REM 222 MAG?

[Darryll]

I was thinking about building a REM 222 MAG and was wondering if anyone has one, what you like or dislike about this caliber. I see that the brass seems to be hard to come by. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Darryll

 

[littlebuddybr]

Do it. You will be happy.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Great caliber but i wouldnt build one due to the brass. Go regular 222 and you can get lapua

 

[JohnHenry]

As you may be aware, Nosler is now producing 222 mag brass internally.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/438311/nosler-reloading-brass-222-remington-magnum-bag-of-250

 

[North Fork]

I have had mind for 35 years

 

[theMadAlaskan]

Can 204 Ruger brass be necked up? Just curious.

 

[JohnHenry]

Can 204 Ruger brass be necked up? Just curious.

Yes and one also needs to bump the 204 Ruger shoulder back approx .060". If I remember correctly, the overall case length of 222 mag formed from 204 Ruger will be a little short.

 

[jepp2]

Can 204 Ruger brass be necked up? Just curious.

I haven't done that conversion, but no reason why it can't be done. I do see 222 Rem Mag brass available to buy often enough, I would go that route.

I have a Sako in 222 Rem Mag, but it wouldn't be my choice for another rifle. I have been bitten by the 20 caliber bug, so those are my first choice. If I am going to use a .224 bullet, I would go the 223 AI route before the 222 Rem Mag. Water capacity is greater (31.0 for the 223 AI vs. 30.5 for the 222 Rem Mag), cases are readily available and I believe it would be much easier to sell. The only advantage for the 222 Rem Mag is the longer case neck. Case life will be longer on the 223 AI. 222 Rem Mag dies are limited and expensive.

 

[ireload2]

Ordinary .222 Mag dies are cheap and easy to find because the round had/has about zero popularity. The RCBS set that I have cost $8 about 2 years ago.

I have formed fired .204 Ruger to 6X47 Rem. Looks like the .204 would work to make .222 Mag if it makes 6mm.

If you want performance a .224 on a .204 Ruger case might be better.

Even more velocity might come from a 5.6 X 50 Mag. which is about .120 longer than the .222 Mag case.

 

[Taildrag15X]

I agree, a .22- 204 Ruger is fun....

 

[lpreddick]

Can 204 Ruger brass be necked up? Just curious.

The 204 Ruger's parent is the 222 Rem mag. You can do this...I did BUT, the lower half of the new neck is now old shoulder brass and it is much thicker and if you use a bushing for neck sizing you will have a very thick donut. If your bullet's base is above this donut, no problem. If your FL die has an expander, it will push this thicker neck out and if your chamber neck diameter is tight, you could have a problem. I had to turn this lower half and they shoot nicely. Nosler makes 222 Rem mag brass, but an earlier run had multiple case splittings...you could see linear defects in many and Nosler suggested not to use and replaced with 222 Rem brass and it shoots great. Finding 222 Rem mag brass(Federal made some as nickel plated...very hard) is difficult...I found 200 cases in original Rem boxes made prior to zip codes(1963) and it is perfect. I agree you can't go wrong going with the 222 Rem. Lapua and Nosler make great brass. I tried Norma's 222 brass, but primer pockets can't take the higher pressure I favor...you can get higher velocity with 52 gr bullets using LT 30 or Norma 200 powder instead of the 4198s, but Norma brass can't take the pressure.

 

[Zero333]

I'd go with 222 Rem instead.

According to Quickload, at same pressure level, the 222 RemMag will barely get 30 fps move velocity compared to the 223 Rem.

 

[centershot]

Or the .223 AI. Easy to form and great velocity.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Ahhhh, but if you are still thinking of going to 222 Mag and all of that, why not the 204/6MM? Better velocities with the same bullet weights.

 

[superlight93]

222 Mag. I still have my dies hoping to own another some day.

 

[mikeinct]

I've only shot one once..back in the 70's a buddies Dad had an old Sako in 222 R Mag...We used to all want to see that rifle every-time the old dude was around..Personally, I would not build that caliber..But if I find an old Sako in that caliber I'd buy it...Mike in Ct

 

[Laurie]

I'd go with 222 Rem instead.

According to Quickload, at same pressure level, the 222 RemMag will barely get 30 fps move velocity compared to the 223 Rem.

That's what killed the 222 Rem Mag of course. When introduced, the comparison was with the 222 as the 5.56mm / 223 didn't as yet exist.

Gene Stoner built the AR-15 around the 222 originally and it was intended to use it in the military role, but then the US Army said it wanted external ballistics performance increased for a 500 metre capability. Remington designed the 222 R Mag to meet that need, but the military rejected it for some reason or other, so Remy decided it was such a nice little cartridge they'd introduce it as civilian varmint and match number anyway. Third time lucky, what we now call the 5.56X45 / 223 variant was accepted and adopted - IIRC it was originally called the '222 Super' or some such before the 223 moniker was adopted as its commercial name pre-launch launch to avoid confusion with the existing pair of 222s.

The primary reason for considering this obsolescent design is its famed accuracy, regarded as better than either 222 or 223 by many authorities. For this reason, Sierra Bullets used this cartridge for a long, long time for batch testing of its lighter 0.224 calibre bullets. The company's test staff may still do so for all I know.