.222 vs .223

[scattergun2570]

When I was 13 yrs old, I had a Savage 340C in .222.. Took many a groundhog with that gun,so I know the cartridge is quite accurate..but I have always been told that .222 is more accurate than .223..some say its by a very small margin....but one very serious shooter I spoke with,said its a lot more accurate. I had my mind set on a 527 in .223,figuring its accurate, and has a flatter trajectory than the .222. Hornady claims 3,800fps with a 40gr Vmax,from a 24"bbl. So I would like to know from the very serious .222 & .223 shooters here..whats the truth?

 

[Berger.Fan222]

There is something truly special about the triple deuce.

 

[LawrenceHanson]

You will be the deciding factor, not the cartridge.

 

[LHSmith]

If your #1 goal is to shoot the smallest groups on paper @ 100 yds then your chances are better with the .222 14 twist using 52 gr. BR bullets. For longer distances go with the .223 and select a barrel twist that best stabilizes your intended bullet weight. FWIW you will have to measure the group size @ 100 with a caliper to see the difference between the two.

 

[varmintshooter]

I had a 527 American in 222 but was disappointed in accuracy.

 

[bheadboy]

no question hands down the 222 will out shoot the 223 all things being equal, 100-250yd

the 223 with a 12 twist will provide "good" accuracy given a good chamber bbl and bedding, with the addition of added velocity for longer shots and wind bucking beyond the 200 range which helps in pd etc. shooting. that is what gives the 223 the advantage if you shoot longer than 250

I have used the 221 out to 250 and the 222 out to 350, lots of pd died, the 223 would give an added advantage vs wind at the longer distances so a lot of folks swear by them.

your choice,

Bob

 

[jreedtn]

One thing that really helps the 222 in the accuracy department is its longer case neck. Stoked with a stiff load of n133 and a 52 gr berger, my hart barreled rem 700 duece doesn't give up much to a 223 and prints 5 shot groups in the mid 2's on a regular basis. One classic sweet round. In my opinion it's one round that has been severely overlooked in the modern firearm manufacturer list of chamberings. :

 

[riflewoman]

If you compare apples to apples in rifles of equal quality and build integrity the difference in accuracy between 222 and 223 is a 'pick 'em" choice. Much of the accuracy advantage of the 222 doesn't come in to play until you get to the high ether of the BR community. Any given 223 will shoot along with any average 222 while giving a 50 to 100 foster advantage.

 

[longbow]

Keep it simple....I like the 222 it's a classic...everyone has a 223...so if you need the little bit extra velocity, go for it. I also have a 17 MK4 mini Sako thats 25 years old, its another classic...but I'm an old guy....I like CLASSICS!.......

 

[mac86951]

no question hands down the 222 will out shoot the 223 all things being equal, 100-250yd

the 223 with a 12 twist will provide "good" accuracy given a good chamber bbl and bedding, with the addition of added velocity for longer shots and wind bucking beyond the 200 range which helps in pd etc. shooting. that is what gives the 223 the advantage if you shoot longer than 250

I have used the 221 out to 250 and the 222 out to 350, lots of pd died, the 223 would give an added advantage vs wind at the longer distances so a lot of folks swear by them.

your choice,

Bob

+1.

Only reasons to choose one over the other is differences in your need/want and differences in rifle quality/build quality.

-Mac

 

[kolar55]

One thing that really helps the 222 in the accuracy department is its longer case neck. Stoked with a stiff load of n133 and a 52 gr berger, my hart barreled rem 700 duece doesn't give up much to a 223 and prints 5 shot groups in the mid 2's on a regular basis. One classic sweet round. In my opinion it's one round that has been severely overlooked in the modern firearm manufacturer list of chamberings. :

John's not pulling anybodies chain here either. I know. I wish I would never have sold him that rifle. I never tried them but it's been said by one of the benchrest gunsmiths who's been around a long time that the duece w/14 twist loves 40 grain blitzkings. Also, I don't recall any world record groups or aggs. being held by the .223. None of the .223's I have had would shoot as well as the good old .222-especially the .222x35 I had in years gone by.

 

[L461]

I owned both the 222 and 223 at the same time and in the field the 222 gave away nothing to the 223 at all.
Now I just own that 222 and discovered how much it loves the 40 Vmax it is a match made in heaven.

 

[SS427]

My factory .223 Remington shoots better than our family owned older Sako .222. I draw no conclusion about the calibers based on that comparison though.

I think with a factory rifle it would be a toss up. With a custom barrel...the one that got the luck of the draw better barrel would be more accurate. Again...a toss up.

Selling a used .223 would be easier if you decided you didn't want it any more, and it has an edge in ballistics. I like the .222 for nostalgic reasons more than anything, and also like the fact it shoots less powder.

 

[drover]

If you compare apples to apples in rifles of equal quality and build integrity the difference in accuracy between 222 and 223 is a 'pick 'em" choice. Much of the accuracy advantage of the 222 doesn't come in to play until you get to the high ether of the BR community. Any given 223 will shoot along with any average 222 while giving a 50 to 100 foster advantage.

This is the correct answer. Given the ready and inexpensive availability of brass for the 223 it is pretty much a no-brainer.

drover

 

[swd]

This^^^^!!

 

[Predator1]

Can't really add much more to whats been said already. In the end, it boils down to what you want and which cartridge tickles your fancy. For me, its the 222. I concur with jreedtn, N133 with a 50-52gr bullet is magic in the deuce. My 222 clocks 3350fps with a 50gr vmax with N133. I don't think it gives up much vs the 223 when comparing bullets of the same weight.