Old School 222 Rem. BR Build, Load Development

[Infrequent Shooter]

what are specs on your 222 rifle? I looked and I didn't see any build description. Very nice looking.

 

[Lee Whitsel]

Fun thread. We’ve been seeing more and more 222 threads, it’s nice to see the old triple deuce get some attention. I don’t shoot competition but I enjoy 222s. Old Sako’s, Krico, Remingtons, Steyrs, Winchester, Customs, whatever it may be, I’ve had several shoot bug holes. The cartridge never gets old , at least to me. Nice write up wildcatter, hope you and that rifle give them hell at your upcoming matches!

Agree I also am seeing more on the 222 being built and I took the plunge also. Ordered a Stocky Safari wild green lamented stock used my 223 pencil barrel 700 Rem. actin cleaned it up and reblue it myself. ordered a Wilson 1" bull S.S. 26" Remage barrel from Urban Rifleman in 1/12" twist and installed it myself. A real eye catcher to look at and what a shooter it is. Any powder 748, cfe22, 4198, 8208xb, h4895 they all shoot well under 1/2" right out of the box as they say. I shot gophers and 50 vmax bullet is almost all I use. When I shot it at the local range for sight in i was asked what i had there. After I explain it I get all smiles from the other shooters. Why did I build this gun? Cause no one sells a 222 in America any more. And couldn't even order in a 222 from anyone.... Best gopher gun I ever handled and today I might go shooting it for the first time this year as gopher's are out all over Montana now...

 

[Lee Whitsel]

Agree I also am seeing more on the 222 being built and I took the plunge also. Ordered a Stocky Safari wild green lamented stock used my 223 pencil barrel 700 Rem. actin cleaned it up and reblue it myself. ordered a Wilson 1" bull S.S. 26" Remage barrel from Urban Rifleman in 1/12" twist and installed it myself. A real eye catcher to look at and what a shooter it is. Any powder 748, cfe22, 4198, 8208xb, h4895 they all shoot well under 1/2" right out of the box as they say. I shot gophers and 50 vmax bullet is almost all I use. When I shot it at the local range for sight in i was asked what i had there. After I explain it I get all smiles from the other shooters. Why did I build this gun? Cause no one sells a 222 in America any more. And couldn't even order in a 222 from anyone.... Best gopher gun I ever handled and today I might go shooting it for the first time this year as gopher's are out all over Montana now...

For your Info I needed some brass for 222 had some but not much. Placed and order with Star Line and got a few hundred very nice cases and that's what I'm using now well pleased with the High Qality of Star Line cases better than Win., or Rem. I only wish I'd of built this gun many years ago and not waiting this long.

 

[222Jim]

I'll start by saying, I sure wish I would have owned a rifle in this Caliber 50 years ago! It is proving to be a joy to work with, as well as shoot!
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Day one, I will start with as I have spent the last two weeks picking days suitable for testing. This first thread is day one, just getting an idea where my parameter's are, and starting to form my prepped brass for the .246" NK minimum spec chamber, and finished barrel at 21.5" for a total weight of 10lbs 20z as shown, leaving room to make a 10.5lbs. LV weight if I use the 30mm NF 42x44mm BR Scope.

I chose H322 for my initial powder, and Rem. 7.5 Primers. Seating depth will begin @ 2.793" using my Sinclair comparator. I chose the 52.0 grain Bibbs Match Bullets, and Lapua 222 Remington Match Brass,,,,, thanks to a member here for finding it for me!! neck turned to get me a .2445" loaded neck dia.

So here are my results firing the new prepped cases to get me some cases for the load development. I must say I was imeadiatly impressed for the first time out after sighting thru the bore to get the scope close, I took 3 shots do dial in, with 4 and 5 cutting the same hole. This kind of grouping was to continue with 5 different charges. I got lucky finding the low node and shooting all around it this first time out, as 23.1 or 23.2 grains proving to match worthy, but a bit slow to compete with the bigger 6mm PPC's that dominate BR today.

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The target on the right was the following day to confirm and acquire more cases for the test I was about to begin. I had tried some N133 that day and bailed in favor of my first choice in this triple deuce! I shot these same loads again a time or two, and every time that 23.2 or 23.1 grain load would turn in under 1/4" groups, even in the rain and light switchy winds.

