Back with a 222Rem

[ArtinNC]

Went shooting today . Shot 5 different powders , same bullet , seating and primers . Top target was cold barrel with VV130 , 20.8 grs . Second target AA2460 , 22.8 grs . Third target AA2230 , 22.5 grs . Fourth target H4895 , 23.5grs . Fifth target H335 , 23.0 grs . Today looks like H4895 did the best allways trying for a one hole group . Next time to the range I'll shoot for score . All shot with PRP 52 gr bullets . I cleaned the barrel after every 5 shots and the AA2230 was by far the easyst to clean . I just used 2 really wet patches and a third damp between each 5 shots , so didn't really clean just wiped out the worst carbon .

 

[BoydAllen]

Interesting info on the fouling. Why did you jump the bullets? How did you pick the powder charges?

 

[ArtinNC]

I always try to give it a good cleaning at the range when I got home I borescoped it and no carbon ring BUT still had carbon for abou 4inches in the new barrel . .005 is where it shot the best the first 100 shots , I may change that . VV130 shot the best at .5 gr under max so I loaded all half a grain under max . The first group I was pretty cold , So I say that was me not the gun or the VV130 .

 

[chester999]

I had excellent results with H322 powder in the .222.

 

[20 TAC]

Have you tried any H4198 in the 20.5-21.0 range?

 

[ArtinNC]

Don't have any H322 and I do have H4198 and Imr 4198 never shot any in this barrel yet .

 

[durand mortenson]

Don't have any H322 and I do have H4198 and Imr 4198 never shot any in this barrel yet .

I think IMR is a little hotter but it worked really well in my Rem 722. It's a little crunchy coming out of my powder measure but does okay. When testing I would load short and top it with a powder trickler.

 

[troupe]

Bartlein 14 twist, HV 4 groove ordered for a 24".

 

[boltfluter]

Put the bullet. 010 into the rifling and you may be shocked. Back down powder if near max. Good luck!

 

[K22]

IMR 4895 is the accuracy load in the Sierra Manual for 52 and 55 grain bullets. I had my best results with IMR 4198 and 50 grain Sierra bullet (14" twist rifle).

One of my regrets is abandoning the 222 when the barrel started to go south after many years of successful performance. The 222 is a great cartridge both for target shooting and varmint hunting, the latter especially out to about 250 yards or so.

Since I only shoot about 10 to 15 rounds per range trip and normally only 1 to 5 rounds on a varmint / predator hunt, on advice from a former Marine Sniper, I started running a patch of Mineral Spirits followed by one dry patch and one patch containing a few small drops of mineral oil (Hoppe's Gun Oil) down the bore after each range session or hunt between full cleaning cycles (every 50 to 60 rounds). This seems to keep the carbon down and does not create first shot flyers. Jury is still out on this, but it seems better to not let the carbon just sit in the bore between full cleaning cycles. I have noticed that the full cleaning process is easier.

 

[ELR LVR]

Try some W-748
Very versatile powder
It's my go to powder for anything 222 up to 22-250
Nice recoil characteristics compared to say .... CFE-223

 

[ArtinNC]

Put the bullet. 010 into the rifling and you may be shocked. Back down powder if near max. Good luck!

That is hard to do PT&G made my reamer .045 (( so the reamer was made wiith oal is 1.745 length )) to long and with 1.30* lead the bullet seats way out of the case (( Reamer should have been made 1.706 OAL )) . This is about the best I think this gun will shoot with the screewed up reamer . All the 222 brass comes 1.696 long now so that makes me .049 from the rifling ( or I call it .049 sloppy free bore ).

 

[Evlshnngns]

That is hard to do PT&G made my reamer .045 (( so the reamer was made wiith oal is 1.745 length )) to long and with 1.30* lead the bullet seats way out of the case (( Reamer should have been made 1.706 OAL )) . This is about the best I think this gun will shoot with the screewed up reamer . All the 222 brass comes 1.696 long now so that makes me .049 from the rifling ( or I call it .049 sloppy free bore ).

Just to clarify, your reamer cuts for brass that has .045 longer neck?

 

[ArtinNC]

Just to clarify, your reamer cuts for brass that has .045 longer neck?

The Match reamer OAL was 1.745 and should have been 1.706 max. And the brass is 1.696 so that meens that from the brass to the Rifling is 1.749 to the rifling and should have been 1.706 with no free bore.

 

[ArtinNC]

Todays target 2/24/25 first 3 targets are seated hard into rifling , next 2 targets I backed out .005 and the last 2 targets were backed out another .003 . The very first target I didn't really try that hard and they went vertical .

 

[ArtinNC]

Had a chance to go to the range today 4/2/2025. Only shot 3 shot groups today , the gun don't like the bullet seated into the rifling , I did a .006 jump and tested some different powder . all the info is on the target .

 

[snert]

Had a chance to go to the range today 4/2/2025. Only shot 3 shot groups today , the gun don't like the bullet seated into the rifling , I did a .006 jump and tested some different powder . all the info is on the target .

Looks like wind is getting you and you are close as far as load is concerned.

 

[boltfluter]

Todays target 2/24/25 first 3 targets are seated hard into rifling , next 2 targets I backed out .005 and the last 2 targets were backed out another .003 . The very first target I didn't really try that hard and they went vertical .

1,2, and 3 look pretty darn good to me! H4895 was magic in my old .222. Just a thought. Good luck.
Paul

 

[nakneker]

The mighty triple duece! I’ve had good luck with a lot of powder, bullet, primer combos. My most accurate 222 is a vintage Tikka master sporter M595. That rifle loves H4198 and just about any quality 52gr bullet.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

The mighty triple duece! I’ve had good luck with a lot of powder, bullet, primer combos. My most accurate 222 is a vintage Tikka master sporter M595. That rifle loves H4198 and just about any quality 52gr bullet.

That's the magic combo for the 222 , 4198 & a good 52 gr bullet.