woa! glad you posted this. got a .222 Shilen select match barrel on order for a savage Target action. been saving my n133 for it. looks good
Best 52 grain match bullet
- Thread starter urbanrifleman
- Start date
woa! glad you posted this. got a .222 Shilen select match barrel on order for a savage Target action. been saving my n133 for it. looks good
FWIW, 4198 and rl-7 have been the go-to powders for most people in a 222 with 50-55gr bullets for a long time. Not that n133 can't shoot well but just that those other two are proven winning powders in one. The targets don't lie so do what works but don't overlook those two powders.
H4198 or IMR 4198? not a fan of Alliant powders so will skip out on the RL7. how bout H322?
I think the imr is where it all started but I've had good luck with h4198. H322 is a good bit slower than either 4198 powder. Again, it's certainly possible that it too will shoot well. You really just have to try them. I'm only saying that it 4198 was THE powder in a 222 for many years...not that something else won't work. Kinda like varget or 4895 in a 6br with 105 class bullets. It's just a known good combination with results to support it in many guns.
The manufacturers usually say not to use match bullets for hunting because the jacket may not open consistently. Alot of hunters use them because they are very accurate, and most rifles shoot them well. With the velocity of typical varmint rounds I dont think it is as big of an issue as with a heavier big game type of match bullet. Varmints will die with a well placed shot whether the bullet opens up or not.
Bart's Ultra's. H322 in .223 and N-133 in .222 have put many of them close together for me. They work great for varmints also..
You can absolutely get decent accuracy from the cheaper 55gr bulk bullets. I've reloaded thousands of the whatever's cheapest 55gr from midway (usually the Hornady FMJ) and I've achieved consistent 1-1.25MOA groups out of my 18" DPMS 1:8 Mk12 profile barrel. I use a single stage reloader and a bottom of the line lee powder measure (all from their beginner's kit) and I reload with a hodgepodge of brass. When reloading these cheap bullets, I don't do hardly any brass prep. Just resize/decap, prime, powder, seat/crimp (lightly crimp). I'll even skip the decrimping and just push the new primer past a crimp if it'll let me. I take a lot of shortcuts and I still get good groups with 100% reliability. The key is just inspecting your rounds to make sure you catch anything that might be an issue, especially bulged shoulders and primers not seated all the way in.
When I'm loading for accuracy, I use uniform brass and 77 Sierra TMK. I still don't do a ton of brass prep because I'm impatient. But when I do, I trim for length. If you want to squeeze the max accuracy out of your gun, trial and error is the way to go. I chose 77 TMKs because I shoot at my family's farm and want to get the max possible range. 69gr actually shoot slightly better out of my gun but I prefer the 77gr for the little bit of extra energy/range.
When I'm loading for accuracy, I use uniform brass and 77 Sierra TMK. I still don't do a ton of brass prep because I'm impatient. But when I do, I trim for length. If you want to squeeze the max accuracy out of your gun, trial and error is the way to go. I chose 77 TMKs because I shoot at my family's farm and want to get the max possible range. 69gr actually shoot slightly better out of my gun but I prefer the 77gr for the little bit of extra energy/range.
urbanrifleman
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55 Varmegeddons will shot right with some of those match bullets, as does the Speer TNT 50s with more fliers. But random groups are teeny tiny.
Huh? More fliers and “random” groups are teeny tiny?
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
I got lucky last Dec when I called Bart. He was making a run of 52 ultras(about one month and I had them) I ordered 500 for a pair of Lilja barrel 22-250 coyote hunting rifles. I shot a few through my Dimension 22-250, load was a mid range node with 50 gr vmax. Bart bullet seated to same base to ogive length as the vmax. The Barts bullet penetration was better than the vmax, but no big blow out exits. They showed very good promise as an accurate fur bullet and will be fully tested on winter coyote through both rifles next winter.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Yes. There are more fliers with bulk pack varmint bullets than high dollar match bullets. But the fliers are pretty random and seldom. Shockingly so.... In other words you might have three .25 inch groups and one half inch or more where the Bergers will have all the same. 25 inch size.
Reloader 1200r powder.
Ok, got it now. I’ve seen the same thing.
For a few years now I’ve been learning to shoot smaller and smaller groups. I’m shooting heavy (and one very heavy) bench guns. I’m pretty convinced a “match grade” bullet is the best place to start, more uniform=fewer fliers and I’m willing to pay up for match bullets. I had a great load with a 50g BT in a Swift, but it shoots Berger Match bullets a bit better. Bergers and Bart’s have started off shooting tight groups in several guns for me.
But this fat girl shoots the 52g Sierra HPBT best.
A 25 pound unlimited bag gun in 219 Donaldson Wasp. 31” 1 1/4” diameter barrel original from the early 1960’s. The 52 Sierra over 4320 powder, cases formed from Federal 30 American 30-30 brass , ie, small primer, shoots in the 1’s and 2’s.
I bought it, didn’t build it but I still like showin her off.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Lt-32 is hard to beat. But I am not convinced it is not just AA2015 with a different label.
If your rifle and you are capable, the answer is Berger. More affordable and close is Sierra Match King (SMK). This holds true pretty much across the board in weights and caliber. However, every barrel is unique and will have its preferences.
Lucky Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
How many birds in a covey ?
How many bubbles in a bar of soap ?
Damfino.
A. Weldy
How many bubbles in a bar of soap ?
Damfino.
A. Weldy
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