnut and rebarreled soon with a Kreiger 9 Twist to shoot 69 grain Matchkings over AA2230 or Win 748. Guys don't overlook the ball powders when it comes to shooting the 222. More powder capacity for the little case especially when shooting heavier bullets. Mark enjoy that little gem, what a great action, and what a great gunsmith that put it together. It's got to be a shooter!

 

[17VLD]

Very nice rifle with a great pedigree.
The .222Rem sure is a sweetheart,most people have a soft spot for it that runs very deep.Love mine,it’s an older 700 Varmint Special with a vintage Redfield 3200.Those pd’s are gonna be in some serious trouble next season
Matt

 

[AWS]

I have to agree the 222 Rem. is a great round. At the moment I have three, a Sako Vixen Fullstock that is one of my favorite coyote calling rifles, a Winchester Model 70 another great coyote hunting rifle and a Custom Savage for paper, GS and PD's. I've had a couple of combo guns in the past that were superbly accurate. My goto bullets are the 40gr NBT and the 52gr Speer flatbase HP, powders Benchmark and AA-2230

 

[velocette]

My dad bought my .222 in the mid 1950's. Today, the only original part of that rifle is the action. A colorful laminated stock holds the action, a 1:12 McGowan heavy barrel & Rifle Basix trigger. It shoots nice tiny groups out to 500 yds. It has a particular love affair with Berger 55 gr FB target bullets and N 133 propellant.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I just picked up this nice old school 222 Heavy Varmint / Bench Rifle build. It was smithed by Borden and built on a Shilen DGA action with a Hart Barrel, tuned 40X trigger, and a old glossy Leupold 6.5-20. The stock is said to have came from Shilen 25 or 30 years ago. Some of the notes and load data that came with it were from the early nineties. it shoots small with 52 Berger’s over H322 in Lapua Brass. I can’t wait until next years prairie dog trip to give it a real work out.

View attachment 1129867

++++, I think I have commented on it before.

 

[gambleone]

3 yr old post

 

[wildcatter]

3 yr old post

But a good one,

 

[gambleone]

But a good one,

I have to agree with you wildcatter. Love the triple deuce.

 

[Knorthcutt222]

Super nice rifle. The 222 is by far my favorite caliber. My load choice that has been great in all 222 I have loaded for is 22.2gr of H322 and a 52gr bullet

 

[skeeljc]

I built a .222 Rem to try and replicate what Walter Berger did with it in the 50's when the tripple duce was the king of bench rest. I bought a reamer from Dave Manson and found a Brux 1 in 12 twist heavy varmint barrel. My reamer is a .250" diameter neck, zero freebore, and 1.5 degree lead. So far I have tried H335 which was too temperature sensitive, and now I am working with N133. Bullets are the Berger 52 grain FB target and 52 grain BIB. The N133 shows promise with 22 grains at 3200 fps.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have three old duces. A Sako L461 Varmint, a Remington 700 Varmint Special, and a Harrington and Richardson sporter and all love AA2200 and 52 Sierra Matchkings. In the old days I shot 52 grain Remington Benchrest bullets in them. Everyone of those firearms has over 2000 rounds and they have slain their share of dogs. The Remington got set back and rechambered with a .244" neck. The Sako may have over 4000 rounds and is going to get stocked with a new piece of AAA walnut and rebarreled soon with a Kreiger 9 Twist to shoot 69 grain Matchkings over AA2230 or Win 748. Guys don't overlook the ball powders when it comes to shooting the 222. More powder capacity for the little case especially when shooting heavier bullets. Mark enjoy that little gem, what a great action, and what a great gunsmith that put it together. It's got to be a shooter!

Good point on the ball powders. When I started shooting IBS short range in the 90s it was with a M70 Stealth in .222 with a 16 twist. Totally stock out of the box except I added a 2 oz Jewel. Every match I shot I would beat several custom 6PPCs. The load was W748 and Nosler 50 gr Ballistic Tips. For 2 seasons it served me well.

 

[wildcatter]

Good point on the ball powders. When I started shooting IBS short range in the 90s it was with a M70 Stealth in .222 with a 16 twist. Totally stock out of the box except I added a 2 oz Jewel. Every match I shot I would beat several custom 6PPCs. The load was W748 and Nosler 50 gr Ballistic Tips. For 2 seasons it served me well.

Yes indeed, it may never again win the match, but it will send many home wondering why there 6mm PPC got dethroned by a triple deuce! I fully intend to have one together for next season to do exactly that. The past months I got everything in order to do just that, the only thing left is chambering the Shilen Select Match 1-14 barrel to complete!