I then spent a few days and decided to put together the loads for a seating depth test. I was a bit surprised how touchy this cartridge was coming off the lands. But have been told by many who never jump bullets, the 222 is one cartridge that likes it. So being at .003" off the lands for beginning, I started .008" off with my first change, as my Wilson Micrometer die was zero'd at the .003" off with the Micrometer top zero'd there, and just tried .005" and .010" in on the micrometer top thinking I was probably going the wrong way. To my surprise I was very happy with the choice, and thanks Randy Robinette for the suggestion!

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The left target started by the two bottom group .013" left and .008" right off the lands. I couldn't believe the difference, so back 7 miles to the house, and loaded five more of each. Back to the range and the first group was the center bull on the left target, and the right target was again the 5 loaded .008" off!

I was happy with the groups it continued to give every time at 23.1 or 23.2 grains of H322, and after fireforming, I had switched to federal 205M primers. But I didn't like the ES it was giving with this load, and new I was not high with my pressure in this gun. Brass was not growing, heads were good and primer pockets tight,,, typical Lapua Brass in my opinion. I'll post more later, but thinking the pressure being anemic was the cause for the H322 giving me high Extreme Spread readings was telling me, we need to go hotter! Smokeless powder likes pressure to burn consistent has been my experience, and with the 6PPC I never got ideal results loading down.

We have to look at the books and start sparingly as they take in account for older actions when this cartridge was introduced, such as the Savage 340, and over and unders shotgun rifle combos, as well as the many custom Martini's and others. But I find 45,000 to 48,000 cup very light for any modern arm with modern quality brass. So my next time out I would expand on that idea @ the new .008" off the lands seating depth!

So when I had run my seating depth test I had taken my loads in .3 grain increments up to 24.5 grains of H322 with the 52 grain bullets, and as expected, after opening up beyond 23.2, at 24.5 it started to cut one hole again in the high .2s. I did decide to go out again and see what would happen taking this load to 25.0 grains which is getting into the neck without a drop tube. I usually don't go a full .5 grains so boldly at a time, but I was far from any pressure signs with my brass at 24.5 and new I had more room to go in this gun. I will say I only took 3 shells loaded with this load, and three with my control load of 23.2.
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View attachment 1429745

The bottom target shows it needed more powder, with ES's in the mid 20's and starting to group without flyers. The 25.0 grain load on top proved my suspicion with no were for the worst on the brass, and primer pockets staying tight. But most of all for the first time with H322 ES's in the low to mid teens and mid .1's for accuracy. Only 3 shots and out of day light but I did shoot the 23.2 control load with it at the same time, and again low .2's, and higher ES's, again showing promise, and a light at the end of the tunnel,,,,,I hope.
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Opening match of the year is Next Sunday the 16th, I will test this at 24.8 25.0 25.2, and 25.5 as long as high pressures stay ay bay. I can compete the first match at 100 for score with the anemic load against the better suited load they will be using the 6ppc's. but I think this 25ish grain load is going to be where this guns happiest, and at over 3340 fps, where I feel comfortable for on out 200 yards. This first match will be 2 targets for score at 100, and 2 at 200 again for score, and X's will be needed with clean 10's to have a shot unless conditions are terrible.

I will post my results with a little finer tunning and hope the 25.0 is where I am match day???

Wonderful article. Thanks for the time and effort you took posting it.

I was introduced to the .222 Remington 55 or so years ago when my neighbor took me along to shoot wood chucks (southern Ontario "gophers"). I've wanted one ever since and eight years ago finally bought one.

I've "tinkered" with a lot of loads and my best is Lapua Match brass topped with Berger 52 Flat Based Varmint bullets over the classic IMR 4198 and Federal Gold Medal 205 primers. I've tried H322 and it's good in my rifle, but not as good as this set of four 100 meter 5-shot groups show (Mean Radius 0.2 MOA, Circular Error Probable 90% 0.3 MOA). For scale, the "+" in the center of the target is 2" wide by 2" tall.



Jump, as you noted, is a bit confounding in that the almost universal advice is "less is better", but the .222 seems to be the proverbial "exception that proves the rule". I tried various jumps and jams between 0.010" jump to 0.010" jam and while results were good, 0.010" jump was clearly the best. But, I recently obtained a new 8 pound jug of IMR 4198 and want to confirm the load with this new batch & lot of powder. I'm taking the opportunity to test longer jump of 0.020" too.

Thanks again for taking the time and effort to post.

Jim

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Back in the day when the 222 ruled the BR world, one of the favorite loads was 19.5 gr of IMR-4198 (this was before Hodgdon came along0 and a 52 grain Sisk bullet. Sisk is long gone but Berger is real close.